Programs - 2019
OUR ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSES GUIDE OUR PROGRAMS Click to read. Click to close.
The Program Committee refers to these six guidelines as it plans and organizes the programs presented every other week.
- Services helpful to seniors – Programs that give us good useful information about how to handle the road that is ahead for all of us.
- Ways we can help ourselves – Programs that help us stay fit, active, and connected to each other.
- How we can engage with our community – Members telling stories about Nyack, and programs that connect us in meaningful ways with our community.
- Things that bring joy and creativity
- Programs reflecting on who we are as a group, and what we want to do
- Programs that help members have a sense of purpose and meaning
ASK: Allow Someone's Kindness 2019-01-04 Click to read. Click to close.
SUMMARY: Susan Travis urged us to let go of our resistance to asking for help. Think about how good you feel about lending a hand. Allow others to experience that same positive feeling by helping you.
FULL REPORT: Asking is often hard for us for many reasons – we feel we should be able to handle the problem ourselves, we feel that if we ask we are imposing on the other person, we feel we are supposed to be the strong ones, so asking for help feels embarrassing. Asking for help can seem inconvenient if you are a very independent person. But then you find you have taken on too much, or you just cannot get it done. You can probably think of many other reasons why it is so hard to ask for help.
Susan suggested we write a list of people we could ask for help if we felt comfortable enough to do that, and then write any reasons we might have for being hesitant to ask those people for help.
Here are some tips for transforming asking into a positive act:
1. What if you knew that the person you asked felt good about helping?
2. What if you knew that your asking gave others the courage to ask? Susan remembers being so grateful to a classmate in a confusing math class who was willing to raise his hand and ask the teacher to explain the material in a different way because he had not understood. (According to Susan, almost no one in the class understood the material. This classmate gave the others permission to acknowledge that they did not understand.)
3. What if you knew your asking allowed others to use their gifts and talents? Your asking is simultaneously giving.
4. Asking shows someone you trust them. You trust their competency, but you also trust them to say “no” if they cannot help. This is a joyful gift of an honest relationship!
5. Everyone has the right to seek help. “You are important enough to ask. You are blessed enough to receive back.” - Wayne Dyer
6. Do you judge others who ask for help? If you don’t judge others who ask for help, then realize that others do not judge you – and don’t judge yourself.
Susan has a new way for us to thinking about asking. It is ASK, Allow Someone’s Kindness. Think about how good, how valued you feel about lending a hand. We can give this gift to others by asking them for a little help.
To see the list of volunteers who are eager to help you, members should log into their accounts on this website and access the private member pages.
FULL REPORT: Asking is often hard for us for many reasons – we feel we should be able to handle the problem ourselves, we feel that if we ask we are imposing on the other person, we feel we are supposed to be the strong ones, so asking for help feels embarrassing. Asking for help can seem inconvenient if you are a very independent person. But then you find you have taken on too much, or you just cannot get it done. You can probably think of many other reasons why it is so hard to ask for help.
Susan suggested we write a list of people we could ask for help if we felt comfortable enough to do that, and then write any reasons we might have for being hesitant to ask those people for help.
Here are some tips for transforming asking into a positive act:
1. What if you knew that the person you asked felt good about helping?
2. What if you knew that your asking gave others the courage to ask? Susan remembers being so grateful to a classmate in a confusing math class who was willing to raise his hand and ask the teacher to explain the material in a different way because he had not understood. (According to Susan, almost no one in the class understood the material. This classmate gave the others permission to acknowledge that they did not understand.)
3. What if you knew your asking allowed others to use their gifts and talents? Your asking is simultaneously giving.
4. Asking shows someone you trust them. You trust their competency, but you also trust them to say “no” if they cannot help. This is a joyful gift of an honest relationship!
5. Everyone has the right to seek help. “You are important enough to ask. You are blessed enough to receive back.” - Wayne Dyer
6. Do you judge others who ask for help? If you don’t judge others who ask for help, then realize that others do not judge you – and don’t judge yourself.
Susan has a new way for us to thinking about asking. It is ASK, Allow Someone’s Kindness. Think about how good, how valued you feel about lending a hand. We can give this gift to others by asking them for a little help.
To see the list of volunteers who are eager to help you, members should log into their accounts on this website and access the private member pages.
Nyack in the 1950s When the Old Tappan Zee Bridge was Built 2019-01-18 Click to read. Click to close.
SUMMARY: Brenda Ross, Sally Savage, Leontine Temsky and Ray Wright talked about Nyack in the 1950s before and during construction of the old bridge.
FULL REPORT:
Nyack in the 1950s was the shopping and commerce center for Rockland, with four men’s clothing stores, four or five shops for women’s clothing, an A&P on Broadway, the large Woolworths on Main Street, a shoe store, a fabric store, several hardware stores, and many other shops that no longer exist. Ray especially remembered Eddie Nolan’s restaurant with its organist who played requests, a place especially popular with officers from Camp Shanks. Ray was a sophomore at Nyack High School when the bridge opened.
Sally was living by the river in Grand View when the bridge was built. Then the mother of a brand new baby boy, she remembers the women of Grand View protesting the bridge right up until opening day.
Brenda told us that Leonard Cooke, who at one time had been the president of the NAACP and a major presence in Nyack, used to commute from Nyack to his job at the GM plant in Tarrytown by driving south to the George Washington Bridge, crossing the Hudson, and then heading north to Tarrytown. Apparently in winter the river was often frozen solid, with people walking across (taking about an hour), or skating (13 minutes). She also talked about the devastating loss of homes because of the bridge construction. Andy Minniefield’s 12-room Victorian family home was torn down because it was in the direct path.
Before the bridge, Leontine noted, people crossed the river by ferry, or took the train from Nyack southward and then took at ferry across. Talk of needing a bridge had started by the 1930’s. How did Nyack become the site of the bridge, since it is at a wide place on the Hudson? The original site of the bridge was to be at Dobb’s Ferry. The Port Authority of New York, having authority covering 25 miles north of New York City to just south of South Nyack, opposed having a bridge built in their jurisdiction because it would infringe on the area covered by the George Washington Bridge.
