December Prime

your life...your timePrimedecember 2011 free

Prime people

calendar donations allow woman to sPread cheer to others.

Prime planning

2Road Scholar lends adventure, knowledge to travelers

WORLD ‘CLASS’

Prime advice

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Think outside the tourRoad Scholar offers educational travel

cover story

by Jennifer wingLooking for adventure and ways to have fun

while improving your mind? Always wanted to travel to new and different places but been too busy with the everyday, 9-to-5 grind or with raising a family and all that entails?

Road Scholar may be just the ticket for you, as it is for many older Americans who are enjoying their retirement, healthier and more vibrant than retirees before them.

Road Scholar got its start as Elderhostel Inc., a not-for-profit founded in 1975. Its mis-sion: to offer adults opportunities to remain active after retirement while giving them con-tinued opportunities to learn. Road Scholar now offers more than 7,000 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, participants get to experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Fayetteville resident Marti Vasiliades, 68, has been on several trips through Road Scholar and said the programs in which she’s partici-pated have been both fun and rewarding.

“I really do see the trips as taking an adven-ture,” she said.

Vasiliades retired in 1997 as an eighth grade science teacher in the East Syracuse-Minoa School District, and had taken many trips prior to participating in a Road Scholar program, but has said there is a great difference between the tours she has taken and what is offered through Road Scholar.

“If you want to visit an area and like to meet new people and to learn, Road Scholar really is the way to go,” she said. “You can learn about your destination in a very short time.”

Vasiliades’ first Road Scholar trip was in 2008 to Cape May, N.J., with her husband, Chris, 78, a retired carpenter, and friends.

faQswhat is the cost?

The average cost for programs is $150 perday on adventures in the U.S. and $275 per day (not including airfare) on international adventures and includes accommodations, meals, lectures, activities, transportation within the program, taxes, gratuities and a travel assistance and insurance plan. how long are the trips?

Average duration of a U.S.-based program is six days; for an international-based program - 13 days. how physically fit do i need to be?

Road Scholar programs are assigned an activity level rating for participants to select the appropriate programs for their physical ability.

Marti Vasiliades, in Santa Fe at THE OLD TRADING POST with clerk, MaryAnne, Judy from Connecticut, Lynette from California and Billi from Ithaca.

CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: The “red rock” formations north of Santa Fe; Chili peppers abound in New Mexico; Typical adobe in the Santa Fe area. Photos courtesy of Marti Vasiliades.

ON THE COVER: Mary Gunn of Auburn is pictured, behind the wheel to the right, on her Road Scholar trip aboard a two-masted schooner, pictured entering Boston Harbor.

See Road Scholar on page 5

2 decemberPrime2011 eaglenewspapers

3decemberPrime2011eaglenewspapers

A monthly publication devoted to Central New Yorker’s in the “Prime” of their lives.

Prime is published monthly by Community Media Group LLC, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.

Primeyour life...your time

questions, comments, news? email [email protected]

Publisher David B. Tyler

editor Jennifer Wing, 434-8889, ext. 340associate editor Farah F. Jadran, [email protected]

salesHeidi Tyler 434-8889 ext. 320Joan Brockway Griffiths, 662-3690Jack Gardner, 434-8889 ext. 304

Timeless fashion for everyoneWant a one-stop-shop for both modern and vintage fashion? Look no further, because the village of Liverpool has a recently placed gem in its community. Owner and founder of Coming Around Again Consignment Bou-tique, Maria Bishop, pictured at right, has put her passion into play by opening her own business. Bishop is proud to offer exquisite vintage clothing, shoes and accessories. Her shop, located at 330 First St. in Liverpool, of-fers period pieces featuring many decades of fashion and flare. In the November/December edition of Syracuse Woman Magazine, Bishop helped create two looks for a local professional woman. Lauren Crossett, a financial services professional for CNY Agency, said this was her first visit to the boutique, but won’t be her last. “Maria was so much fun to work with and it was interesting to hear all the stories about the piece I tried on,” Crossett said. “There’s something for everyone here.” Check out the pieces that created two dynamic “fashion forward” ensembles! For more information on this fashion hotspot, call (315) 383-1808.

Boutique peek

Rise and Shine Diner - Pete’s Place Pleased to be joining the Prime team

While I have contributed to this publi-cation as a freelance writer in the past, this will be the first edition that I am contrib-uting as the associate editor. I am most definitely honored and excited about this new venture.

Some of you might recognize me as the current editor of Syracuse Woman Magazine, which has been my primary focus since November of 2010.

For some time, I also served as editor of the Madison Eagle, the Eagle Star-Review and Clay Insider. Needless to say, I have covered a few differ-ent areas in both Madison and Onondaga counties.

Every endeavor has taught me new things and has given me the pleasure of meeting new and interesting people. My favorite thing about being an editor/reporter is that I get to be the voice for countless people. I get to share their stories that might otherwise be sheltered and never shared with others.

In addition to my role at Syracuse Woman Magazine, Prime and Par-ent, I am an adjunct professor at the School of Communication, Media and the Arts at SUNY Oswego. I teach a few classes in Oswego each semester, and it has been a great experience. My students remind me of how much I love to learn and how there is always something new to be added to your brain bank.

In the past year-and-a-half, I have also joined many organizations and served on a few non-profit planning committees. I was recently nominated and elected as a director at large for the Women’s Business Opportunities Connections Board of Directors for the next two years. The WBOC is a piv-otal part of the Central New York community and it’s an incredible source of support for women in all aspects of professionalism.

I spent this past fall training for, and eventually running and complet-ing in, the 34th Bank of America Chicago Marathon held on Oct. 9. I also coached the Fayetteville-Manlius Pop Warner Pee Wee Cheerleading squad. Both the training and the coaching kept me on my toes!

Once again, I am pleased to be joining the Prime/Parent team and I look forward to getting to know all our readers better with each edition.

Farah Jadran can be reached at [email protected].

Prime opinion

You might have thought with the downsizing of Carrier, that the Rise and Shine Diner on Thompson Road would be no more. But that’s not the case and thankfully so for those who enjoy a tasty breakfast or lunch - regular loyal customers have seen to that!

Owner Pete Henessey is not new to the restaurant business in Syracuse. He grew up in a restaurant family and owned a number of local eateries as well - The Brookside, Cecil’s and the Lock, Stock and Bagel to name a few.

Pete’s experience and cooking skills are in full view at the Rise and Shine, which he has owned for seven years. Home cooking is key - including home made soups, gravies and pies.

