Hilltowns Senior News for Saturday, October 22, 2016
Saratoga is just a bit different. I’ve been in touristy towns before, and they all try to enhance the impression for which they’re famous. Maine residents wear slickers and heavy sweaters. Salem has just a bit of the Puritan about it, with singular accents of witchcraft; they even have an “official witch.” New York City is the melting pot, and really doesn’t need to do anything but exist to achieve that.
Saratoga, however, is fashionable. Not quaint like New England, not artsy like Woodstock, but exclusive looking. There are intellectual bookstores, gorgeous mansions with impeccably landscaped grounds, and stylish little parks.
Even the tourists are fashionable.You can pick out the locals, at least the ones who don’t work in the hospitality trade, because they are the only ones wearing real clothes. You know what I mean; they actually own things that are not this season’s style. Everybody else is “dressed,” even if it’s casualwear.
Of course, the people who depend on the tourists have “character.” They fit perfectly in their venues, whether it be the latest couture, leather goods, or hats. They exemplify the tourist-eye view of what they ought to be. It’s theater, and they do it well.
It is also definitely upscale: Where else have you encountered a shop that sells nothing but exotic olive oils and vinegars? Someone should open a place next door selling nothing but salads and grilled meats, and put in a doorway between.
It’s a great place for people-watching. I think if a movie director were shooting there, he (or she) would tone down the cast to make it more believable. The stylish folks sitting at the outdoor cafés are just a mite too stereotypical.
For instance, there are the “beige girls.” You know, the ones in the cashmere autumn-weight beige coats, with impeccably styled shoulder-length or a bit shorter beige hair (of course with no visible roots), wearing beige knee-high suede boots, a fine brown wool skirt (not too short), an ivory blouse (just off-beige, for accent) and peach-beige lipstick. A “quiet” outfit that screams the fact that it cost more than the down payment on your current house.
If you can never be too rich or too thin, Saratoga has more skinny expensive women than I’ve seen in a long time. I swear that the “plus size” shop (if they have one) stocks nothing above a size three.
We also have the “dangerous boy” types: slick, slightly-rough looking thirtyish-fortyish guys in black leather jackets, black T-shirts, close-cropped dark hair, and one gold or diamond stud earring (pun intended, as is the look). They wear tight designer jeans (but with no tacky label showing), and expensive athletic shoes.
I did see a couple of guys wearing flannel shirts, but they were from Eddie Bauer or Something-or-other Outfitters, never Carhartt, and the cuffs have not a thread out of place. The only manure you’ll find is at “the track,” and then it is kept carefully out of sight by men who speak no English, but will do any job to support their families. Only hard workers survive in these jobs; having enough time to be a derelict is restricted to the higher-paying positions.
It’s a lot of fun, but I encourage you to limit the amount of cash or credit you bring if you don’t wish to incur your own version of the national debt. There are deals to be had, but those only soften you up for the rest of the oh-so-unique and fashionable goodies that you will have to have, or buy for Mary Anne because you just couldn’t resist.
Coming up
On a more affordable plane, October is Adopt A Dog Month , Financial Planning Month, International Walk To School Month, National Go On A Field Trip Month, and National Toilet Tank Repair Month. The week of the 23rd - 29th is National Massage Therapy Week, Rodent Awareness Week, and Give Wildlife a Brake! Week.
Mother-in-Law Day is the 23rd, as is National Mole Day, and Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day. United Nations Day is the 24th, and International Artists Day and World Pasta Day are the 25th. Howl at The Moon Night is October 26th.
The National Day of The Deployed is also the 26th. Champagne Day, National Breadstix (Bread Sticks) Day, National Chocolate Day, and St. Jude's Day are all on the 28th, and the 29th is National Cat Day.
Friday, Oct. 21, is the next health presentation by the folks from Walgreen’s Pharmacy.They will be speaking about depression; what are the indications, and what to do about it. This is an important topic for seniors, because we may not easily recognize it in ourselves or our friends.
Sign up now at the senior center for the trip to the Festival of Nations on Sunday, Oct. 23. The bus leaves the senior center at 1 p.m. and will return by 5 p.m. Cost is a whopping $4. Contact me at 872-9370 for more info.
Albany County is sponsoring a Senior Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 26. This is our opportunity to learn about services for seniors, and talk to service providers and our elected officials to tell them what programs and services we really want or need. It will be held at St Sophia’s Church on Whitehall Road in Albany from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Assorted breakfast snacks will be served, so please register by signing up at the senior center, or calling Scott Siegel at 447-7040. Transportation will be provided; if you haven’t signed up yet, call Phyllis at 872-9370 if you need a ride. The bus will leave the Senior Center at 8 a.m.
November 1 is a free concert at 1 p.m. at Proctor’s in Schenectady, featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra. Call Linda Carman of the Hilltown Seniors at 872-2448 to reserve your free tickets. Transportation will be provided by Helderberg Senior Services. Bus will leave at 11:30 a.m.
The next shopping bus to Walmart and Colonie Center will be on Nov. 2. Call CDTA at 437-5161 two days in advance to arrange for pickup.
Menu
In case you missed the announcement last week, the lunch program is now offering transportation to and from lunch! No driving in the rain, or wondering if you feel up to taking the car out; we can provide door-to-door service! Just let Linda Hodges (872-0940) know you’d like a ride when you call to reserve lunch.
We also have the lunchtime menu for next week at the Berne Community and Senior Services Center. Swap tales with friends, and enjoy a lunch that you don’t have to cook. Doors open at 11 AM, and lunch is served promptly at Noon. We also have games, dominoes, and cards on Mondays and Tuesdays.
— Monday, Oct. 24, lemon oregano fish, stewed tomatoes and zucchini, hash brown potatoes, rye bread, and citrus ambrosia;
— Tuesday, Oct. 25, herbed chicken with gravy, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, wheat bread, and tapioca pudding; and
—Friday, Oct. 28, tuna salad on wheat, hearty bean soup, pickled beets, apple juice, and brownie.
Please call Linda Hodges 24 hours in advance to 872-0940 to reserve lunch or arrange transportation. You can also email her at: , or sign up when you come in. Tell us how many are coming, your name, and your telephone number. If you’d like to help out, give Mary Moller a call at 861-6253, or email her at , and put “volunteer” in the subject line.
Lunches are provided by Helderberg Senior Services, the Albany County Department of Aging, and Senior Services of Albany. The Town of Berne Community and Senior Services Center is located at 1360 Helderberg Trail (Route 443) in Berne.