News

Once again, JFS NNORC is coordinating a day trip to Otsego Lake for lunch at the grand Otesago Hotel. This magnificent hotel occupies 700 feet of lakefront on the soutehr shore of Lake Otsego, the famed “Glimmerglass” of James Fenimore Cooper’s novels.
We will head home but NOT before visiting the Fly Creek Cider Mill for some wine-tasting and a visit to the gift shop and pastry shop.  It will be a day full of good food, fun and a little drink too.
This trip was one of our favorites last summer.  Don’t wait to sign up.  This trip will fill up fast.
When: Wednesday, August 21
Departure: 10:15 a.m. – St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany
Cost: $45 for NNORC members and $49 for non-members
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: 514-2023
 
 

Did you know that you could get all the benefits of a yoga practice without having to get down on the floor?
Join us at St. Sophias for the last two sessions of this series. We will practice yoga postures (asanas), breathwork (pranayama) and relaxation (yoga nidra ) either seated in a chair, or standing with the chair for support. Our practice will include opportunities to build flexibility, balance and strength in a safe and non-stressful way.
Instructor: Judi England, RN, NNORC Nurse and Health Educator
What: Gentle Chair Yoga
Where: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany,
When: Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., October 1, 8, 15 & 22
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: 514-2023
Please wear clothing comfortable for movement. Bring a water bottle.
 
 

Ellis_Sheehan_Web

Featuring Corey Ellis and Kathy Sheehan

Want to learn more about the potential candidates’ positions?

The landscape in Albany is changing. With the imminent retirement of Mayor Jerry Jennings, the City of Albany will have a new feel. Both Corey Ellis and Kathy Sheehan continue to vie for the Democratic Party backing in the Albany City mayoral race.
NNORC residents and neighbors will have a chance to have their questions about the future of Albany seniors and the City answered by potential mayoral candidates Corey Ellis and Kathy Sheehan.
Audience members can submit their questions at the beginning of the night, so come prepared to discuss what’s important to you: neighborhood violence; scams perpetrated on the elderly; property taxes; gun violence; unemployment; the Affordable Care Act and healthcare in Albany; and more. It should be a great night for the NNORC, for those who love politics and those who want to be part of Albany history.
DATE Wednesday, July 17, 2013
TIME 6:30 p.m. (Come early; seats fill up quickly.)
PLACE St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208
FEE Free
 

Days are longer and milder. Nothing like a good “stretch of the legs” to get your heart pumping, your lungs working, and your brain clear of those winter cobwebs.
Walking is great exercise. Walking in good company is even better.
Let’s get together once a week for a moderate walk and some easy conversation. We’ll begin gently with a ONE-MILE ROUND TRIP from the parking lot at St. Sophias’ Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road to the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center, 340 Whitehall Road, and back.
Depending on interest, we may finish our walk with a stop at Spinner’s Restaurant in Crestwood Plaza for refreshments.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS
WHAT A one-mile round-trip moderately paced walk along level terrain on Whitehall Road, Albany, New York
WHEN Monday evenings beginning June 3rd, 2013 at 5:30pm (Ongoing through the Fall)
WHY Because it feels good and is good for you too!
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR Water bottle. Comfortable clothing. Supportive, secure footwear. Dress for the weather, however, we will NOT WALK IN HEAVY RAIN.
RSVP We will leave the St. Sophias’ Parking lot promptly at 5:30 p.m. and would like to know if you are joining us. Call Judi England at the NNORC office to let me know if you are coming: 514 -2023.
And remember:…”The best form of exercise is the one that you will do!”
 

What a better way to recap the day than to do it with neighbors and friends over ice cream. That’s what seniors in the NNORC are doing.  Every Tuesday at 6:30 pm, from now until July 23rd, you’ll find our seniors sitting at the cottage-like ice cream parlor, surrounded by a white picket fence, bright lights, colorful walls, candies, chocolates and sprinkles. They’re talking about family, current events and good times gone by.
If you want to take a break and enjoy great company and a sweet bite, join us on Tuesday nights at Emack and Bolio’s.