I’ve eaten at the Rise and Shine a number of times and never been disappointed. Recently my partner Jan and I enjoyed breakfast there, which is served all day on weekends. With five omelets to choose from, plus a “Build Your Own Omelet” choice, plus egg combos, a Frittata, four breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, french toast, steak and eggs and oatmeal, it might take you a while to make your choice, as it did us. Jan decided on the Greek Omelet with feta cheese (and plenty of it!), spinach, mushrooms and onions, served with home fries and Italian toast. He gave a big approval to this choice. (More on the home fries later!) Priced at $5.95 it’s a bargain. I chose the Two-Two-Two-Two dish with two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausages and two pieces of French toast. Again a bargain at $6.25.

So back to the home fries...when speaking with Danielle Campolito, the restaurant manager, (and I am guessing Pete’s right hand person), I tried in vain to find out what seasonings were in the home fries. After tasting Jan’s, I was sorry I hadn’t ordered some myself and certainly will the next time. Danielle kept the secret ingredient secret, so you will have to go and try them for yourself and take your best guess!

I also recently stopped in for a lunch, ordering a grilled ham and cheese melt on rye with a side of mac and cheese. A doggie bag is generally required after a big dinner, but after lunch...? The sandwich was big enough for lunch plus dinner later. The mac and cheese was definitely homemade and did not end up in the doggie bag! A lunch and dinner for $6.75 - again a great deal. Other lunch items include six salad choices, five types of burgers including “Pete’s Thousand Island Burger”, six melts and six chicken specials, plus daily specials and desserts. A kids menu with both breakfast and lunch selections is also

available.For as many times as you may have driven down Thomp-

son Road., you might still have missed the location of the Rise and Shine. Located behind Valvoline, it’s a little hard to spot but definitely worth the hunt. An extensive catering menu is also available. Don’t feel like cooking for the holidays? Call and order a holiday turkey with all the trimmings. Delivery is avail-able within a 10-mile radius.

Colleen Farley is Prime advertising manager. She can be reached at [email protected].

DinerColleen Farley TALK Farah

JadranAssociate Editor

rise and shine dinerOpen seven days

6 a.m. - 2 p.m.6393 Thompson Road

Phone: 432-5510Fax Orders: 432-5512

Email: [email protected] for menu/specials: face-

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by farah f. JadranWhen $50 is your total income for each month, you have to spend

wisely. Paying for personal items, clothing and any bills must be taken care of before any little perks are even considered.

For Ruth, a resident at Castle Rest Nursing Home (now known as Central Park), having a simple thing like a calendar became a luxury.

“She didn’t have any extra funds to buy a calendar,” said Diane Ad-ams, a 19-year long-term care ombudsman in Onondaga County. “And she didn’t have any family to go get her a calendar.”

Adams, a Fayetteville resident, knew Ruth wanted a calendar of her own, one she could keep in her room. Since Ruth loved cats, Adams brought Ruth a few feline-inspired calendars to choose from.

“It was so important to her,” Adams said about Ruth. It can be easy to lose track of the date when living in any long-term care facility, ac-cording to Adams who has worked with numerous area facilities and nursing homes.

She looks back now and remembered how grateful Ruth was for such a simple gesture. “She even wrote me a note,” Adams said, one she has hung on to over the years.

After Ruth expressed the desire for a calendar, Adams realized there were probably more residents in the nursing home that might want one, too. And so Adams began accepting calendar donations so she could offer a calendar to everyone at Castle Rest and all other nursing homes in the county.

That was 17 years and somewhere around 10,000 calendars ago.Adams has continued to collect calendars at more than a half-dozen

donation drop-off locations and while she still visits all 13 nursing homes in the county, she also makes an effort to bring calendars to adult care facilities. If there are enough calendars left after that, she then visits the local senior centers.

Each year the Contribution Committee at MeadWestvaco in Sidney, N.Y., sends between 200 and 300 calendars to help with her long list of calendar recipients.

Two of her fellow long-term care ombuds-men, Barry Nicholas and Bob Graves, also help pick up and sort calendars for deliveries. A longtime friend, Bev Collins, contributes to the calendar campaign by collecting calendars at the North Area Meals on Wheels location where she is a volunteer.

The added calendar collectors are helpful to Adams’ main goal of delivering a calendar to every nursing home resident that wants one. The largest home in the county is the Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center with 554 beds, and the Nottingham RHCF is the smallest with 40 beds.

On any given day of the year, Adams said

her living room is always the same stocked wall-to-wall with calen-dars. “It’s been that way for years,” Adams said. When she came up with the idea, she asked her husband to “sit down.”

“I always told him to sit down when I had an idea,” Adams said about her late husband Gordon.

Adams and her husband would have celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this past November, which made her think about how willing Gordon was to help with the calendars. “He was happy to do that,” Adams said.

The activity directors at the nursing homes and adult care facilities know Adams very well. The Gifford Place Residential Services is one that Adams has delivered calendars to for years.

As a long-term ombudsman, Adams is well tuned to the issues nurs-ing home residents might face. She advocates for them and is called upon by Toni Buckley, the director of local Long-term Care Ombudsman Program that is run through Catholic Charities of Onondaga County.

All her life she has been involved in volunteerism, a quality she hopes to pass along to her 16 grandchildren.

With the new year approaching, Adams is preparing to make many de-liveries before Christmas so that all recipients can choose a calendar to call their own.

“It’s not just the pictures [for each month] but it’s the sayings, too,” Adams said. Many calendars include famous quotes or scriptures to accompany each month. Ad-ams says one bible scripture from the Book of Peter explains why she has continued to collect and deliver calendars: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” It’s become a part of her everyday life.

“Little things in life people really enjoy a talk, a visit, a calendar,” Adams said. “They’re very appreciative.”

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Why volunteer?by brenda hunt

Spectrum Retirement CommunitiesBecause it is good for you! Enhance

your community while enjoying rewarding benefits....

While making a difference in someone else’s life you can be enhancing your own. While you may want to make a difference in someone else’s life, the benefits to you are monumental. The benefits of volunteering are also enormous to your family and the community in which you volunteer.

The right volunteer job match can help you find new friends, build your confi-dence, improve your mental & physical health, learn new skills, and even have some FUN. You as a volunteer will get a lot out of the experience. Good Volunteering is rewarding for everyone involved. make new friends

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relation-ships is to commit to a shared activity to-gether. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to a community. It also exposes you to people with common interests while doing fun and fulfilling activities. It is a way to engage and be a part of your community. It is a way to plug yourself in again and get charged up.

