Wewantto help you savetheir money, stretch out caredollars, qualifyforcarebenefits, returnthemtoassisted liv ing or back home with home care. Weknow howto nav igate the complexMedicaidrules! Please callouroffice at 413-637-5075
PaulaK.Almgren, Esq.
BoardPresidentNational Academy of ElderLawA orneys,MassChapter Kristina Z. Kisiel, Esq. 877SouthStreet,Suite 1W
OneWestStreet~Lenox,MA01240
tel:413.637.5075| fa x:413.637.5077|www.almgrenlaw.com
Mission Statement
The mission of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. is to provide Berkshire elders, care givers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, inde pendence, and self-deter mination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Statement of Inclusivity
E l d e r S e r v i c e s p r a c t i c e s n o n - d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n e m p l o y m e n t practices and service delivery. Embracing diversity, our in-home and community-based services are available to all without re g ard to race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or lifestyle
Elder Services is Here For You, During COVID-19 and Every Day
By Christopher McLaughlin, Executi v e Director of Elder Services
FB/BerkshireSenior Twitter: @Berkshire Senior
Instagram: berkshiresenior
LinkedIn: Elder Ser vices of Berkshire County
B erkshire S enior
Editorial Board: Deb Aldrich, Bonny DiTomasso, Laura Feakes, Christopher McLaughlin, K athleen Clear y, K athleen Phillips and John Ar thur Miller
Adver tising: To place an adver tisement in Berkshire Senior, please contac t Kate Teutsch at (413) 496-6324 or e -mail adver tising@berkshireeagle com
Berkshire Senior is published bi-monthly by Elder Ser vices of Berkshire County, Inc., 877 South Street, Suite 4E, Pitts eld, MA 01201, 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242, e -mail: esbc@esbci.org or on the internet at www. esbci.org.
NOTICE
Elder Ser vices sells adver tising to defray costs Inclusion of adver tisers in no way implies that Elder Ser vices endorses any produc t or ser vice
Signed columns are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of Elder Ser vices. For medical, nancial or other advice, seek a quali ed professional in the appropriate eld.
Elder Ser vices and its programs are funded, in par t, by the Massachusetts Executive O ce of Elder A airs
State and federal funds provided to Elder Ser vices are limited Elder Ser vices welcomes charitable donations to help meet the growing needs of Berkshire seniors, and gratefully ack nowledges all donations
Hoping all is well with you and yours. By the time you read this, the Four th of July will have come and gone Hopefully it was a war m, sunny day and you were able to enjoy it outdoors. July Four th may be my f avorite day of the year. I look forward to attending Pittsfield’s Four th of July Parade and enjoying a picnic at the lake with f amily and friends I d
one Pittsfield hosts is a source of pride for the B
Berkshires that sug g est this isn’t going to be a typical summer It remains to be seen how atypical this fall and winter will be Having no experience with pandemics, most of us probably wouldn’t have guessed it would last this long and at this point it’s anybody’s guess as to when it will be fully in the rear view mir ror
At this stage of the pandemic, we’ve been doing this for so long that for many of us avoiding large g atherings, practicing social distancing and wearing masks has almost become second nature. However, for some people, par ticularly those who are older and may have health issues and/or compromised immune systems, the masks, gloves and social distancing do little to alleviate fears and anxiety. For these individuals, the thought of taking a trip outside and encountering l a r g e n u m b e r s o f s t r a
Unfor tunately, this fear and anxiety may lead to increased isolation, loneliness and de pression, par ticularly for those with limited family involvement or other suppor t
The services we of fer can be instrumental in helping someone who’s feeling isolated or may just need a little assistance feel suppor ted and validated. Whether it’s receiving a hot, nutritious meal and a visit from a friendly driver, a counseling session from a SHINE, Money M
member or volunteer, the services of direct care workers in the home (homemakers, home health aides, personal care assistants) and so much more We are here to help
Many of our services (case mana g ement, nursing assessments, counseling sessions, etc.) are cur rently being done by tele phone. We look forward to being able to resume doing f ace-to-f ace visits when it’s safe to do so Our drivers continue to deliver meals each weekday and home care workers are providing direct care services in client homes. The people in our kitchen, our drivers and those who provide home care services are wearing personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, etc ) for your safety and their safety
G ot an I nterest, Hobby or Passion?