Jerry_Ilene_Sykes_WebMore than 100 people helped raise more than $30,000 at Jewish Family Services’ Annual Celebration held on June 6, 2013 at Shabbos House, reported event chair Karen Setzen.
At the event Jerry and Ilene Sykes received the Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award, which bestows the agency’s highest honor for outstanding leadership and a commitment to improving the lives of adults, children and families in our community. See electronic photo album below.
Longtime friend Dick Kotlow gave remarks about the Sykes saying, “Their commitment to the community encompasses both the Jewish Community and many other organizations of the Greater Capital District.”
In accepting their award, Jerry Sykes said that he and Ilene learned generosity from their parents: “Ilene and I both grew up with parents who gave time, energy and money to support their synagogues as well as many other charitable causes in their communities and they always encouraged us to follow their lead.”
Ilene and Jerry owned and operated The Party Warehouse since 1989. During those 24 years, both through their business and personally, they enthusiastically supported many not for profit organizations throughout the Capital District.
In addition Ilene and Jerry served on numerous Boards of Directors. Ilene is Past President of the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center, Congregation Beth Emeth, and Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York. She is currently President of Hillel at the University of Albany and sits on several other boards. Jerry is Past President of the New York State Museum Institute and past Board member of Capital Repertory Theatre and Saint Anne’s Institute. He currently is on the Endowment Board of Governors of Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and is a board member of the Daughters of Sarah Foundation and Shabbos House.
About Jewish Family Services
JFS provides compassionate, healing services that enrich the community and improve people’s lives. JFS services are infused with Jewish values and help strengthen individuals, families and our community.
Our highly skilled staff provides individualized care for children, teens, adults, older adults and families. We are a non-profit agency that provides services which help nearly 3,000 people each year, through counseling, court evaluations, anger management groups, supervised visitation and parenting services—plus a range of supportive and wellness services for seniors and their families. For more information on Jewish Family Services, please call 518-482-8856 or visit www.jfsneny.org.
Photo Credit: Brianna Melanson

 

There were audible gasps from the audience as Dr. Mark Pettus painted a picture of a country whose health and well-being was in poor shape, and getting worse.
On Monday, May 20th dozens of community members took part in an evening program that was both informative and engaging, as we explored how we are anything but “prisoners” of our DNA.  The lecture was part of the JFS Miriam Adler Family Life Education series, and took place at Congregation Beth Emeth.
By taking charge of our “environmental inputs” Dr. Pettus stressed that we can play an active role in determining whether helpful genes are “turned on”, or non-helpful ones are “turned off”.  Some of these environmental inputs include:

  • The foods you eat
  • The amount of movement you engage in
  • How you interpret and respond to stress in your life
  • Quality of sleep
  • Environmental toxin exposure
  • Love and social connection
  • Meaning in one’s love, work, and play
  • Medications

Dr. Pettus argues that understanding how our “Book of Life”—the genetic information we receive from our parents—interacts with our lifestyle we can make choices that greatly improve our chances for a healthier future. These choices matter, whether we are 6 or 60!
A lively period of questions and answer followed the presentation, indicating an eagerness to become more proactive health-wise.
Although the science of epigenetics is in its infancy, the principles clearly reflect common sense wisdom. Consider this Thomas Edison quote shared by Dr. Pettus:
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in
the cause and prevention of disease.”
For those  looking to learn more, Dr. Pettus shared his website: www.thesavvypatient.com. The site hold a host of articles related to epigenetics, nutrition, sleep, meditation/mindfulness and other aspects of health.  In his discussion of environmental toxins, Dr. Pettus suggested we check out the Environmental Working Group site (www.ewg.org) as a helpful resource.
Here at JFS and the NNORC we continue to look for ways to improve the well-being of our community members. We welcome your suggestions for future programs and activities that would support these efforts. Please feel free to contact us at 514-2023 to share your ideas.
 