Another important benefit of volunteer-ing and making new friends is reducing the risk of depression. A key risk for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and help you develop a strong support system, which can protect you against stress and depression. improve your confidence

Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence. You are do-ing well for others, which provide a sense of accomplishment. The better you feel about yourself the more likely you are to have a positive view about your life. You also may learn and do things that you might not normally get a chance to do. This is a real confidence booster. improve your health

Volunteering can offer you tangible physical and mental health benefits. It is a known fact that volunteering makes you feel good. It is good for your health at any age, but especially for older adults.

A 10-year study of the physical, health and social activities of 2,700 men in Te-cumseh, Mich., found that those who did regular volunteer work had death rates two and a half times lower than those who did not. A study at the Cornell University documented a similar trend in women- those who volunteer are 16 percent less likely to experience a major illness during the course of their lifetime than those who do not.

Could this be because you are connect-ing with other people on a positive social level? Research has shown that if you have a strong social support system you will tend to have overall better health than those that

see volunteer on page 11

Prime advertiser news

It’s the little thingsFayetteville woman follows calling to give to others

make your calendar donationCommunity members are encouraged to join

the calendar cause and drop off calendars for 2012 at he following locations through January:3Manlius Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Way3Eastern Hills Bible Church, 8277 Cazenovia

Road, Manlius3Central Library at the Galleries of Syracuse,

447 S. Salina St., Syracuse3Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St.3Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 E. Genesee St.3Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St.3Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St.,

Camillus

Prime people

FARAH F. JADRAN

Diane Adams displays some of the calendars she received through donations.


Road Scholar from page 2

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“The trip was suggested by friends of ours, [retired Fayetteville-Manlius High School guidance counselor] Dave and Deb Bender and six of us went,” she said. “It dealt with the period at the end of WWII, and some of our field trips there included bunkers along the beach built by the U.S. to scan the ocean for German submarines – it was amazing. They had a whole big thing on the music of the time, and brought in experts.”

They also took a trip to Savannah, Ga, and stayed in the historic district.

“They don’t put you in dorms, Vasiliades said. “You stay in nice hotels in areas where you can walk when you have free time. In Savannah I went back to the market four times – I am a basket weaver and sweet grass baskets are big in Savannah so I had to have one.”

The couple took trips to San Antonio, Texas, and Charleston, S.C.

“In Charleston we had a free afternoon and nine of us hired one of the speakers to take us in his minibus to an island to get a better look at the gulla – we spent a great afternoon there.”

Then came Santa Fe, N.M., a trip Vasiliades had much anticipated due, in part, to her pas-sion for collecting turquoise.

“I ran into a woman I had met on the [public] bus who was a clerk in a jewelry store. They had wonderful stuff and I returned with other women on the tour the next day to visit the store,” she said. “We had a free aftenoon in Santa Fe and went to visit the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, where Georgia O’Keefe had lived – we saw the beautiful Blue River and drove by her house, which blended right into the rocks the way a lot of the modern architecture is in the area.”

Auburn resident Mary Gunn’s experience with Road Scholar began differently than Vasiliades.’

“When I first retired as a math teacher in Waterloo, I was on the web looking for per-forming groups and found out about SUNY Albany Performing Arts Elderhostel Gather-ing Community Band.”

A trumpet player, she joined the group in 1999, “and it was great. I knew some of the people known from my musical past and met some new people,” Gunn said. “From that I learned about the program and took a trip to Boston that was a sailing experience on a two-masted schooner from Boston Harbor to Provincetown. During the four-day program there was a crew of 20, seven of which were professionals. It was old fashioned sailing, with the only power generator used by the cooks.

Gunn called the trip “terrific. The weather was phenomenal and we enjoyed light winds as well as a night in Provincetown once we docked there.”

Once she took that first trip she then “branched out.”

My children live in Kentucky and Ten-nessee so I started combining family trips

with what was offered in Road Scholar. I have traveled a lot in Virginia and am interested in the Civil War and Colonial America. I went to Gettysburg this past year, and have been to Charlottsville, visited the D-day museum, the Booker T. Washington museum and have gone hiking on the Appalachian Trail.”

She also took a bicycling trip on the 34-mile-long Creeper Trail in Virginia.

“It’s an old railroad that went up to a moun-taintop and was used in the logging industry,” she said. “It was fun.”instructors who inspire

Road Scholar instructors are both authori-ties on the featured topic or destination and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer questions, hear opinions and share in the experience. Road Scholar has a knack for showing the world’s landmarks, natural wonders and myriad cultures in a way that an individual just can’t do on their own.

“The tours are fairly booked with lectures and fields trips,” Vasiliades said. “We learned so much in five days about an area that you would never learn on your own. Road Scholar

is usually afficilated with a college or university for its trips. For instance, for a trip we took to Santa Fe, the University of Northern New Mexico booked us with both an English and history professor, and we studied the literature, history and architecture of the area. The history professor was so wonderful that I believe, if I would have had him for history in college, I would have been a history major.”solo travelers welcome

Planning to travel alone? No problem! With Road Scholar, traveling as a single doesn’t mean traveling alone, as the organization can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, singles can choose to room on their own.

“It is a great way to travel solo,” Gunn agreed. “I think people who go alone sometimes have more time than couples, because you get to do what you want to do. The other people [on the trip] are welcoming. I found that there were at least a quarter doing it on our own during each tour, and I’ve met great people. I keep in contact with at least one person from every trip, it seems like.”leave your wallet, cares at home

Except for the occasional meal on some programs, Road Scholar programs are all-inclusive. That means there are no extra op-tions, no passing the hat around for tips and no surprises. From gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the price you pay up front is the price you pay. Road Scholar handles all the details, including the ones that might not be anticipated. They’ve taken the worry out of

the planning, so participants can focus on their learning experience.

“Once you sign up for program, you receive all kinds of information about your trip – what to expect, where you’ll be staying, the meals you’ll have,” Gunn said. “I always say it’s like being a kid again - once you get there every-thing is taken care of and pre-paid. You have an itinerary, but they always build in a certain amount of free time. I use it to geocash [trea-sure hunt with a gps] and usually get two or three people who haven’t done it before who want to come along.”

In addition, the Road Scholar Travel As-sistance Plan, which is automatically included in the cost of our programs, provides peace of mind by ensuring you will be cared for in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Gunn found that particular assurance to be true. “I signed up to do a canoeing trip in the Adironacks when a hurricane ripped through and we were stranded when a bridge washed out. We stayed at a lovely inn in the high peaks in Lake Placid during that time and before I even got back all money refunded. They put us up for four days in that inn and they paid for meals too.”