B erkshire County Organizations Have You Covered
By Kathleen Cleary
W h a t e v e r y o u r i n t e r e s t s ,
p a s s i o n s o r h o b b i e s m ay b e ,
t h e o r g a n i z at i o n s o f B e rk s h i re
C o u n t y h ave yo u c ove re d wh i l e we wait out the COVID-19 ‘stay at home’ and re-opening phases.
A s l o n g a s y o u h a v e a
c o m p u t e r, i Pa d , o r i P h o n e, yo u
c a n a c c e s s t o u r s , c o n c e r t s ,
m u s e u m g a l l e r i e s, e d u c at i o n a l
t a l k s , o n l i n e c o u r s e s , d a n c e perfor mances, book clubs, birding infor mation and more!
H e r e ’ s a s m a l l s a m p l i n g o f what Seniors in Berkshire County can enjoy:
Norman Rockwell Museum
Cur rently plans to re-open in mid-July
H o w e v e r, t h e y a l s o p l a n t o
c o n t i n u e t h e Vi r t u a l M u s e u m ,
w h i c h i n c l u d e s o n l i n e
e x h i b i t i o n s, we e k ly v i d e o s, a n d live interactive discussions and pro g rams. They’re looking at this as an opportunity to expand their o n l i n e c o n n e c t i o n s t o v i s i t o r s who many not have a chance to visit the physical location when the Museum is open.
Some cur rent Vir tual Exhibits include:
In Search of the Constitution
Finding Home
Rockwell in the Age of the Civil Rights Movement
Presidential Elections
T h e r e a r e a l s o V i r t u a l
E ve n t s s u ch a s a v i d e o g a l l e r y,
S k e t c h a t o r i a n , i n t e r a c t i v e experiences, a tour of the studio and more Visit nr m org
Shakespeare and Company
Fo u n d i n g A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r
Tina Packer is hosting 6 weekly t a l k s s t a r t i n g J u n e 4 t h t h a t e x p l o r e t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l influences within Shakespeare’s
psycholo gical, poetical, physical and personal. She talks for about 40 minutes with a 20 minute Q & A. Recorded versions are available for all who re gister.
A s t h i s i s s u e g o e s t o p r i n t , Shakespeare plans to of fer drivein movies on Thursdays through S u n d ay s , s t a r t i n g
they receive a variance or special
Board of Appeals. Visit shakespeare.org
Tanglewood
content for purchase. Video and audio streams be g an on July 1 via tanglewood.org.
Highlights include:
• Recitals from the World Stage on Wednesday evenings
• BSO Musicians in Recital on Friday evenings
• Great Perfor mances in Recital at Tanglewood on Saturday evenings
• BSO encore perfor mances Sundays at 2:30pm July 5August 23
• Tanglewood Lear ning Institute (TLI) audio and video streams
• Tanglewood Music Center audio streams of previously recorded Sunday mor ning chamber music concer ts.
• The Best of Tanglewood on Parade in August
• Tanglewood Family Concer t with Circle Round on Tuesday, July 28 at 5pm Visit bso.org/tanglewood
Berkshire Botanical Garden
Re-opened on June 8 with timed tickets
Admission is free on Sundays a n d M o n d a y s a n d h a l f - p r i c
are closed)
BBG is dedicated to providing
videos, fun facts and family craft projects, recipes and more. There is a link on their website
o f : G r ow i n g
G r e e n e r w i t h T h o m a s Christopher
Yo u c a n a l s o a c c e s s t h e
p r o g r a m c a l e n d a r f o r o n l i n e classes here: berkshirebotanical. org/events
July of ferings include:
• Herbs for Seasonal Allergies
• The Garden in Watercolors
• Make a Toolbelt for the Garden
• For m & Texture in Planting Design
• New England Plant Communities
August of ferings include:
• Basic Drawing Skills, Observing Nature
• Sketching the Beauty of Trees
• The Garden in Watercolors II
• Family Friday Events
• Of f-site field studies de pend on the COVID re-open guidance.
