Hilltowns Senior News for Thursday, May 25, 2017

What are you good at? No, I don’t necessarily mean showy or big money-making things. Those are essential, but they’re not what really keeps the world spinning.

Can you answer a telephone and get the message right? The Red Cross could certainly use you. Answering a phone can save someone’s life.  Can you carry a trash bag or swing a hammer? What do you think the inside of a house looks like after a flood? Can you drive? Can you drive a truck? If I’m elderly and have no car, or need a meal during an emergency, who will take me to the doctor, or transport donated food to a pantry or meal site?

You get my point.

When I worked for the Red Cross, someone described disaster response as building a city. When a town has been flattened by a tornado, or trashed by a hurricane, you need nurses and neighbors; bookkeepers and electricians; counselors and cooks; and drivers and damage assessment.  You need people who can prioritize and make lists, and keep track of who needs what and where. You need people to keep careful and accurate tallies of money spent, because most of it is donated. You need folks who can sit and listen while another person talks about how they’re feeling, or what they’ve lost.

All this applies even when there isn’t a disaster. Imagine you’re 85 or 90, and you can’t drive any more because your eyesight isn’t what it used to be. Your husband or wife died 11 years ago, and you’ve missed them ever since. The kids have moved away. You have a television and an elderly dog. The house needs repairs, but you can’t afford to hire a contractor, and climbing up a ladder wouldn’t be a very good idea even if you could. What is life like if nobody comes to visit? You don’t want to bother anyone, or ask for help; you’ll get by. Like it or not, any of us could end up in a situation like that.

So, could you go over to a neighbor’s house once in a while and see how they’re doing? Maybe take some extra cookies, or your toolbox because you noticed that some of the shingles are loose?  Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something, and everything you do makes a difference, whether you know it or not.

Getting off our rumps is good exercise. There is a national organization called Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster that includes churches, other faith-based groups, the Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, and numerous others who respond to disasters. If you’re interested, send an e-mail to   . Tell them your name, phone number, E-mail and skills, and put "Volunteer" in the subject line. Most local congregations know about VOAD.  Locally, you can call the Red Cross at (518) 458-8111; they have blood drives, respond to local fires, teach classes, and lots more.  Community Caregivers provides rides, meals, visits, and other services to individuals and their caregivers; call 456-2898, or email:   .

To honor our veterans, don’t forget the Memorial Day parades. Voorheesville is on Saturday, May 27. Berne and Knox parades will be Monday, May 29.

The Wednesday shopping bus (to Walmart, Whole Foods at Colonie Center, and who knows where else) will be May 31 and June 14. Call CDTA at 437-5161 two days in advance to schedule your ride.

The free Tuesday exercise class will be on May 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the Berne Senior Center. The class lasts about 20 minutes, and is conducted by Mary Jo McKeon. The exercises are  easy and low-impact, and help to improve balance and reduce stress.

A number of  post-lunch activities are upcoming at the Senior Center. Tuesday, May 30th is a class on decorating vases and making flowers. June 5th we will be making a woven box, and on June 6th there will be a nutritional presentation by Cooperative Extension of Albany County.

The Hilltown Seniors Anniversary Dinner will be held on June 4 at the Briar Creek Golf Course in Duanesburg. Choices are sirloin steak $12, chicken parmigiana $9, or baked haddock $8. Salad, sides, and dessert are included. Call Shirley Slingerland at  797-3467 to make a reservation.

Hilltown Seniors and others are invited to join a Schoharie trip to the Cornell Botanic Gardens on Wednesday, June 7. The bus will leave the Schoharie Park & Ride at 7 a.m. A stop for lunch on your own will be made at the Moosewood Restaurant. Cost is $50; call Betty Karlau at 295-7781 for reservations.

The Hilltowners next excursion will be a Lake George Lunch Cruise on July 11. Cost is $50 for members, and $60 for non-members. Shirley Slingerland is handling reservations; call her at 797-3467.

The South Westerlo Congregational Christian Church makes lunch on the first and third Thursdays every month. The church is located at 282 County Route 405. First Thursday is most likely pizza; third Thursday is usually a hot meal. Call Pastor Will Balta at 966-5094 for more information.

Need some legal advice? Appointments with attorneys from the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York can be scheduled at the Knox town hall by calling Pat Lightbody at 872-9400.

Next week’s menu for Helderberg Senior Services will be:

— Monday, May 29, Memorial Day no lunch;

— Tuesday, May 30, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, California blend veggies, wheat bread, mandarin oranges, and milk; and

— Friday, June 2, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli, wheat bread, applesauce, and milk

Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served promptly at Noon.  We also have transportation to and from lunch! Just ask Linda Hodges when you call with your reservation.

Does your trail trekkers group, military memorabilia collectors club, or ‘Nam Vets organization need an easy place to meet? Why not meet at the Senior Center? Come have lunch, and then get together with your friends! There’s plenty of space, and the center is open for all of us. We already have games, dominoes, and cards after lunch on Mondays and Tuesdays, so join us.  

Please call Linda Hodges 24 hours in advance to 872-0940 to reserve lunch, or 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 just like to come and help out, call Linda or send an email to , 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.