She said although she’s only traveled in the U.S. through Road Scholar, she has heard great things about their worldwide programs. “One woman made an Atlantic crossing on the Queen Elizabeth and said it was amazing.”

For more information on Road Scholar visit roadscholar.org or call 1-800-454-5768.

most popular programs There are a variety of experiences available

through Road Scholars, including:Adventures Afloat: Traverse some of the

world’s most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Intergenerational: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging genera-tions and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what adventurers can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school-children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning programs are an opportu-nity to make a difference in the world.


Prime hearing

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Hearing aid consumer beware

Wireless technology drives advances in hearing aid design and accessoriesTechnology plays a central role in the lives of

most people. It connects people to each other, to the news, to their jobs, to their families and more through smart phones, social media and wireless “hot spots.” For the hearing impaired, technology has not only helped Miracle-Ear to offer smaller,

more effective hearing aids – it has also inspired a new generation of hearing aid accessories that allow wearers of assistive hearing devices to benefit from and enjoy today’s communications revolution.

For example, Miracle-Ear has leveraged

Bluetooth wireless technology to allow hearing aid wearers to sync their hearing devices with everyday technology like their TV, cell phone, or MP3 player using a handheld remote. This wireless capability means that the Miracle-Ear mini MEBluConnect technology functions like

a wireless headset, allowing users to enjoy clear vocal exchanges over cell phones and to set a comfortable volume level for listening to conver-sations, music, events and more. This opens up a world of mainstream technology to the hearing

Many people in need of hearing aids are dis-mayed to discover hearing aids are not covered by Medicare or most health insurance plans. It has been a historical problem and efforts by many groups to change the lack of coverage through congressional legislation have so far been unsuccessful. The recent announcement by United Healthcare (UHC), the largest U.S. insurer by revenue, to offer an online diagnostic, treatment and distribution model for hearing healthcare is not the change hoped for and has prompted growing concerns within the health community.

Hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and must be recommended, sold and fit by qualified health professionals. Omitting an evalu-ation and treatment by a licensed audiologist or hearing healthcare professional puts the patient at risk to have a missed diagnosis of a serious underlying health condition that requires medi-cal intervention as well as subsequent hearing loss as a result of improper fitting of hearing aids. The UHC model also limits the choice of hearing aid manufacturer, model and technology.

Dr. Eric Hagberg, president of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology said “This undermines every good practice with regard to hearing healthcare as this diagnosis and delivery model is unsound, unsafe and unreliable. Without the proper diagnosis, counseling, hearing aid fitting and follow-up evaluations, successful treatment for hearing loss cannot be achieved. The purchase and use of hearing aids without a proper exami-nation, diagnosis and counseling is a recipe for poor treatment outcomes and increased risks.”

The Academy of Doctors of Audiology, American Academy of Audiology, International Hearing Society, and Better Hearing Institute are all warning against “do-it -yourself hearing care” and urge consumers who suspect that they have hearing loss to seek treatment from a licensed au-diologist or other hearing healthcare professional to ensure the proper diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, and to identify potentially serious underlying medical conditions. Further, they remind consumers that even when hearing loss is detected through comprehensive examination, hearing aids are not always the recommended course of treatment for hearing loss.

Better Hearing provides sound adviceBetter Hearing of Madison County is “Your Main Street Source

for Hearing Health Care.” In the same location in Oneida for 23 years and Morrisville for one-and-a-half years, their mission is to provide sound advice in a skilled and caring manner. They are a locally owned hearing aid dispensing office. They pride themselves in providing the education and quality aftercare that you need to improve your hearing difficulties. Consulting with your primary care physician allows them to provide you or your loved one with the best hearing healthcare possible. After-hours appointments are available to accommodate their patients’ busy lifestyles.

Living environment, financial situation and lifestyle are all considered when recom-mending solutions for hearing difficulties. They are patient-focused, not product-focused. The licensing and registration requirements necessitate that their dispensers have at least 12 continuing credit hours of training per year; at Better Hearing they exceed that requirement because they feel compelled to keep abreast of the rapidly changing field of hearing technology.

Linda Bailey is a member of the International Hearing Society (IHS), board certified in hearing instrument sciences and the title of audioprosthologist has been conferred on her by the American Council on Education and National Institute of Hearing Instru-ment Sciences. As such, Better Hearing abides by the code of ethics set forth by the IHS and strives to do everything in their power to merit the confidence their patients have shown in them.

Come in or call the staff at Better Hearing, 121 Main St., Oneida, or 18 E. Main St., Morrisvillle and see how easy it is to work with them. Linda, Hollie, Kelly and Erin look forward to helping you with your hearing requirements, call 363-7869 or 684-1005.

Linda Bailey

See Miracle Ear on page 14


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Enjoy a Dickens Christmas

Lydia Shahan , of Tully, plays a Dickens regular, “Permelia Pluckrose.” She has been involved in Dickens since she was 8 years old. see dickens on page 11

Tis the Season for Skaneateles specialsShop in Skaneateles from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday,

Dec. 8. The merchants of Skaneateles will offer discounts, coupons and Dickens’ themed food and drink specials to visitors as part the 18th Annual Dickens’ Christmas in Ska-neateles.

“The concept is to encourage people from around the area to come to Skaneateles to do their Christmas shopping without all the crowds of Dickens’ on the weekends,” said Su-

san Dove, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. “The other bonus is many of the shops will be offering discounts on their unique merchandise. Your loved ones will be thrilled with that one of a kind item you will find in our stores.”

Shoppers can also enter to win raffle prizes including a gift certificate for an overnight stay at the Mirbeau Inn & Spa, tickets to a Syracuse University Basketball game, a gift



Great gifts for him...

In a fall or emergency, every second counts. Philips Lifeline with AutoAlert is the ONLY medical alert pendant that can automatically call for help, even if you can’t push your button.

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Offering a full line of the most technically advanced hearing aids to fit individual needs, and all include our Complete Hearing Health Care.

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“Camillus Ridge Terrace...A Lifestyle of Wellness

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Camillus Ridge Terrace2453 West Genesee Turnpike (Rte. 5)

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North Face Apex Bionic JacketFor windy, cold weather activities, this coveted soft shell will keep him warm and windchill-free beneath its windproof exterior and comfortable fleece backer. Pictured in Drummer Blue. $129-$149, thenorthface.com.