Governor Dewey was adamant that the bridge to connect with the new section of New York State Thruway crossing Westchester. However, he was less than forthcoming with Nyack about his push for the bridge to connect Nyack and Tarrytown. In the 1950’s during a speech in Nyack, Governor Dewey was asked if the rumor was true that a bridge was to be built in Nyack, to which he responded, “Absolutely not!” or something to that effect. A month later, the New York State Thruway Authority began working on the first steps for construction. There was no recourse; the Thruway Authority could take land by eminent domain, paying people a rate that the Thruway Authority chose. 150 homes were taken, as were groceries, taverns, a park, etc. South Nyack took the brunt of the changes. Several homes were moved to new locations. If you are interested in learning more, see the Nyack Historical Society’s book, Nyack in the 20th Century.
Many others spoke about their Tappan Zee Bridge experiences, including Don Monaco who sped across the bridge at top speed in a borrowed sports car before it even opened, got to the Nyack side, found he had nowhere he could go, turned around and sped back across – fast!
It was a delightful, fascinating meeting. Our thanks to our panelists and to everyone who spoke and enriched our understanding of our community.
FULL REPORT:
Nyack in the 1950s was the shopping and commerce center for Rockland, with four men’s clothing stores, four or five shops for women’s clothing, an A&P on Broadway, the large Woolworths on Main Street, a shoe store, a fabric store, several hardware stores, and many other shops that no longer exist. Ray especially remembered Eddie Nolan’s restaurant with its organist who played requests, a place especially popular with officers from Camp Shanks. Ray was a sophomore at Nyack High School when the bridge opened.
Sally was living by the river in Grand View when the bridge was built. Then the mother of a brand new baby boy, she remembers the women of Grand View protesting the bridge right up until opening day.
Brenda told us that Leonard Cooke, who at one time had been the president of the NAACP and a major presence in Nyack, used to commute from Nyack to his job at the GM plant in Tarrytown by driving south to the George Washington Bridge, crossing the Hudson, and then heading north to Tarrytown. Apparently in winter the river was often frozen solid, with people walking across (taking about an hour), or skating (13 minutes). She also talked about the devastating loss of homes because of the bridge construction. Andy Minniefield’s 12-room Victorian family home was torn down because it was in the direct path.
Before the bridge, Leontine noted, people crossed the river by ferry, or took the train from Nyack southward and then took at ferry across. Talk of needing a bridge had started by the 1930’s. How did Nyack become the site of the bridge, since it is at a wide place on the Hudson? The original site of the bridge was to be at Dobb’s Ferry. The Port Authority of New York, having authority covering 25 miles north of New York City to just south of South Nyack, opposed having a bridge built in their jurisdiction because it would infringe on the area covered by the George Washington Bridge.
Governor Dewey was adamant that the bridge to connect with the new section of New York State Thruway crossing Westchester. However, he was less than forthcoming with Nyack about his push for the bridge to connect Nyack and Tarrytown. In the 1950’s during a speech in Nyack, Governor Dewey was asked if the rumor was true that a bridge was to be built in Nyack, to which he responded, “Absolutely not!” or something to that effect. A month later, the New York State Thruway Authority began working on the first steps for construction. There was no recourse; the Thruway Authority could take land by eminent domain, paying people a rate that the Thruway Authority chose. 150 homes were taken, as were groceries, taverns, a park, etc. South Nyack took the brunt of the changes. Several homes were moved to new locations. If you are interested in learning more, see the Nyack Historical Society’s book, Nyack in the 20th Century.
Many others spoke about their Tappan Zee Bridge experiences, including Don Monaco who sped across the bridge at top speed in a borrowed sports car before it even opened, got to the Nyack side, found he had nowhere he could go, turned around and sped back across – fast!
It was a delightful, fascinating meeting. Our thanks to our panelists and to everyone who spoke and enriched our understanding of our community.
Understanding AlzHeimer's Disease and Related Dementias 2019-02-01 Click to read. Click to close.
SUMMARY: Debra Kagan-Birkelan, a licensed master social worker, currently a Care Consultant and the Director of Family Support Group Services for the Alzheimer's Association Hudson Valley, NY Chapter, spoke with us about dementia, it's warning signs, and the programs provided by the Alzheimer's Association.
FULL REPORT:
What is Dementia?
Dementia is the umbrella term for a range of symptoms associated with memory loss. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that have you worried, such as significant short-term memory loss, it’s important to have testing done to evaluate the extent of memory and cognition loss, and to determine which type of dementia is involved.
A number of memory problems can be caused by something that can be treated such as vitamin B12 deficiency, depression, grief, thyroid conditions or a reaction to medications. All of these are reversible problems and should be treated as soon as possible. Further, before a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia can be made, all other causes of memory loss need to be ruled out.
It is critical to know what kind of dementia is involved. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of progressive dementia, accounting for up to 80% of dementia cases. It is diagnosed when there is no evidence for other forms of dementia. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia which may occur when there is an inadequate supply of blood due to stroke or other vascular problems in the brain. Other types include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal lobe dementia.
The importance of an early diagnosis
An early diagnosis is essential so that the person affected can start on medications that will help the neurons communicate better. It is also essential so that the person affected and their family can do essential planning such as designating someone to have power of attorney and getting a health care proxy.
Holding off or slowing dementia
Many life style changes can help to hold off or slow the progression of most dementia. These include getting lots of exercise, eating a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet, being social, listening to music, and learning to do a new craft or new skill. What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.
The 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias
Debra talked with us about the 10 common signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. All of us occasionally are forgetful, lose track of time, or cannot retrieve a word that comes to us later. But the signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias are more consistent and more pressing:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. Forgetting information recently learned.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.
3. Difficulty completing the steps in a familiar task.
4. Confusion with time or place. May lose track of dates or seasons, or forget where they are, especially someplace they’ve been before.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. They may have difficulty understanding the meaning of a color contrast or judging distance.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. They may have significant difficulty with word retrieval or with following a conversation.
7. Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps beyond simple delayed recall.
8. Decrease in judgment or demonstrating poor judgment, for example, in driving or managing finances.
9. Withdrawing from normal activities, hobbies or usual social connections because it has become difficult to understand what is going on.
10. Changes in mood and personality- becoming irritated, agitated or depressed.
If you notice signs that are of concern to you, it’s best to consult a specialist – a neurologist, or a neuropsychologist who can perform the testing needed to diagnose dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association programs and services
FULL REPORT:
What is Dementia?