The
Mount
E d i t h W h a r t o n ’ s h o m e i n Lenox, MA, T he Mount, has left their g rounds open to the public free of charge to walk and enjoy the g ardens during the pandemic
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Whar ton the first woman to win the prize.
centennial. T
including Heidi Pitlor’s (author of the novels The Birthdays and
Conversations:
• Sunday, July 19 with Lily King, on her bestselling novel Writers & Lov ers
• Monday, August 24 with Curtis Sittenfield on her most recent novel Rhodman
As well as Discourse & Process Chats moderated by Julie Scelfo, author of The Women Who Made New York:
• Monday, July 20 with Michael Gorra, author of The Saddest Words: William Faulkner’s Ci vil War
• Monday, July 27 with Nick Bisbanes, author of Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Long fellow
Naumkeag
The Gilded-Age summer home of the Choate family has reopened i t s g r o u n d s w i t h s c h e d u l e
parking passes and tickets. Visit
/ berkshires/naumkeag
Naumkea g “F letcher Steele and Naumkeag: A Playg round of the Ima gination” as well as various archival documents and films You can join proper ty Director Brian Cr uey and Curator Mark Wi
T he tr ustees org
Jacob’s Pillow
H a s c re at e d t h e Vi r t u a l P i l l ow
t o h e l p v i s i t o r
Pillow includes:
• Dance videos filmed at the Pillow from the 1930s to the present
• Interviews and essays from dance scholars and pathways to rare videos, photos, pro g rams and more
• An interactive guessing g ame to identify how well you know Jacob’s Pillow perfor mances and ar tists
• Monthly podcasts
• Behind the scenes videos on YouTube Visit jacobspillow.org
Education
I f e d u c a t i o n a n d e n d l e s s
c l a s s e s a r e y o u r t h i n g , l o o k
n o f u r t h e r t h a n y o u r l o c a l
library Many of the libraries of Berkshire County have re-opened for curbside pickup and each has many vir tual options for you to enjoy such as:
• Williamstown Milne Library –online content, mag azines, movies, ebooks, Kid’s zone and more
• Berkshire Athenaeum“Libby” the online spot for ebooks and audiobooks, Ancestry.com, “Kanopy” for films, Foundation Directory, PressReader, and Newspaper Archive The Athenaeum is cur rently holding a shor t story contest as well as an opportunity to write about your COVID-19 experience
• Great Bar rington Library
– In addition to the “Libby” and “Overdrive” ebooks and videos, etc, Great Bar rington is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge for both kids and adults.
• Shef field’s Bushnell-Sage Library has some really fun virtual experiences including the Cornell Lab Bird Cam,
Elder Ser vices is Here For You
continued from page 3
Our mission is to help seniors, care givers and people with disabilities achieve the highest quality of life in the home of their choice. There has never been a time where that mission is more impor tant than it is now and we’re ready, willing and able to serve you.
If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance and support please call Elder Services at (413) 499-0524 to see if we can help. Until next time be good, be kind and be careful.
the Audubon Bird Cam, tours of National Parks and coloring pages from Museum collections.
• The Lenox Library is of fering streaming video access to Acorn TV (British TV & Film), Qello (over 1500 amazing moments in music) and the Great Coursesthe leading global media brand for lifelong learning and personal enrichment, with hundreds of courses spanning thousands of in-depth video lectures on subjects like Science, Health & Wellness, and much more.
• Stockbridge Library – In addition to online books
and streaming videos, the Stockbridge Library is holding a History Mystery Quiz Game: Each Monday and Friday until the library reopens, they post 5 questions relating to local history. You can send your answers to ballen@cwmars. org to be tabulated
In addition to all the exciting of ferings above at our libraries, if you are a per manent resident of Massachusetts, you can re gister for a Boston Public Library eCard at bpl org/ecard
W i t h a l l o f t h e s e e x c i t i n g of ferings to fill your time and feed yo u r s o u l , i t ’ s t i m e t o g e t bu sy learning and enjoying!