We’re off on a fun and educational excursion to Wilderstein and FDR’s home at Springwood and taking time to have lunch overlooking the Hudson River at Shadow’s on the Hudson Restaurant.
We are also pleased to announce that Dennis Gaffney, SUNYA professor, writer and occasional NNORC speaker, will accompany us to add to the history of the day. “All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River.” This quote captures Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s connection to Springwood, the estate that he loved and the place he considered home. The first U.S. Presidential Library was started by FDR here. We will visit the home of FDR and Presidential Library & Museum to learn about the only President elected to four terms.
The last resident of Wilderstein was Margaret (Daisy) Suckley.  A cousin and confidante of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Miss Suckley traveled extensively with FDR during his presidency, gave him his famous black Scottish terrier Fala and helped to establish his library in Hyde Park. The True Story of Fala, written by Miss Suckley, describes Fala’s life as the presidential dog.  Miss Suckley was with FDR when he was fatally stricken at Warm Springs, Georgia in 1945. She died at Wilderstein in 1991, in her 100th year. The letters they exchanged during their friendship, discovered in a black battered suitcase at Wilderstein, provide one of the best resources for understanding the private side of Roosevelt’s life during his presidency. They have been edited by Geoffrey C. Ward in the book Closest Companion.
The trip promises to be one filled with history, good food and new experiences. With lunch overlooking the river, what could be bad?
DATE Wednesday, June 5, 2013
TIME Bus leaves St. Sophia’s at 9:00 a.m.
RSVP REQUIRED 518-514-2023 or Email JFS
FEE 
$59 for NNORC members and $62 for non members.
To warm you up for the day at Wilderstein and FDR’s home, on June 4 at 3:00 p.m., we will show the film “Hyde Park on the Hudson” at St. Sophia’s. The film is free for those participating on the trip. If trip participants wish to remain for dinner, a reduced rate of $8.00 will be charged for the dinner. Those coming just for the dinner and movie and NOT traveling the next day will be charged $10 for members and $12 for non-members.
 

Seniors do yoga with JFS.
Looking for a fun way to de-stress and shape-up? Wanting to build flexibility, balance and strength in a safe and gentle way? Join us for Yoga at St. Sophia’s!
Judi England, RN, LMT, Senior Health Education Coordinator for NNORC and Yoga Instructor and will lead an experience of movement and breathing as the foundations of this centuries-old practice.
All-levels of experience are welcome—even brand-new beginners. Participants should be able to get up and down from the floor. Wear comfortable clothing so you are free to move. Bring a water bottle, yoga mat, small pillow, and an open mind. A guided relaxation ends each class.
Judi England is the Senior Health Education Coordinator for the JFS NNORC. When she’s not teaching yoga, she is leading Healthy Living classes for seniors, conducting blood pressure clinics, writing articles for NNORC News and planning health and wellness clinicas for seniors. Judi is a certified Kripalu yoga instructor.

Instructor: Judi England
Date: Tuesdays, Five Sessions Remaining: 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25 & 7/2
Time: 5:30-6:30 pm
Place: St. Sophia’s Church, 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany
Fee: Free
RSVP Required: 518-514-2023 – space is limited

Couple Maximizes Their Health through Weekly WlakingConventional wisdom has long held that the genetic cards you inherent are yours for life—for better or worse. Despite what we’ve been told, we are not prisoners of our DNA.
Dr. Mark Pettus provides recent, compelling evidence that your genes are actually quite malleable, and that human beings are designed to change and adapt in response to our environment. How you bathe your DNA in food, love, stress, play and work ultimately influences your health now, and in the future! As one great Yogi [Berra] from the 20th century reminds us…”the future ain’t what it used to be.”

Dr. Mark Pettus
is the Chief of Medicine at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. He is former Chief of Staff, Associate Chair of the Department of Medicine and the Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at Berkshire Medical Center. He is the author of two books: The Savvy Patient: The Ultimate Advocate For Quality Health Care and It’s All in Your Head: Change Your Mind, Change Your Health, and Change Your Life. Dr. Pettus has appeared on numerous TV and Radio venues nationally including Good Morning America, NPR and PBS.
DATE Monday, May 20, 2013
TIME 6:30
PLACE Congregation Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Rd., Albany, NY 12208
RSVP 518-482-8856 or email JFS
FEE Free

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