Dementia is the umbrella term for a range of symptoms associated with memory loss. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that have you worried, such as significant short-term memory loss, it’s important to have testing done to evaluate the extent of memory and cognition loss, and to determine which type of dementia is involved.
A number of memory problems can be caused by something that can be treated such as vitamin B12 deficiency, depression, grief, thyroid conditions or a reaction to medications. All of these are reversible problems and should be treated as soon as possible. Further, before a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia can be made, all other causes of memory loss need to be ruled out.
It is critical to know what kind of dementia is involved. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of progressive dementia, accounting for up to 80% of dementia cases. It is diagnosed when there is no evidence for other forms of dementia. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia which may occur when there is an inadequate supply of blood due to stroke or other vascular problems in the brain. Other types include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal lobe dementia.
The importance of an early diagnosis
An early diagnosis is essential so that the person affected can start on medications that will help the neurons communicate better. It is also essential so that the person affected and their family can do essential planning such as designating someone to have power of attorney and getting a health care proxy.
Holding off or slowing dementia
Many life style changes can help to hold off or slow the progression of most dementia. These include getting lots of exercise, eating a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet, being social, listening to music, and learning to do a new craft or new skill. What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.
The 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias
Debra talked with us about the 10 common signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. All of us occasionally are forgetful, lose track of time, or cannot retrieve a word that comes to us later. But the signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias are more consistent and more pressing:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. Forgetting information recently learned.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.
3. Difficulty completing the steps in a familiar task.
4. Confusion with time or place. May lose track of dates or seasons, or forget where they are, especially someplace they’ve been before.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. They may have difficulty understanding the meaning of a color contrast or judging distance.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. They may have significant difficulty with word retrieval or with following a conversation.
7. Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps beyond simple delayed recall.
8. Decrease in judgment or demonstrating poor judgment, for example, in driving or managing finances.
9. Withdrawing from normal activities, hobbies or usual social connections because it has become difficult to understand what is going on.
10. Changes in mood and personality- becoming irritated, agitated or depressed.
If you notice signs that are of concern to you, it’s best to consult a specialist – a neurologist, or a neuropsychologist who can perform the testing needed to diagnose dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association programs and services
- Extensive information about Alzheimer’s and other dementias on website: https://www.alz.org.
- Free educational programs – in the community and on website
- Online caregiver resource center
- 24/7 Help Line: 800-272-3900, answered by licensed care consultants
- Support groups, both for caregivers and for people who have Alzheimer’s or another dementia, led by trained volunteers
- Memory Cafes
- Music & Memory workshop
- Safety programs, including memory bracelets or pendants
- Care consultations
- Volunteer training
Design Tips to Help Us Stay in our Homes 2019-03-29 Click to read. Click to close.
SUMMARY: Maggie McManus of The McManus Group in Nyack spoke with us about steps we might take in assessing whether our homes will serve us well over the next years. Should we make changes to our current home, or might we seek another place which will allow us to stay put for the long term?
FULL REPORT:
Here are some of the points Maggie suggested you consider:
FULL REPORT:
Here are some of the points Maggie suggested you consider:
- De-cluttering is a must. Keep it if you love it, but let go of things you keep only because you think you ought to. Get rid of tripping hazards such baskets, wires and throw rugs.
- install grab bars in the bathroom and anywhere else that you find you need to transfer your weight to get in or out, or up and down. These grab bars should always be horizontal bars.
- Capacity for bathing. Bathrooms are usually the most unsafe room in a house. Ask yourself, “Would my bathing set-up suit me if I needed a walker?” Do you have space for a full bathroom on the first floor? Can you carve out extra space from another room? Do you have a shower you can get into easily without having to climb over a bathtub ledge?
- Improve your interior lighting. Brighter lighting helps you see things that may be in your way. As we age our ability to see contrast diminishes, so it is a good idea to provide clear contrast between your walls and a handrail, or between your cabinets and the pulls on the cabinet doors and drawers.
- Replace your round door knobs and other round pulls with horizontal door levers and horizontal pulls.
- Replace your bathroom hand towels with an electric hand dryer because it is so much more hygienic.
- Consider getting a washlet toilet seat or a bidet for your toilet. You might also want to consider raising your toilet seat.
- Get a slide bar for your shower. This allows you to have a hand-held shower head you can unclip and use at various heights.
Spring Dreaming: Gardening Joys and Tips 2019-04-12 Click to read. Click to close.
SUMMARY: Diana Kriz and some of our gardening enthusiasts presented “Spring Dreaming” focusing on inspiring (but not intimidating) ideas for gardening.
FULL REPORT:
Against a background of beautiful slides illustrating their presentations, Marie Thorpe, Nancy Wenner, Bebb Stone, and Carol Baretz each shared their love of gardening.
Marie noted that all you need is a large, tall flower pot and three or four plants that come in four inch pots at the gardening nursery. Put potting soil in the flower pot, make room for the plants, water, and you have a wonderful way to welcome visitors.
Nancy told us how her interest in and love for plants began with her first potted plants in a fourth-floor walk-up. When she married and moved to a home in Nyack, she found she had the space for gardens in the front, side and back of her house – and work to do. At one point she had someone from Van Houten Farms come help her think about how to achieve a garden. She has come to appreciate – if not love – worms for all they do.
Bebb Stone told about how she fell in love with the Clivia plant, an exotic, slow-growing plant with long dark green leaves and orange flowers. Over time, she became passionate about finding a Clivia with yellow flowers, but such plants were hard to find and expensive. She finally found a "bargain" Clivia. Over time, Bebb nursed it back to health, and it has gone on to produce new generations of Clivia which Bebb has shared with other Clivia lovers.
Bebb also told us that Orangetown residents can get free compost and mulch from the Orangetown Highway Department on Rt. 303 south of Lowe’s. The location was once a drive-in, and still looks like it.
Carol entertained us with a show and tell on how easy it can be to propagate and successfully grow houseplants. Her favorite plant is oxalis with its triangular leaves of deep purple and its delicate white flowers. To prove to us that many plants are easier to grow and hardier than we might think, she told us how she stores her oxalis – and her spider plants and geraniums – in her basement over the winter, paying little attention to them. In the early spring she brings her oxalis up from the basement, divides it, repots it, and shares with friends. Baby spider plants are also very easy to grow.