Stainless Steel Custom NFL flask

He’ll be ready for kickoff with this Great American NFL team Stainless Steel Custom six-ounce stainless steel flask. In a variety of teams. $39.95, nflshop.com.

Timex T5E231 Ironman Triathlon watch

Features 100-hour chronograph with lap or split option, 100-lap memory recall, 199 lap counter, on-the-fly recall of lap or split, interval timers settable up to 24 hours. and the Timex Flix system, which activates the Indiglo night-light with a flick of his wrist. $69.95, amazon.com.

Steve Jobs by Warren IsaacsonThe exclusive biography of the man behind the Mac. $35, barnesandnoble.com.



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513 S. Main Street (RT 11), N. Syracuse, NY452-0744 | www.welchjewelers.com

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Pulse by Beyoncé The singer’s third fragrance, it includes hints of pear blossom, curaçao, bergamot, bluebird orchid, peony, night blooming jasmine, vanilla, musk and woods.

Womens Classic Tall Ugg boot Genuine Twinface sheepskin with the signature UGG woven label will keep her trendy and

warm. $180, uggaustralia.com.

Friends With Benefits DVDRelease date: Dec. 2. While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie soon discover however that adding “benefits” to their friendship does lead to complications. Rated R, starring Justin Timber-lake and Mila Kunis.

Burberry scarfOne hundred percent cashmere scarf in a check pattern, $375, burberry.com.

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Is space an issue when entertaining? Host a buffet The countdown to the holidays is on, bring-

ing with it the challenge of how to serve a large gathering fast and easy. Fear not! There’s a simple solution. Forego the traditional, full-service, sit-down meal and opt instead for a buffet-style serving. Follow these three steps and yours will be a gathering remembered with fondness by both your guests and you.

1. Divide and Conquer: No more waiting in lines as Uncle Fred peruses the spread so slowly other guests nearly faint from hunger! “Set up

multiple food stations. This idea will save your sanity,” says Chef Jeff Gillis, www.Celebrating-Home.com. “A few days before your gathering, clear most items off your kitchen countertops, table, island and dining room buffet and move contents to the laundry room or garage. Convert each area into a serving station where foods will be grouped by category. Label each area with a sticky note so that when the big day arrives, the stations can quickly assembled.”

At each serving station, stack plates so diners

needn’t traipse off to the table for one. Pre-fill glasses with ice and beverages for quick pick-up. It’s hard to carry more than a plate and glass so preset the table with napkins and flatware.

2. Control the Crowd: “Don’t think twice about placing tables in multiple rooms,” adds Chef Gillis. “That’s better than crowding every-one together or asking guests to balance plates on laps while sitting on your sofa.” To seat people quickly (and without a fuss), use place cards.

3. Keep It Simple: Flowers in a vase are so

last year. Instead, style up the buffet with an eye-catching “Gratitude Tree,” a sculptural bronze metal tabletop tree festooned with ribboned tree tags. Guests write what they’re thankful for on tags and after dinner’s done, take turns reading. This is a unique way to remind guests about the true meaning of the day and, because the tree arrives ready for display, it’s a real timesaver.

Remember: every minute saved adds up to extra time you can spending enjoying the day with your guests.



Prime hearing

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audibel hearing aids addresses hearing loss mythsDo you know the real truth about hearing loss and

hearing aids?Here are some helpful answers to some of the most

common myths about each. Myth: If I had hearing loss, my family doctor would

have told me.Truth: Only 15 percent of doctors routinely screen

for hearing loss during a physical exam. Even when a doctor does screen for hearing problems, the re-sults may be suspect since most people with hearing problems hear pretty well in quiet environments – like a doctor’s office.

Without special training on hearing loss, it may be difficult for your family doctor to even realize you have a hearing problem.

Myth: Nothing can be done about my hearing loss.Truth: People with hearing loss in one ear, with a

high-frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage may have been told by their family doctor that nothing can be done to help. Modern technology has changed that. Now, nearly 95 percent of people with hearing loss can be helped, most with hearing aids.

Myth: Only people with serious hearing loss need hearing aids.

Truth: Your lifestyle, your need for refined hear-ing and the degree of your hearing loss will determine whether you need a hearing aid. If you’re in a profession that relies on your ability to discern the nuances of hu-man conversation – such as a lawyer, teacher or group psychotherapist – even mild hearing loss can interfere with your life.

Myth: Hearing aids are big and ugly. Wearing one will make me look old or disabled.

Truth: Untreated hearing loss is far more noticeable than today’s hearing aids. If you miss the punch line of a joke, or respond inappropriately to a comment or ques-tion, people may wonder about your mental capacity.

Hearing aid makers realize people are concerned about how they will look wearing a hearing aid. Today, you can find miniature hearing aids that fit totally within the ear canal or behind your ear, making them virtually invisible.

Myth: Hearing loss is an inevitable part of growing older and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it from happening to me.

Truth: You can take steps to prevent hearing loss. Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss; 10 million Americans have already suffered irreversible damage to their hearing from noise. Yet a third of all hear-ing loss could be prevented with proper ear protection.

Myth: I cannot afford hearing aids.Truth: There is a wide price range in hearing aids on

the market just like there is for other consumer prod-ucts. There are also financing options available that can make purchasing hearing aids very affordable.

Myth: Hearing loss only affects the old, right?Truth: Hearing loss affects all age groups. Only 40

percent of people with hearing loss are older than 64. The largest age group with hearing loss is people be-tween 18 and 64 – about 19 million people compared to 14 million at retirement age.

More than 1 million school-age children have hear-ing problems as well.

If you want to avoid hearing loss, it pays to know the truth behind the myths and the basics of hearing loss prevention.

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spend their time alone. Studies have also shown that volunteering can strengthen the

immune system and alleviate pain. There is scientific evidence be-hind humanitarianism such as: Individuals over 65 who volunteer are significantly less likely to die within the next eight years than those who do not volunteer.

There is a phenomenon called “helpers/volunteering high” which produces euphoric feelings similar to the “endorphin high” that follows a good workout. Helper’s high can last for weeks and often returns when the memories of volunteering are recalled.learn new skills and have fun

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests or find a new passion. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine. Volunteering can also provide you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal life.

Volunteering is not just something that you do for others that are less fortunate; it is an exchange of services. You may be in need of help at some point in your life, so you may be the recipient of another volunteer in the future. That is the exchange.

Fill your bank for future withdrawals.

Dickens from page 7

Volunteer from page 4

certificate for dinner for two aboard the Judge Ben Wiles, a gift from cate&sally and more.

Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce will give you a free Dickens ornament with any purchase from the Chamber store, including Skaneateles gift certificates.

Get a free drink coupon for local restaurants with any purchase, and free gift wrapping at most stores, and a special reception hosted by Syracuse Woman Magazine on Thursday afternoon at the Sherwood Inn. For more information, call 685-0552 or visit Skaneateles.com.


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EXPERIENCING DIZZINESS?IT MAY BE EASILY TREATED

By Julie Lombardi, PT, DPTPhysical Therapist in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Centerat The Centers at St. Camillus

813 Fay Road, Syracuse, NY 13219www.st-camillus.org • 315-488-2112

Dizziness is one of the most prevalentcomplaints for which people seek medicalhelp, with greater than 15 million peoplein the US experiencing this each year.Dizziness is the number one reason fordoctor visits in patients age 75 years andolder. There are various causes of dizzi-ness including some medications, highor low blood pressure, migraines, andvestibular (sense of balance and motion)disorders. Of these conditions, vestibulardisorders account for 43% of dizzinesscases. Benign Paroxysmal PositionalVertigo (BPPV) is the most commonvestibular disorder, and fortunately itcan often be easily treated.

BPPV is a condition in which calciumcrystals (otoconia) become dislodgedwithin the inner ear which results ininaccurate signals sent from the innerear to the brain about movement of thehead. This results in dizziness. BPPVcan occur after a head injury, but oftenoccurs for no readily apparent reason(idiopathically). People with BPPVcommonly complain of dizziness or asensation of spinning (vertigo) withhead movement; typically with lyingdown in bed, rolling in bed, lookingup or bending forward or backward.

Evaluation for BPPV involves placinga patient into specific positions while

monitoring their symptoms and eyemovement (nystagmus). When a patienthas BPPV, a health professional can treatit by moving the head through a series ofpositions to theoretically allow for theotoconia to either dissolve or move into anarea of the inner ear that no longer causesinaccurate sensory signals to be sent to thebrain. Symptoms of BPPV are completelyabolished within one to two treatmentsessions ninety percent of the time.

The rate of recurrence varies with thiscondition with reports of 3% up to 94%within 5 years. Patients can be instructedin maneuvers to do at home as well ifthey commonly experience recurrence.However, it is important that patientsdemonstrate proper performance of thesemaneuvers, since improper form canpotentially cause the otoconia to moveinto an area in the inner ear that is morechallenging to treat.

If you are experiencing dizziness or dif-ficulty with balance you should ask yourphysician about a referral to physicaltherapy for evaluation and treatment.

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Medication errors on the riseby kelly Quinn

Taking medication sounds simple. Open the bottles. Take out the appropri-ate pills. Put the pills in your mouth. Wash them down. You’re done. But as you age, medications become increasingly complex and confusing. You may forget to take them or miss a dose. The consequences of medica-tion errors can be deadly.

The number of people treated in U.S. hospitals for illnesses and injuries related to taking medications jumped 52 percent between 2004 and 2008 – from 1.2 million to 1.9 million – according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. These side effects and injuries result from taking or being given the incorrect dosage or medication. Blood thinners, cancer drugs, painkillers, arthritis drugs, and blood pressure medicines were among the top drugs causing side effects and injuries.

“These recent statistics show that medi-cation errors continue to be a serious threat to older adults. As more of our seniors are living longer with more chronic conditions, this trend will worsen,” said Beverly Law-ton, the Executive Director of Franciscan Companies Lifeline. “Caregivers need to discuss their family member’s medications at every healthcare appointment and look at ways to reduce risks in their home,” Lawton continued.

Syracuse resident Mike Hayes cares for his mother, Rita. She lives at Park Rose Re-tirement Community and takes four pills in the morning and one at night.

“She would forget it or sometimes she would double up. Sometimes she would

not take it for a couple of days. Finally her doctor called and said your mom has early Alzheimer’s and you need to help her,” Hayes said.

Mike ordered Lifeline’s Medication Dis-penser for Rita in March.

“Initially I thought, ‘Mom isn’t very tech savvy and holy smokes…I don’t know if she’s going to latch onto this technology’. Well, it’s as simple as it can get,” Hayes said.

Family members or caregivers load up to 40 days of medications into the Medication Dispenser. The system sends out an audible reminder and a light flashes telling the user when it’s time to take their medication. If the medication isn’t dispensed, the Medication Dispenser alerts a caregiver.

“Sometimes at night she’s out and around and not in her apartment and it’ll call me and tell me the patient hasn’t taken her medicine,” Hayes said.

Now that Rita is taking her medications regularly, her doctor says her blood pressure and cholesterol are back in line. This gives her son peace of mind.

“I don’t have to worry about it if I’m out of town. This thing will constantly give her the medicine. Plus with the med dispenser, you guys (Franciscan Companies) fill it, so it’s a mini check-up twice a month. If some-thing went wrong, you guys would catch it,” Hayes said.

Franciscan Companies Medication Dis-penser Service is the only service with a 98.6 percent dispensing adherence among moni-tored subscribers. Call Franciscan Compa-nies at 492-8175 for more information.

Franciscan Companies is located at 7246 Janus Park Drive, Liverpool.


madison county officefor the aging inc. News

Theresa Davis, OFA executive director

From the desk of the executive director

Purchase a pie, cheesecake mixPurchase a pie or cheesecake mix and

support programs offered to senior citizens by the OFA. Pies can stay frozen for up to 6 months and to make a cheesecake just mix the product with cream cheese, whipped topping and place in a pie crust. Pies are $8; cheesecake mixes are $6. Pie flavors include Dutch Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, Red Raspberry, Pumpkin, Banana Cream, Boston Cream, Chocolate Cream, & Coconut Cream (in some cases sugar free is avail-able). Cheesecake mix flavors include: cherry almond, chocolate marshmallow, chocolate mousse, creamsicle, grasshopper, peaches-n-cream, pina colada, raspberry and strawberry as well as sugar free chocolate mousse and creamsicle. Pies or cheesecake mixes can be picked up between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday – Friday at the Office for the Aging on 138 Dominic Bruno Blvd, Canastota, NY 13032 or at a SNACK Site near you. Call 697-5700.

computers for saleOffice for the Aging has three Dell brand

desktop computers for sale: Dell Dimen-sion 3100, 2.8 ghz, 1gb memory, 40 g hard drive; Dell Dimension 9200, 1.8 ghz d/c, 2 gb memory, 148 g hard drive; and Dell Dimen-sion 9200, 2.8 ghz, 1 gb memory, 108 gb hard drive. Both come with monitor, key board, and mouse for $150 each. Call 697-5700 if

you would more information or are interest-ed in purchasing one of these computers.

equipment needed The Office for the Aging has a loan closet

with a variety of items that are loaned out to the elderly and their caregivers to use for as long as they need the item. The OFA requests the item be returned when it is no longer needed so that another elder can benefit from its use. Unfortunately, not all items are returned and the OFA is looking to restock the loan closet. If you have any, of the items listed below and are no longer using them consider donating to the OFA by calling 697-5700 and we will make arrangements for drop off or pickup. Needed are: Depends size M, L & XL; Shower benches; Hand held show-ers; Rollators; Transport chairs; Wheelchairs; and Grab bars & grabbers.

caregiver support group changes location

There will be a change in location for the Caregiver Support Group.

