Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS

· Music Classes for Seniors at DCC

The Dutchess County Office for the Aging has selected the Senior Citizens of the Year from nominations submitted by the community. Violet Dunkley of Rhinebeck was chosen as the Female Senior Citizen of the Year; R. Murray Suggitt of Wappinger is the Male Senior Citizen of the Year, and Paul & Marylou Roggemann of Hopewell Junction are the Senior Citizen Couple of the Year. In addition, Linda Thomas of Fishkill was selected to receive a Senior Achievement Award. They will all be honored by County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro at the annual “Celebration of Aging” luncheon on Monday, May 18th at 12 noon at the Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Road in Wappingers Falls.

The public is invited to attend this uplifting event, which features a full buffet lunch at a cost of $25.00 per person or $250 for a table of 10 as long as payment is received no later than April 17th. After that date, tickets (if they are still available) are $40 per person. Checks should be mailed or dropped off to the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. For more information, call (845) 486-2555.

Also honored at the Celebration of Aging are Dutchess County couples married for 70 or more years and residents who will be 100 years of age or more anytime in 2015. If you are aware of a resident of Dutchess County who falls into one of those categories, please contact our office at the number above. We would be happy to send them an invitation to be our guests at the event at no charge.

The Celebration of Aging is proudly sponsored by Wingate Healthcare, Prime Health Choice, Toll Brothers, Elant Choice, CDPHP, Hudson Cadillac Buick GMC, the Pines at Poughkeepsie, Zounds Hearing, and Hamaspik Choice.

The Pleasant Valley Library has qualified for a NY Council for the Humanities grant to present a four-part book discussion group on aging. Join them for a series of lively conversations exploring questions about growing older, making sense out of remembrances and finding happiness in later stages of life. Each class will be facilitated by Theresa Senato Edwards, a published local poet and scholar. Two texts will be provided by the library at time of sign up, and classes will meet at 6:30 PM on Thursdays April 9th, April 23rd, May 14th and May 28th.

In addition, the Friends of the Library have scheduled their HUGE Spring Book Sale for the weekend of April 10th. Over 20,000 books, CDs, and DVDs will be available for purchase at the Pleasant Valley Town Hall, 1554 Main Street. The sale begins on Friday, April 10th with a preview sale from 6PM – 9PM. There is a $5 admission fee for the preview sale only. On Saturday, the sale runs from 8AM – 8PM with free admission. Sunday you can fill a bag for $5 from 9AM – 2PM. Books are free at 2PM on Sunday. Donations for the sale can be dropped off at the library. For more information about either event, call (845) 635-8460.

To bring awareness to end-of-life decision-making, Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Hudson Valley Hospice will present the documentary “Consider the Conversation” at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, in the hospital’s conference room B, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie.

The award-winning film discusses the emotional, physical and social challenges at the end of life through thought-provoking personal accounts. It sheds light on the great divide separating the care people say they want in their final days with the reality of care given, including aggressive therapies. After the film, Dr. Mary Dunne, palliative medicine consulting physician at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, will lead a panel of medical experts who can answer audience questions.

This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Valet parking is available. Reservations by April 8 are required by calling 845-790-9356. For information, reach John Nelson at jnelson2@health-quest.org or 845-483-6418.

The Pines at Poughkeepsie is hosting a free Reverse Mortgage Seminar on April 14th from 4:00-5:30 PM. Adam Simpson a Senior Loan Officer from Residential Home Funding will present information about the benefits, disadvantages, disbursement options and who qualifies. Adam will also review recent guideline changes for this mortgage type. Reservations are strongly recommended, call Becky (845) 454-4100 ext. 318 to guarantee a spot. The Pines at Poughkeepsie is located on 100 Franklin Street in Poughkeepsie.

The White House Conference on Aging is an event held once a decade and is dedicated to identifying and advancing actions to improve the quality of life for older Americans. This year, the White House Conference on Aging (#WHCoA) is looking for national feedback, which is why the New York State Office for the Aging, the Association on Aging in NY and AARP NY have partnered to seek input from our state by way of a short, open-ended survey on each of the four #WHCoA themes: Retirement Security, Healthy Aging, Long Term Services and Supports and Elder Justice.

Click here for more information and to take the survey: www.agingny.org/WhiteHouseConferenceonAging.aspx.

Support Connections Inc. will host a support group session for women with breast, ovarian or gynecological cancers at Vassar Brothers Medical Center at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7.

Pre-registration for the group is required. To register or learn more, women may call 914-962-6402 or 1-800-532-4290.

Also:

Post questions, comment on discussions and find support about living with cancer by signing up for Health Quest’s newly launched CancerConnect.

This online community allows local cancer patients and their loved ones to interact with more than 50,000 other members across the country going through similar diagnoses and treatments at any time of day, from anywhere. Mid-Hudson Valley users can post within the Health Quest community or join conversations with individuals nationwide, or both. There are 60 cancer-specific groups and others focused on caregiving, health and wellness, clinical trials, insurance, nutrition and survivorship. All are professionally monitored.

Registering with CancerConnect is fast, free and confidential. You do not have to be a Health Quest patient. To access CancerConnect, visit www.healthquest.org/cancerconnect.

The Music School at Dutchess Community College (DCC) offers a variety of music classes and lessons of interest to seniors beginning in May 2015. Most classes are held on the DCC campus in Poughkeepsie and St. Peter’s School Convent.

The Music School offers a variety of GUITAR classes for beginners to advanced players, from individual lessons to group classes, for children age 6 through teens and adults. Or, perhaps you’d enjoy the always fun UKULELE on Fridays, July 10-August 14, 7:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m.!

INTERGENERATIONAL WOMEN’S CHOIR (AGES 9-90+) has daughters, mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers coming together to share voices. The last class is a performance. And, the tuition is for an individual or a family!

Have you always wanted to play the VIOLIN? Or, are you someone who played as a child and longs to return to the instrument? We offer 6 sessions of beginning, intermediate, or advanced violin classes this Summer, May 5-June 9 or July 7-August 11.

We’ve added another section to our SING & DRUM FOR 3-4 YEAR-OLDS & THEIR PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS. This class is for children and their adult caregiver(s) to explore singing, playing simple instruments and musicianship through movement. First section is May 16-June 13; second section is June 27-August 1. (No class on July 4).

KINDERMUSIK is a music program for you and your young grandchildren up to age 3. Enjoy musical activities together. There are a variety of times and dates.

Scholarships are available for eligible low-income families.

The Music School at DCC also offers individual lessons in all instruments and voice, group classes in guitar, violin, harp, voice, and jazz and chamber groups. A photo ID is required for the 65+ senior discount. For more information on any of these programs, please call (845) 431-8916 or go to

www.sunydutchess.edu/assets/DCC_MusicSchoolSummer2015.pdf.