Diana shared her love of growing vegetables including tomatoes, lettuce and herbs in raised beds in her backyard garden.
We would also like to thank some other people for their help with the program:
FULL REPORT:
Against a background of beautiful slides illustrating their presentations, Marie Thorpe, Nancy Wenner, Bebb Stone, and Carol Baretz each shared their love of gardening.
Marie noted that all you need is a large, tall flower pot and three or four plants that come in four inch pots at the gardening nursery. Put potting soil in the flower pot, make room for the plants, water, and you have a wonderful way to welcome visitors.
Nancy told us how her interest in and love for plants began with her first potted plants in a fourth-floor walk-up. When she married and moved to a home in Nyack, she found she had the space for gardens in the front, side and back of her house – and work to do. At one point she had someone from Van Houten Farms come help her think about how to achieve a garden. She has come to appreciate – if not love – worms for all they do.
Bebb Stone told about how she fell in love with the Clivia plant, an exotic, slow-growing plant with long dark green leaves and orange flowers. Over time, she became passionate about finding a Clivia with yellow flowers, but such plants were hard to find and expensive. She finally found a "bargain" Clivia. Over time, Bebb nursed it back to health, and it has gone on to produce new generations of Clivia which Bebb has shared with other Clivia lovers.
Bebb also told us that Orangetown residents can get free compost and mulch from the Orangetown Highway Department on Rt. 303 south of Lowe’s. The location was once a drive-in, and still looks like it.
Carol entertained us with a show and tell on how easy it can be to propagate and successfully grow houseplants. Her favorite plant is oxalis with its triangular leaves of deep purple and its delicate white flowers. To prove to us that many plants are easier to grow and hardier than we might think, she told us how she stores her oxalis – and her spider plants and geraniums – in her basement over the winter, paying little attention to them. In the early spring she brings her oxalis up from the basement, divides it, repots it, and shares with friends. Baby spider plants are also very easy to grow.
Diana shared her love of growing vegetables including tomatoes, lettuce and herbs in raised beds in her backyard garden.
We would also like to thank some other people for their help with the program:
- Sally Savage – who did the tent-card signs and brought fresh daffodils from her garden
- Anya Taylor and Lori Pendleton Thomas – they both submitted beautiful photos from their garden
- Pearl Natter – because she is lovely and would have been there if she could
Annual Meeting 2019-10-11 Click to read. Click to close.
FULL REPORT:
Membership
One year ago we had 84 members. We now have 100 members. At our Sept. 27 meeting, we talked about what size organization we can be and still retain the qualities that mean so much to us. Based on the discussion at that meeting, the Board of Directors voted Oct. 9 that CAN would be capped at 115 members for the coming year. We will reconsider our decision one year from now.
Highlights of our Accomplishments since Oct. 2018
Thank you
Thank you to our dedicated Board of Directors we call the Advisory Team. We meet every month to think together about challenges and opportunities ahead for CAN. Each member brings excellent ideas and experiences to our discussions:
Bob Gundersen has been an outstanding Treasurer with his depth of background in the non-profit world and his understanding of this community. Bob is stepping down this year. We thank him for his leadership as founding Treasurer and for his experience and guidance as we took our first steps in forming our nonprofit.
Sami Aronson has been a diligent secretary and has shared her excellent science background and research skills. Sami is stepping down this year. We appreciate her support and dedicated service as Secretary.
Susanna Willingham serves both as the Associate Chair and as the Chair of the Program Committee. She is creative, energetic, dedicated and a supportive friend on all fronts.
Susan Travis is a Director and chair of Volunteers and Services, a huge job. She is tireless, persistent and all-round wonderful.
Debbie Bell serves as the Associate Treasurer. She takes care of our day-to-day finances, creating helpful monthly reports for us, making sure we can track all of our income and spending.
Don Monaco brings insight and thoughtful suggestions to the group, based on his deep understanding of what people our age need – friendship, purpose, and companionship as we take this journey of aging together.
Thank you to the members of the Program Committee, Susanna Willingham, Diana Kriz, Nancy Wenner, and Leontine Temsky for their creative and often detailed work arranging the programs we have every other Friday. I also work with them on that committee.
Thank you to the Entertainment Committee for planning and organizing our refreshments for today. Marie Thorpe heads that committee that includes Nancy Wenner, Bebb Stone, Jane Berkowicz and Mary Borkovitz.
Thank you to the members of the Nominating Committee this year: Jan Cohen, Honey Jacobs, and Leontine Temsky.
Thank you to Sami Aronson for organizing the Elderhood book group.
Thank you to Anthony Fasano for his contributions to the CAN calendar.
I also want to thank Jeff Flournoy, the library Maintenance Technician for making sure this room is set up for us every two weeks!!
Our thanks to Mary Loughran, the Care Specialists, the volunteers and the certified drivers for their willingness to help others.
Thank you to Vin Morgan, my dear husband, for all of his help and support throughout the year.
Jennifer Harrigan who has been our go-to person at the library. Jen makes sure that the room gets set up correctly, she puts the Creative Aging blurb in the library’s newsletter, and she created a flyer for us. Jen is leaving her work at the library. We are deeply grateful for her constant support, her time and her talents.
We are deeply appreciative of Nyack Library for their generosity and unbelievable support over the past two years. And with that I asked Sharon Alfano, the library’s Business Manager, to come forward to receive our donation of $500.
Financial Report
Bob Gundersen presented the proposed 2020 budget. Our total budget proposed budget is $9,500 in income matched by proposed expenses of $9,500. I had included a copy of the budget in my September 27 notes.
Program Committee
Susanna Willingham reminded us of the Program survey members responded to in July. The top ranked subjects were:
1. Getting to Know You (33)
2. Meditation and Breathing (26)
3. Positive Psychology (24) tied with Tips for Interacting with the Health System (24)
4. Intergenerational Connections in Our Lives (23)
5. End of Life Rituals (22)
6. CAN: present past and future (21)
7. Chuck Stead: storyteller(19)
Since this survey we’ve had some meditation and positive psychology, some getting to know you and we’re excited to have this guideline to follow for the future.