Old schedule: Last Monday of the month at Oneida Library from 2 – 3:30 p.m. New sched-ule beginning on November 28: Last Monday of the month at MCOFA Conference room from 2 – 3 p.m. (attendees may stay and visit until 3:30) FYI – Due to the Christmas Holiday the December meeting is cancelled

Make a difference this seasonHaving trouble coming up with that perfect Christmas gift? What do

you give someone who has everything? How about a gift that gives all year long? You can honor someone you know by making a donation in their name to the Office for the Aging. Your gift can make a difference in the lives of rural, frail and isolated elderly that live in Madison County.

Your donation will help a senior with a hot meal, in home care transportation to the doctor, weatherize their home and much more. Make a difference this Christmas and give the gift that will last long past the holiday season, after all isn’t helping each other what Christmas is all about?

Tax relief programs available

December SNACK MenuThursday Dec 1 – Swiss steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, baby carrots, fruit cocktailFriday Dec 2 – Marinated chicken breast, sweet potato, peas and pearl onions, peanut butter cookieMonday Dec 5 – Hearty beef stew, potato, peas and carrots, dinner roll, pineapple tidbitsTuesday Dec 6 – Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, tossed salad, applesauceWednesday Dec 7 – Baked seasoned pork chop, red potatoes, corn niblets, oatmeal raisin cake Thursday Dec 8 – Chicken curry and broccoli over biscuit, peas and carrots, rice puddingFriday Dec 9 – Roast turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, yogurtMonday Dec 12 – Vegetable lasagna, sliced carrots, green beans, sugar cookieTuesday Dec 13 – Spanish rice, broccoli, diced beets, chocolate pudding Wednesday Dec 14 – Chicken parmesan, pasta w/sauce, tossed salad, fruit cocktail Thursday Dec 15 – Meatloaf and gravy, mashed potatoes, corn niblets, yogurtFriday Dec 16 – Veggie quiche, hash browns, veggie blend, applesauce

Monday Dec 19 – Reuben casserole w/sauer-kraut, broccoli, yogurtTuesday Dec 20 – Meatball sub w/parmesan cheese, cut green beans, pineapple tidbitsWednesday Dec 21 – Baked lemon pepper fish w/tartar sauce, brown rice, sweet peas, pearsThursday Dec 22 – Roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, broccoli spears, pumpkin pie Friday Dec 23 – Baked ziti w/meat sauce w/parmesan cheese, spinach, Italian bread, apple crispMonday Dec 26 – Holiday, OFA and SNACK ClosedTuesday Dec 27– Chicken breast ala orange, boiled potatoes, spinach, pearsWednesday Dec 28 – Meatloaf and gravy, mashed potatoes, zucchini squash, mandarin oranges Thursday Dec 29 – Spaghetti and meatballs, green beans, tossed salad, Italian bread, citrus fruit cup Friday Dec 30 – Chicken tenders/sauce, veg-gie blend, holiday salad w/salad dressing, brownie w/frosting

Office for the Aging Senior Nutrition (SNACK) Sites

The Office for the Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions to honor the memory of beloved rela-tives and friends.

in memory of Donald E Clarkgiven by:Richard G. Clark

in memory of Gloria McChesneygiven by:Mr. & Mrs. Joe CarmolaMr. & Mrs. Mike HornyakMr. & Mrs. James BeckerMr. & Mrs. Thomas LaurinMr. Robert ColwayMr. & Mrs. Bill Boyd

Mr. & Mrs. Charles OsierTony DeNovaEthel Abbottin memory of Ward Coegiven by:Mr. & Mrs. James KennaJoanne Bolton

brookfield – Open Tuesday and Thursday; 1st and 7th Day Baptist Church, Elm and Beaver Creek Rdcanastota – Open Monday thru Friday; Stoneleigh Apts, 400 Lamb Avecazenovia – Open Tuesday and Friday; Cazenovia Village Apts, 24 Nelson Stchittenango – Open Monday, Tuesday and Friday; American Legion, 70 Legion Drive earlville – Open Wednesday and Friday;

American Legion -113 N Main Sthamilton – Open Tuesday thru Friday; Madi-son Lane Apts, Bldg 5morrisville – Open Monday and Wednesday; St. Joan of Arc Church, Brookside Droneida – Open Monday thru Friday; Towers II Community Room, 226 Farrier Ave. Monthly health education topics are provided by a Registered Dietitian. For more information call 697-5700 or visit ofamadco.org.

In memoriam

In brief

Several programs and credits exist to assist older New Yorkers in keeping their tax liabilities within acceptable levels, especially when living on fixed incomes.real Property tax credit

Provides tax credits or cash rebates to hom-eowners and renters who pay a disproportion-ate amount of property tax in relation to their household income. File New York state income tax form IT-214 for the credit/rebate which is available through the Department of Taxation and Finance or Madison County Office for the Aging for assistance in filling out the forms.local real Property tax exemption

Homeowners age 65 and older may reduce their real property tax. Each locality sets its own maximum income standard (within limits set by New York State law) at or below which a senior citizen property owner can qualify an-nually for an exemption. Contact your local assessor. The number can be found in the “Blue Pages” of your telephone directory.

veteran’s exemptionVeterans may be eligible for a reduction

in their real property tax. Your local assessor can assist in determining if you are eligible for such an exemption. Contact your local asses-sor or the Madison County Veterans Agency at 366-2395school tax relief (star)

Senior citizen homeowners with incomes up to $60,000 will receive an exemption on the full taxable value of their homes, resulting in average school property tax savings of $900. You must file a renewal application every year; some assessors will mail it. Contact your local assessor for information about STAR or Madi-son County Office for the Aging for assistance in filling out the forms.

