Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of June 21st
SIX FRIENDSHIP CENTERS REOPEN TO SENIOR CLIENTS
Finally!
It’s been 15 months since Dutchess County seniors have been able to enjoy companionship and nutritious midday meals at Office for the Aging Senior Friendship Centers, but as of last week the doors at six of our eight centers are reopened, with full reopening soon to follow.
Even without seniors, the centers remained busy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as hubs for the OFA’s Home Delivered Meals program, which continues to provide nutritious meals to over 400 homebound seniors around the county.
By now, nearly all seniors who are able to visit a Senior Friendship Center are also fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but the centers are open to seniors regardless of vaccination status. Mask-wearing remains required for unvaccinated seniors at the centers, except when seated.
To find out if a Senior Friendship Center is right for you or a senior for whom you care, contact the Office for the Aging.
Here’s the list of reopened centers along with hours of operation and contact information:
BEACON (open Mon-Fri)
845-838-4871
1 Forrestal Heights
EAST FISHKILL (open Mon-Fri)
845-226-3605
East Fishkill Community Center
890 NY 82, Hopewell Junction
MILLERTON (open Mon-Thu)
518-789-3081
North East-Millerton Library Annex
28 Century Blvd., Millerton
PAWLING (open Tue-Thu)
845-855-9308
154 Charles Colman Boulevard, Pawling
(Town Hall Annex)
RED HOOK (open Mon-Fri)
845-475-1129
Red Hook Community Center
59 Fisk St., Red Hook
SOUTH AMENIA (open Mon-Thu)
845-275-2661
First Presbyterian Church
229 South Amenia Road, Wassaic
The OFA Senior Friendship Center at 114 Delafield St. in Poughkeepsie is not yet reopened, since it’s still being used as a distribution hub for home delivered meals in the greater Poughkeepsie area, along with the towns of LaGrange and Pleasant Valley. Also, we’re expecting to announce a new home soon for OFA’s Tri-Town friendship center, which will serve seniors in those two towns along with the town of Poughkeepsie.
IN-PERSON EXERCISE CLASSES ALSO RESUMING; VOLUNTEER LEADERS WANTED
For seniors looking to join OFA in-person exercise classes, an increasing number of them are taking place throughout Dutchess County, and demand for the classes has been strong. OFA’s latest Tai Chi class begins this week and is at capacity.
To register for an OFA exercise class, you must first fill out an application AND receive your doctor’s consent. Contact the Office for the Aging for the appropriate forms. Our program is modeled on a peer-reviewed, evidence-based program for improved bone density, balance and general health. The OFA Senior Exercise Program is partially funded by the New York State Office for the Aging and the U.S. Administration on Aging.
We hope to restore the number of exercise classes to pre-pandemic levels, but will need additional volunteer leaders to do so. For more information on becoming a volunteer exercise class leader, contact the Office for the Aging.
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone (845) 486-2555, email: ofa@dutchessny.gov website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
JUNETEENTH VACCINATIONS IN POUGHKEEPSIE
A walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic is taking place this Saturday, June 19th, at Juneteenth celebrations in the City of Poughkeepsie, at Mansion Square Park, 165 Mansion St. You can preregister for the June 19th clinic at www.dutchessny.gov/COVIDvaccine or by calling 845-486-3555.
PRINTED “SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS” COMING SOON
The print version of the Summer 2021 edition of OFA’s Spotlight on Seniors newsletter is in production, but you can read it right now by going to www.dutchessny.gov/aging and clicking on the box marked “Spotlight on Seniors.”
Once the print run is finished, we’ll bring newsletters to libraries, senior centers and other senior-frequented locations around Dutchess County, and we’ll also mail thousands of copies to seniors without internet access.
HOME DELIVERED MEALS – VOLUNTEER DRIVERS WANTED
Volunteer drivers have been key to the the Office for the Aging’s ability to deliver meals to homebound seniors throughout Dutchess County. If you are available during middays on weekdays to deliver in the greater Poughkeepsie area, the city of Beacon, and/or northwestern Dutchess County (Red Hook/Rhinebeck), please contact the Office for the Aging. A printable volunteer application is available at the OFA website, or you can have one emailed to you by sending an email to bjones@dutchessny.gov. Mileage reimbursement can be arranged for volunteer drivers who use their own vehicles for deliveries.
IN-PERSON FESTIVALS RESUMING
Houses of worship and civic organizations throughout Dutchess County are resuming in-person events, just in time for summer festival season and renewed socialization opportunities.
Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church of Poughkeepsie is presenting its annual Greek Festival on the weekend of June 25-27. Hours are 11am-8pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11am-7pm on Sunday.
Other aging news online:
A recently approved Alzheimer’s drug has a controversial history and future: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/07/1003964235/fda-approves-controversial-alzheimers-drug-aducanumab
Intense research on effective COVID-19 vaccines for transplant patients and the immunosuppressed is underway: https://bit.ly/3zCAkiT
A Navy sailor killed at Pearl Harbor was buried near family members this week, nearly 80 years after his death. Mess Attendant 3rd Class Isaac Parker would have been 97 this year: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/something-we-could-never-have-imagined-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-buried-80-years-after-his-death/ar-AAKShaY?ocid=msedgntp
Diana Ross is 77, and is releasing her first new music in 15 years: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57510065
This week in senior birthdays:
6/21: Singer-songwriter Ray Davies (The Kinks) (77)
6/22: Singer/songwriter/actor Kris Kristofferson (85)
6/23: US Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas (73)
6/24: Drummer Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) (79)
6/25: New York Knicks legend Willis Reed (79)
6/26: Singer Billy Davis, Jr. (The Fifth Dimension) (83)
6/27: Designer Vera Wang (72)
In case you used up all of last week’s Bad Jokes before Father’s Day, here’s a few more:
I have a pen that writes underwater. It writes other words, but ‘underwater’ is my favorite.
I wanted to buy a candle holder, but the store didn’t have one. So I got a cake.
Just adopted a cat from the local blacksmith. Soon as I got him home, he made a bolt for the door.
Just quit my job at the helium factory. I won’t be spoken to in that tone!