Susanna also noted that the Committee tries to provide programs that are in line with our purposes as an organization. These guidelines are:
1. Services helpful to seniors
2. Ways we can help ourselves
3. How we can engage the community
4. Things that bring joy and creativity
5. Quarterly feedback: who are we and what do we want to do?
6. Meaning making: create a sense of purpose
Susanna then reminded us of some of the many engaging program we had this year, and thanked everyone for their help and support.
Volunteers and Services Committee
Susan Travis chairs this committee. She explained that we have have three main groups of service volunteers:
The Care Coordinator and the Care Specialists
CAN Volunteers for Non-Medical Needs
Certified Drivers (15 NYS DMV Certified Drivers)
The Care-Specialists are Mary Loughran (the Care Coordinator), Rosemarie Bone, Gabri’El Stollman, Marie Thorpe, Dorothy Whitton, and Susan Travis (Advisory Board Member). The Care Specialist serves as liaison between a member needing care because of illness, or accident, and members on our list of volunteers.
On September20th, five additional members volunteered to become Care-Specialists and had their first training. Monthly half-hour meetings will be held after the second meeting of CAN (location pending) These new volunteers are Marcia Heisler, Nancy Waack, Donna Nye, Marge Lipson, Jane Berkowicz.
Summary of the Care Specialists activities:
Eight times this year members needed help. They had different needs that were met by our member volunteers. We are grateful to all the volunteers who, when called by the Care Specialists, have helped our members.
Non-medical help is at hand
Susan then spoke about the volunteers who are more than willing to lend a hand in non-medical situations. These include:
The people who have volunteered to help you are listed in on the website in the pages of your login account. If you need the help in these areas, please call, or email. Remember - ASK (Allow Someone’s Kindness). If the volunteer you contact cannot help, the volunteer will be honest and say no. Ask another.
The Certified Drivers
We have 15 drivers who have all been vetted by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. These 15 certified drivers are listed on the CAN website in the login pages.
Other Accomplishments
Susan also noted that her team created the Volunteer Handbook this year and the list of recommended medical professionals. If you want to add to the list of medical professionals, please contact Diana Kriz.
The Vote
The membership voted, and by a super-majority, elected Debbie Bell as Treasurer, Debra Banks as Secretary, and Phyllis Eisenberg as Director, and passed the 2020 budget. Congratulations to all!
The meeting then adjourned for a celebratory feast of treats! It was a wonderful day.
Membership
One year ago we had 84 members. We now have 100 members. At our Sept. 27 meeting, we talked about what size organization we can be and still retain the qualities that mean so much to us. Based on the discussion at that meeting, the Board of Directors voted Oct. 9 that CAN would be capped at 115 members for the coming year. We will reconsider our decision one year from now.
Highlights of our Accomplishments since Oct. 2018
- We succeeded in becoming an official 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, and earning tax exempt status in New York State.
- This year we purchased liability insurance that covers the organization, but also helps protect our volunteers and our drivers.
- A small group of CAN members gathered information from our members about what exercise programs they wanted at the YMCA and then met with the leadership of the Y to advocate for those programs and for some other improvements at the Y. We look forward to a continuing partnership with them.
- This year, inspired by Roger Seiler and by Shira Barkoe of the library, and with encouragement from Susanna Willingham, I plunged in to create the website for our group! I hope you are using the calendar and the information you can find there, including the lists available to members who use the login to access the members-only pages. There you will find our membership list, as well as a list of member recommended medical professionals, a list of member recommended home contractors, a list of our volunteers and of our certified drivers. If you are not able to access those pages, you need to email me at [email protected] so I can send you the information about how to log in. If you are stuck or you do not know what you should do, please let me know. I want to you have this information! Our website is www.creativeaginginnyack.org
- Several of our members gathered in various small groups throughout the year for potluck suppers, Tuesday walks, visits to museums, book groups, meditation, and of course the OWLS writing group. People meet for coffee, go to the many programs offered at the library together, and look forward to greeting each other as we walk the streets of Nyack.
Thank you
Thank you to our dedicated Board of Directors we call the Advisory Team. We meet every month to think together about challenges and opportunities ahead for CAN. Each member brings excellent ideas and experiences to our discussions:
Bob Gundersen has been an outstanding Treasurer with his depth of background in the non-profit world and his understanding of this community. Bob is stepping down this year. We thank him for his leadership as founding Treasurer and for his experience and guidance as we took our first steps in forming our nonprofit.
Sami Aronson has been a diligent secretary and has shared her excellent science background and research skills. Sami is stepping down this year. We appreciate her support and dedicated service as Secretary.
Susanna Willingham serves both as the Associate Chair and as the Chair of the Program Committee. She is creative, energetic, dedicated and a supportive friend on all fronts.
Susan Travis is a Director and chair of Volunteers and Services, a huge job. She is tireless, persistent and all-round wonderful.
Debbie Bell serves as the Associate Treasurer. She takes care of our day-to-day finances, creating helpful monthly reports for us, making sure we can track all of our income and spending.
Don Monaco brings insight and thoughtful suggestions to the group, based on his deep understanding of what people our age need – friendship, purpose, and companionship as we take this journey of aging together.
Thank you to the members of the Program Committee, Susanna Willingham, Diana Kriz, Nancy Wenner, and Leontine Temsky for their creative and often detailed work arranging the programs we have every other Friday. I also work with them on that committee.
Thank you to the Entertainment Committee for planning and organizing our refreshments for today. Marie Thorpe heads that committee that includes Nancy Wenner, Bebb Stone, Jane Berkowicz and Mary Borkovitz.
Thank you to the members of the Nominating Committee this year: Jan Cohen, Honey Jacobs, and Leontine Temsky.
Thank you to Sami Aronson for organizing the Elderhood book group.
Thank you to Anthony Fasano for his contributions to the CAN calendar.
I also want to thank Jeff Flournoy, the library Maintenance Technician for making sure this room is set up for us every two weeks!!
Our thanks to Mary Loughran, the Care Specialists, the volunteers and the certified drivers for their willingness to help others.
Thank you to Vin Morgan, my dear husband, for all of his help and support throughout the year.
