Hilltowns Senior News for Wednesday, July 31, 2019
A large turnout of local residents participated in the second anniversary celebration of ACCESS Hilltowns (Albany County Center for Essential Supportive Services) at the Berne Senior & Community Center on July 29. Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County executive, addressed the group and gave high praise for the services provided by ACCESS.
Representatives from various agencies providing vital services to seniors and others provided information, and attendees each received a reusable bag filled with fresh fruit and vegetables from the Regional Food Bank.
Other groups hosting information tables included The Eddy, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Healthy Capital District Initiative, Legal Aid Society, Northeast Association of the Blind at Albany, Consumer Directed Choices, CDTA Access Program, and Albany County Veterans.
Also: Catholic Charities Senior & Caregiver Support Services; Alzheimer’s Association; Albany County Rural Housing Alliance; Albany County Department of Mental Health; County of Albany Department for Children, Youth and Families; Albany County Department of Social Services; and Albany County NY Connects.
Lunch program
Helderberg Senior Services offers a lunch program for seniors. Everyone aged 60 and older is welcome. A choice of meals is offered three days each week — Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays — at the Town of Berne Community & Senior Services Center at 1360 Helderberg Trail in Berne.
You can choose from two or three lunch options. Simply call Karen Stark 24 hours in advance at 518-937-5963 to reserve your lunch choice. Upcoming menus:
— Friday, Aug. 2 – Choice A: Beef stroganoff, braised red cabbage, egg noodles, whole wheat bread, applesauce, and a brownie. Choice B: BLT bow-tie pasta salad with chicken. Choice C: Baked fish, sweet potatoes, whole-wheat bread, applesauce, and a brownie.
— Monday, Aug. 5 – Choice A: Barbecued chicken, seasoned oven-roasted sweet potatoes, California blended vegetables, whole-wheat dinner roll, and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Choice B: Baked fish, seasoned oven-roasted sweet potatoes, California blended vegetables, whole-wheat dinner roll, and an oatmeal raisin cookie.
— Tuesday, Aug. 6 – We celebrate August birthdays with birthday cake for dessert. Choice A: Beef tips and egg noodles with gravy, parsley carrots, fruit juice, whole-wheat bread, and applesauce. Choice B: Chef salad with muenster cheese, turkey, ham, and hard-boiled egg, and fruit juice. Choice C: Baked fish, sweet potatoes, parsley carrots, fruit juice, whole-wheat bread, and applesauce.
— Friday, Aug. 9 – Choice A: Lemon garlic baked fish, mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach, whole-wheat dinner roll, and a brownie. Choice B: Egg salad on whole-wheat bread, broccoli salad, and apple juice. Choice C: Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach, whole-wheat dinner roll, and a brownie.
Meals are served at noon and doors open at 11 a.m. A $3 donation is suggested, but it is not mandatory. No one is ever refused a meal for lack of a donation. So come on over and join us for a tasty, nutritious lunch and stay for crafts and activities if you wish to participate. It’s healthy and fun to socialize with your peers!
Some of the activities you can partake in include painting classes, Mexican Train, card games, and puzzles. Bingo is played every third Friday of the month and prizes are given to the winners. Recently, some participants were taught how to make hats from a loom, and many hats were donated to Kenneth’s Army; its mission is to help children in need. Hat-making is ongoing, so come and learn how easy and fun it is to make these beautiful, useful creations.
County services
Individuals of any age can receive assistance each Tuesday at the center from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Eileen Bosworth from Albany County can assist with programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) and other county programs. Mike Green from the Albany County Veterans is available to assist veterans with obtaining hearing aids and eyeglasses, and to help with general veteran services.