Call us if you would like to apply for any of these programs, Madison County Office for the Aging is in your community & as close as your phone for local calls dial 697-5700 or toll free: 1-866-220-2009

Medicare in New York, 2012The Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare and helps seniors take charge of their health.

The law provides important benefits such as free preventive services, free annual wellness visits, and a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs for Medicare recipients in the coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Medicare is stronger than ever. In 2012, seniors will continue to have access to Medicare Advantage and more affordable prescription drugs through Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (also known as Medicare Part D). In New York in 2012: 100 percent of people with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t charge a premium; 29 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) available; 90 percent of people with Part D have access to a plan with a lower pre-mium than what they paid in 2011; 45percent of people with Medicare Part D get Extra Help (also called the low-income subsidy, or LIS); 13 PDPs have $0 deductibles; $15.10 is the lowest monthly premium for a prescription drug plan; $65.50 is the lowest monthly premium for a prescription drug plan with coverage for generic drugs in the coverage gap; 12 PDPs have a premium of $0 for people who qualify for Extra Help

Plan costs and coverage change each year, so all people with Medicare should check to make sure their plan still meets their health needs and budget. There may be a Medicare health or drug plan available with better coverage or a lower premium in 2012.


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We look forward to seeing you.

Focused on Protecting You and What’s Important.. It’s Al l About Family!www.eplawcenter.com

Join us at our workshop on Tuesday, December 20th2:30-4:30 PM

5789 Widewaters Prkwy 1st Floor Conference Room Dewitt, NY 13214

555 French Road New Hartford, NY 13413 1091

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Prime planning about david J. Zumpano, cPa/esq.

A Central New York native, he started the Law Offices of David J. Zumpano, remain-ing “of counsel” to his former firm, now known as the Estate Planning Law Center, David J. Zumpano CPA, Esq. Estate Planning Law Center offices are located in Syracuse, New Hartford and Miami, Fla. Contact Mary Brewer at 446-3850 to register for a free educational estate planning workshop or schedule a complimentary consultation. Visit eplawcenter.com.

How to leave assets to loved onesCharles came into the office to start his estate planning.

Charles was a widower and had no children. The bulk of his estate was going to three nieces. Charles had in excess of $750,000, and he wanted to ensure that when he died, his money went to his nieces quickly and avoided probate. He heard a living trust was the way to do that. When he came in to the office he discovered issues and options he had not previously thought about. Specifically, he liked the option to ensure that when he passed, rather than leaving his assets to his nieces outright, he could give it to them in a protected trust that permits them to access to it for the rest of their lives, but not their creditors, spouses in divorce, nursing homes, the government, or lawsuits.

Charles engaged the attorney and set up his estate plan so that when he passed, each of his nieces would receive their $250,000.00 in a trust for their benefit. The trust allowed each beneficiary to serve as trustee but also provided for a co-trustee, who could be appointed by each beneficiary. When Charles died, his brother Frank came into the office to administer Charles’ trust. Frank was confused, as were his children, as to why Charles left the money in trust instead of outright. They were a little disappointed. After some explanation by the attorney, they said that they understood and proceeded with the trust administration. Each of them received their separate share of uncle Charley’s estate in a trust in which they were named trustee.

About a year later, Sue Ellen, one of Frank’s children, contacted the attorney. She was concerned about a recent garnishment that had been put on her account at the bank. Evidently, she had been sued and a judg-ment was awarded to the party suing her. The creditor executed a judgment against all of Sue Ellen’s assets. Since Sue Ellen was a trustee of the trust left by Uncle Charles, they also put a lock on the trust account in hopes that they could empty it to satisfy their judgment. The attorney quickly explained to Sue Ellen that this is exactly why Uncle Charles had done what he did to ensure if any predators ever attempted to take the money from Sue Ellen, they would be prohibited.

The attorney sent a letter to the law firm for the creditor and to the bank’s attorney advising them any attach-ment to the account was unauthorized and illegal. After a quick review of the trust, both the judgment holder and the bank acknowledged the account was not subject to levy and released it. The funds remained available for Sue Ellen’s use without the risk of any further attachment by the judgment creditor or anyone else.

You can protect your loved ones when you die to ensure when they inherit what you have worked your lifetime for, it stays with them without being at risk of being lost to their divorce, lawsuits, nursing homes, the government or other creditors.

impaired, allowing them to participate in and enjoy today’s advances in communica-tions and entertainment.

“We know that hearing aids can help improve the quality of life,” said board-certified David Bugin, BC-HIS whose company will be celebrating 55 years in business next month. Bugin understands an important part of that ‘quality’ is to be able to take advantage of the latest entertainment and business innovations in the world around you. Miracle-Ear continues to leverage advances in wireless and digital technology to give customers the widest choice of hearing aid solutions and accessories. Bugin, who acquired the two Sonus businesses located in Syracuse and Cicero and who services and maintains all contracts and products sold under the Sonus label, owns and operates the Miracle-Ear locations throughout Central New York.

The industry leader in providing custom-fit and 100 percent invisible hearing aids, Miracle-Ear continues to set the standard for innovation and cutting-edge design. “We know that, while 65 percent of the nearly 36 million people in the United States who have a hearing loss are under the age of 65, only 15 percent of hearing-impaired adults between the ages of 20 and 69 uses a hearing aid,” said Bugin. “Our ongoing focus is to offer a wide variety of hearing aids to provide comfortable and effective solutions to the hearing impaired of all ages and lifestyles. Miracle-Ear accessories, like the new wire-less communication devices, are compatible with a wide range of our hearing aids and styles. With all these options, our hearing specialists can tailor a hearing aid solution to our customers’ individual needs.”

In addition to the MEBluConnect and the even smaller mini MEBluConnect Bluetooth-enabled devices, Miracle-Ear offers their customers a variety of remote con-trol devices for their hearing aids. While not wireless, devices like the Pen Remote and miniRemote are small enough to fit into a shirt pocket or a small handbag.

With services offered in 1,200 locations across the US, your local Miracle-Ear offers the best after-care services, all free of charge including free hearing test (an audiometric test to determine proper amplification needs, which is not a medical test.) Offering these free services is easy for us because we stand by our product and because we do more than just sell hearing aids, we build relationships and through those relationship we help people get the most out of life.

For more information about Miracle-Ear and their range of hearing aid solutions and accessories, call 1-800-676-HEAR or visit one of their convenient locations.

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Our Quality Is Timeless. This Price Isn’t!

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See our column regarding wireless technologyon page 6 in this issue of Prime

December Prime

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