Jennifer Harrigan who has been our go-to person at the library. Jen makes sure that the room gets set up correctly, she puts the Creative Aging blurb in the library’s newsletter, and she created a flyer for us. Jen is leaving her work at the library. We are deeply grateful for her constant support, her time and her talents.
We are deeply appreciative of Nyack Library for their generosity and unbelievable support over the past two years. And with that I asked Sharon Alfano, the library’s Business Manager, to come forward to receive our donation of $500.
Financial Report
Bob Gundersen presented the proposed 2020 budget. Our total budget proposed budget is $9,500 in income matched by proposed expenses of $9,500. I had included a copy of the budget in my September 27 notes.
Program Committee
Susanna Willingham reminded us of the Program survey members responded to in July. The top ranked subjects were:
1. Getting to Know You (33)
2. Meditation and Breathing (26)
3. Positive Psychology (24) tied with Tips for Interacting with the Health System (24)
4. Intergenerational Connections in Our Lives (23)
5. End of Life Rituals (22)
6. CAN: present past and future (21)
7. Chuck Stead: storyteller(19)
Since this survey we’ve had some meditation and positive psychology, some getting to know you and we’re excited to have this guideline to follow for the future.
Susanna also noted that the Committee tries to provide programs that are in line with our purposes as an organization. These guidelines are:
1. Services helpful to seniors
2. Ways we can help ourselves
3. How we can engage the community
4. Things that bring joy and creativity
5. Quarterly feedback: who are we and what do we want to do?
6. Meaning making: create a sense of purpose
Susanna then reminded us of some of the many engaging program we had this year, and thanked everyone for their help and support.
Volunteers and Services Committee
Susan Travis chairs this committee. She explained that we have have three main groups of service volunteers:
The Care Coordinator and the Care Specialists
CAN Volunteers for Non-Medical Needs
Certified Drivers (15 NYS DMV Certified Drivers)
The Care-Specialists are Mary Loughran (the Care Coordinator), Rosemarie Bone, Gabri’El Stollman, Marie Thorpe, Dorothy Whitton, and Susan Travis (Advisory Board Member). The Care Specialist serves as liaison between a member needing care because of illness, or accident, and members on our list of volunteers.
On September20th, five additional members volunteered to become Care-Specialists and had their first training. Monthly half-hour meetings will be held after the second meeting of CAN (location pending) These new volunteers are Marcia Heisler, Nancy Waack, Donna Nye, Marge Lipson, Jane Berkowicz.
Summary of the Care Specialists activities:
Eight times this year members needed help. They had different needs that were met by our member volunteers. We are grateful to all the volunteers who, when called by the Care Specialists, have helped our members.
Non-medical help is at hand
Susan then spoke about the volunteers who are more than willing to lend a hand in non-medical situations. These include:
- Home organization
- Minor Household Chores/repairs
- Gardening/plant care/sitting
- Dog walking
- Short phone “check-in”
- Computer/technologies
- Grocery shopping
- Medical appointment, only certified driver volunteers
The people who have volunteered to help you are listed in on the website in the pages of your login account. If you need the help in these areas, please call, or email. Remember - ASK (Allow Someone’s Kindness). If the volunteer you contact cannot help, the volunteer will be honest and say no. Ask another.
The Certified Drivers
We have 15 drivers who have all been vetted by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. These 15 certified drivers are listed on the CAN website in the login pages.
Other Accomplishments
Susan also noted that her team created the Volunteer Handbook this year and the list of recommended medical professionals. If you want to add to the list of medical professionals, please contact Diana Kriz.
The Vote
The membership voted, and by a super-majority, elected Debbie Bell as Treasurer, Debra Banks as Secretary, and Phyllis Eisenberg as Director, and passed the 2020 budget. Congratulations to all!
The meeting then adjourned for a celebratory feast of treats! It was a wonderful day.
Emergency Preparation 2019-10-25 Click to read. Click to close.
The program was about simple, basic steps we can all take to feel a little better prepared for powerful storms and other emergencies that are common in our area. Members felt that the emergencies that are most likely to occur are
Open the Home Emergency Preparation file for a preparation check-off list. Here are some other ideas for emergency preparation:
- Major storms bringing lost power, with the related losses such as heat, hot water, the ability to cook on an electric stove, and communication.
- Fire
- Water damage from plumbing failures
- Car problems
Open the Home Emergency Preparation file for a preparation check-off list. Here are some other ideas for emergency preparation:
- Refrigerate batteries to prolong their potency
- Acquire a battery backup for your sump pump
- Instead of matches, have a couple of inexpensive lighters on hand
- Use N95 dust masks to filter fine particles
- Fill the tub so you have water to flush toilets
- Purchase a drop-down ladder in case of fire
- Contact the office of the Aging for free smoke/ carbon dioxide detectors
- Keep car gas tank full
- Keep a record of medications and their location
- Check home plumbing. Turn off the water if you leave for a weekend or longer.
Revisiting Recycling 2019-11-08 Click to read. Click to close.
What the World Needs Now Is Conscientious Consumers
Why it's important to think of the planet BEFORE you buy
Kerri Scales, Director of Education and Outreach at Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, presented the program today.
Kerri notes that we are currently at a critical state in managing our waste. Our local landfill capacity is dwindling; currently, a roundtrip of 600 miles is required to handle our recycling. More and more, things are ending up in the trash. If things get worse, we may be forced to send our waste to Ohio. Right now, it costs Rocklanders $76/ton to dispose of trash —not including collection costs. And those costs are likely to rise.
Until recently, China had been buying most of our recyclables. Over time, because of contamination, a lot was simply being dumped. Sometimes, people would come out and sort the different types of recyclables. But the contamination kept getting worse. China started getting pickier, which created a global rift. Some other countries have taken up the slack, but things are becoming more critical.
The only thing that’s really going to help is for us to change our behaviors. We all can have an impact. Pick something to change from the way you’re currently doing it.
Tips
1. Plastic bags are recycled at the grocery, not in the recycling bins
The bags jam the processing equipment, which creates work stoppages that shut down the whole recycling facility – this happens daily. All large grocery stores have containers for your plastic bags, usually located at the door to the store. When you recycle your bottles and cans, do not put them in plastic bags to put in the recycling container.
2. What can I recycle?
People tend not to refer to the numbers on plastic containers anymore, but the only ones now recyclable are those with the numbers: 1, 2, 4, 5 or 7 – not the numbers 3 or 6.
3. Containers need to be clean
Food or liquids do not belong in your recycling bin. Ever. Period. This means all containers must be emptied and rinsed clean. Wash out that peanut butter jar! Left-over food and especially grease make recycling paper and cardboard near impossible, and these materials can contaminate entire batches. So please, no food or liquids, including grease, in recycling.
4. What is NOT acceptable for recycling at home
Recyclables under 2 inches in size, plastic bags, clothing, hangers, hardcover books, electronics, batteries, sharps, medical waste, pots, pans, bowls, utensils or cookware, ceramic plates or cups, hazardous material, plastic utensils, Styrofoam, window glass, light bulbs, toys, paper soiled with grease or paint, paper cups and plates, tissues napkins and paper towels.
5. Recycling Household Hazardous Waste
33 Firemen’s Memorial Drive, Pomona, NY 10970. Bring these things to 33 Firemen’s Memorial Drive, Pomona, NY 10970. For directions and the recycling schedule, go to http://www.rocklandrecycles.com/page/household-hazardous-waste-24.html
Bring fluorescent bulbs, paints, gasoline, pesticides, aerosols, batteries, electronics such as computers, monitors, printers, TVs, VCRs, CD players, radios, small refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.
Do not bring tires, asbestos, explosives, construction material, microwave ovens, compressed gas tanks, or sharps (needles and syringes).
This hazardous waste center is one of only 17 permanent Household Hazardous Waste disposal facilities in NY State. Among other things, it recycles over 1 million tons of e-waste (electronic waste) per year. It is easy to take materials there, so do use it! These materials do not belong in your garbage.
Other Rockland Programs
Operation Medicine Cabinet, which now accepts controlled substances through police stations and some pharmacies, and is putting pressure on the manufacturers of these products to take a larger stewardship role in their disposal.
Rockland Solid Waste Management also has a Yard Waste Composting center; and for food waste, they sell compost bins at cost – $55 – to encourage more waste management at the source.
They compost your sludge – i.e., everything you flush down your toilet. A special facility was built to treat solids. And that’s now become a revenue source – landscapers love it.
They have a facility in West Nyack that recycles concrete and asphalt.
Rockland used to sort and process plastics and glad, but their facility was old and so they now send it elsewhere to be sorted.
Please do your part to reduce our waste. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Why it's important to think of the planet BEFORE you buy
Kerri Scales, Director of Education and Outreach at Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, presented the program today.
Kerri notes that we are currently at a critical state in managing our waste. Our local landfill capacity is dwindling; currently, a roundtrip of 600 miles is required to handle our recycling. More and more, things are ending up in the trash. If things get worse, we may be forced to send our waste to Ohio. Right now, it costs Rocklanders $76/ton to dispose of trash —not including collection costs. And those costs are likely to rise.
Until recently, China had been buying most of our recyclables. Over time, because of contamination, a lot was simply being dumped. Sometimes, people would come out and sort the different types of recyclables. But the contamination kept getting worse. China started getting pickier, which created a global rift. Some other countries have taken up the slack, but things are becoming more critical.
The only thing that’s really going to help is for us to change our behaviors. We all can have an impact. Pick something to change from the way you’re currently doing it.
Tips
1. Plastic bags are recycled at the grocery, not in the recycling bins
The bags jam the processing equipment, which creates work stoppages that shut down the whole recycling facility – this happens daily. All large grocery stores have containers for your plastic bags, usually located at the door to the store. When you recycle your bottles and cans, do not put them in plastic bags to put in the recycling container.
2. What can I recycle?
- Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and lids
- Large rigid plastics like laundry baskets and 5-gallon pails
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum and steel cans, and clean aluminum foil
- Milk, juice and food containers that have been rinsed
- Paper, paper egg cartons, office folders and papers of any color, junk mail and envelopes, corrugated cardboard, paper bags
People tend not to refer to the numbers on plastic containers anymore, but the only ones now recyclable are those with the numbers: 1, 2, 4, 5 or 7 – not the numbers 3 or 6.
3. Containers need to be clean
Food or liquids do not belong in your recycling bin. Ever. Period. This means all containers must be emptied and rinsed clean. Wash out that peanut butter jar! Left-over food and especially grease make recycling paper and cardboard near impossible, and these materials can contaminate entire batches. So please, no food or liquids, including grease, in recycling.
4. What is NOT acceptable for recycling at home
Recyclables under 2 inches in size, plastic bags, clothing, hangers, hardcover books, electronics, batteries, sharps, medical waste, pots, pans, bowls, utensils or cookware, ceramic plates or cups, hazardous material, plastic utensils, Styrofoam, window glass, light bulbs, toys, paper soiled with grease or paint, paper cups and plates, tissues napkins and paper towels.
5. Recycling Household Hazardous Waste
33 Firemen’s Memorial Drive, Pomona, NY 10970. Bring these things to 33 Firemen’s Memorial Drive, Pomona, NY 10970. For directions and the recycling schedule, go to http://www.rocklandrecycles.com/page/household-hazardous-waste-24.html
Bring fluorescent bulbs, paints, gasoline, pesticides, aerosols, batteries, electronics such as computers, monitors, printers, TVs, VCRs, CD players, radios, small refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.
Do not bring tires, asbestos, explosives, construction material, microwave ovens, compressed gas tanks, or sharps (needles and syringes).
This hazardous waste center is one of only 17 permanent Household Hazardous Waste disposal facilities in NY State. Among other things, it recycles over 1 million tons of e-waste (electronic waste) per year. It is easy to take materials there, so do use it! These materials do not belong in your garbage.
Other Rockland Programs
Operation Medicine Cabinet, which now accepts controlled substances through police stations and some pharmacies, and is putting pressure on the manufacturers of these products to take a larger stewardship role in their disposal.
Rockland Solid Waste Management also has a Yard Waste Composting center; and for food waste, they sell compost bins at cost – $55 – to encourage more waste management at the source.
They compost your sludge – i.e., everything you flush down your toilet. A special facility was built to treat solids. And that’s now become a revenue source – landscapers love it.
They have a facility in West Nyack that recycles concrete and asphalt.
Rockland used to sort and process plastics and glad, but their facility was old and so they now send it elsewhere to be sorted.
Please do your part to reduce our waste. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Living Fully, Dying Well - Martha Roth 2019-11-22 Click to read. Click to close.
Martha Roth is a midwife who has been caring for women and families for over 25 years, and until 2016, her private homebirth and well-woman midwifery practice had been in Nyack. Over the past few years Martha has shifted her focus from beginning-of-life midwifery to end-of-life midwifery.
Through her experiences working with individuals and those close to them as the end of life approaches, Martha has seen that it is possible to enhance life experience right through to the end. But in our death-phobic culture, many people want to avoid thinking about death, even though it is the natural conclusion to everyone’s life.
If we want to have any say in how our lives will end, we need to actively plan ahead. Start with the end-of-life conversation. Have a family meeting, and invite someone outside the family who is comfortable talking about death to be with you to keep the focus on the person dying. For family and friends, how a loved one dies is a vitally important experience, and will have far reaching impact for those who live on.
If you have no plan, then the care you receive will be made out of fears of litigation, and convenience to the hospital or institution where you are. Making your wishes known to your family and loved ones is a gift to the survivors who won’t have to guess what you might have wanted, what the right choices will be, or what you might want said about you.
Martha answered some important questions, and urged us to spend time thinking about end of life issues.
New York State does not have a right to die law. One of the few choices you have in the face of unacceptable suffering at the end of life is VSED, voluntary stopping of eating and drinking. Other options carry with them the potential for a criminal investigation.
Think about what you would like to have said about you after you die. Ask a loved one to write an obituary for you, or write one yourself.
Those with dementia may not be able to articulate their wishes toward the end of their lives. It is important for them to make choices while they can. For example, they might write, “If I cannot feed or hydrate myself, I do not want anyone to do it for me,” sign and date that statement, and keep it with other records.
Advocacy for the patient by those who know their wishes is critical. If you do not want to be resuscitated, be sure that information is communicated to any medical personnel.
If you want to be an organ donor, be aware that you cannot die at home. As you age, you may become ineligible to donate most of your organs. If being an organ donor is important to you, learn what the process will be so your family is prepared for how your decision will impact how you are cared for at the end of life.
Through her experiences working with individuals and those close to them as the end of life approaches, Martha has seen that it is possible to enhance life experience right through to the end. But in our death-phobic culture, many people want to avoid thinking about death, even though it is the natural conclusion to everyone’s life.
If we want to have any say in how our lives will end, we need to actively plan ahead. Start with the end-of-life conversation. Have a family meeting, and invite someone outside the family who is comfortable talking about death to be with you to keep the focus on the person dying. For family and friends, how a loved one dies is a vitally important experience, and will have far reaching impact for those who live on.
If you have no plan, then the care you receive will be made out of fears of litigation, and convenience to the hospital or institution where you are. Making your wishes known to your family and loved ones is a gift to the survivors who won’t have to guess what you might have wanted, what the right choices will be, or what you might want said about you.
Martha answered some important questions, and urged us to spend time thinking about end of life issues.
New York State does not have a right to die law. One of the few choices you have in the face of unacceptable suffering at the end of life is VSED, voluntary stopping of eating and drinking. Other options carry with them the potential for a criminal investigation.
Think about what you would like to have said about you after you die. Ask a loved one to write an obituary for you, or write one yourself.
Those with dementia may not be able to articulate their wishes toward the end of their lives. It is important for them to make choices while they can. For example, they might write, “If I cannot feed or hydrate myself, I do not want anyone to do it for me,” sign and date that statement, and keep it with other records.
Advocacy for the patient by those who know their wishes is critical. If you do not want to be resuscitated, be sure that information is communicated to any medical personnel.
If you want to be an organ donor, be aware that you cannot die at home. As you age, you may become ineligible to donate most of your organs. If being an organ donor is important to you, learn what the process will be so your family is prepared for how your decision will impact how you are cared for at the end of life.
The Older Writers Laboratory (OWL) 2019-06-07 Click to read. Click to close.
SUMMARY: In the fall of 2017 Jim Ramsay invited members of Creative Aging in Nyack to join him once a week in writing memoirs and stories from their lives. And so was born the Older Writers Laboratory of Nyack – the OWLs. Nyack Library opened the door for him, inviting the OWLs to use the Maker Space for their meetings. Because it is a library program, members of OWL did not have to be members of Creative Aging in Nyack. They just needed to be brave enough and reflective enough to sit with each other, write, and listen encouragingly to one another. The OWLs have now put some of their essays and artwork together in a truly delightful book called THE OWLS OF NYACK.
FULL REPORT: On Friday Jim Ramsay and Jan Cohen both talked about the process the OWLs go through at each of their meetings. Jim gives them a prompt to which they respond in writing for about twenty minutes. Then the members read what they have written and comment on each others pieces. Later in the program members read pieces they were working on during the week to get some feedback from the other members.
We were treated to a reading by writers including Gabri’El Stollman, Sally Savage, and Anthony Fasano. These were rich, vivid, delightful stories. We all wanted more, and fortunately, the books were available for purchase after the meeting. If you could not be with us, the books will also be available at our meeting in two weeks, and they will be available at Pickwick. The books are $10 each.
We congratulate Jim Ramsay and all the members of OWL for sharing their stories and their artwork. Jim is a gifted teacher, coach and inspiration. Thank you to all of the OWLs. You inspire us.
FULL REPORT: On Friday Jim Ramsay and Jan Cohen both talked about the process the OWLs go through at each of their meetings. Jim gives them a prompt to which they respond in writing for about twenty minutes. Then the members read what they have written and comment on each others pieces. Later in the program members read pieces they were working on during the week to get some feedback from the other members.
We were treated to a reading by writers including Gabri’El Stollman, Sally Savage, and Anthony Fasano. These were rich, vivid, delightful stories. We all wanted more, and fortunately, the books were available for purchase after the meeting. If you could not be with us, the books will also be available at our meeting in two weeks, and they will be available at Pickwick. The books are $10 each.
We congratulate Jim Ramsay and all the members of OWL for sharing their stories and their artwork. Jim is a gifted teacher, coach and inspiration. Thank you to all of the OWLs. You inspire us.