Your Response Matters –The 2020 U.S. Census
Re presentative
Paul W. Mark, Chair House Committee on Redist ricting
T h e 2 0 2 0 U. S . C e n s u s i s
u n d e r way r i g h t n ow a n d s t e p s h ave b e e n t a ke n t o a d j u s t t h e schedule and operations in light
o f a l l t h at h a s h ap p e n e d b e fo re a n d a f t e r t h e o f f i c i a l “ C e n s u s
D a y, ” o f A p r i l 1 , 2 0 2 0 . T h e Census is required under Ar ticle I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution, which states that the actual enumeration must take place every ten years T he
C o n s t i t u t i o n t h e n s p e c i fi e s t h at the Census numbers will be the b a s i s fo r t h e ap p o r t i o n m e n t o f
Re p r e s e n t a t iv e s i n C o n g r e s s
T he number of Re presentatives in Cong ress also deter mines the number of Electoral Votes each state shall have in the presidential election.
A s C h a i r o f t h e H o u s e
C o m m i t t e e o n Re d i s t r i c t i n g , I have worked with my committee
m e m b e r s t o a c t iv e l y s u p p o r t ef for ts to make sure that a full, f air, and accurate Census count
h a p p e n s i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s .
C e n s u s d a t a i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n
u p o n w h i c h o u r l e g i s l a t i v e
d i s t r i c t s at t h e S t at e H o u s e o f
Re p r e s e n t a t ive s, S t a t e S e n a t e, and U S House of Representatives
a re bu i l t A n a c c u r at e C e n s u s
count ensures that we receive the political voice we are entitled to in both Boston and Washington It is impor tant that each of us is prepared to fill out the Census and to encourage our friends, family, and neighbors to do the same.
T h e g o o d n e w s f o r Massachusetts is that population e s t i m a t e s s u g g e s t w e s h o u l d
n o t l o s e a m e m b e r o f o u r U. S .
C o n g r e s s i o n a l D e l e g a t i o n t h i s time around. We unfor tunately
d i d l o s e a C o n g r e s s i o n a l s e a t
d u r i n g t h e 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1 p r o c e s s P o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s s h o w
t h a t M a s s a c h u s e t t s i s g r ow i n g
at a n e a rly 6 % r at e a n d h a s a n estimated population just under 7,000,000 people, roughly kee ping pace with the nation.
H ow e ve r, s o m e p a r t s o f t h e state are not g rowing as rapidly
B e rk s h i r e C o u n t y i s p r e d i c t e d
t o s h ow a d e cl i n e o f j u s t ab o u t
3 . 7 % i n p o p u l a t i o n . A l s o ,
s o m e c o m m u n i t i e s , e s p e c i a l l y
i m m i g r a n t c o m m u n i t i e s, a re at high risk for being undercounted.
We a l l h ave a r o l e t o p l ay i n
m a k i n g s u r e t h a t o u r f r i e n d s, neighbors, and f amily members
k n ow ab o u t t h e c e n s u s a n d a re not afraid to answer questions. A community that is undercounted
w i l l b e u n d e r r e p r e s e n t e d I t
i s s o i m p o r t a n t t h at we h ave a complete count to kee p as much
s DiagnosticHearing Evaluations
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Dr.Andrew J.Puttick
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of our voice and political power intact as possible
T h e C e n s u s i s a l s o t h e b a s i s
fo r t h e a l l o c at i o n o f m o re t h a n
$ 6 7 5 b i l l i o n i n f e d e r a l m o n e y
a n d h u n d r e d s o f s t a t e a n d federal pro g rams that distribute f u n d i n g , g r a n t s , a n d o t h e r suppor ts to the states, counties, and municipalities. T his money
e n d s u p b e i n g s p e n t o n r o a d s,
s ch o o l s, p u bl i c wo rk s p ro j e c t s,
h o s p i t a l s , a n d s o m a n y o t h e r impor tant pro g rams that people i n o u r c o m m u n i t i e s r e l y u p o n every single day. It is estimated t h at e a ch p e r s o n t h at d o e s n o t
fi l l o u t t h e i r C e n s u s fo r m c o s t s their community approximately $2,300 in funding. T hat amount c a n o n l y i n c r e a s e a s s t i m u l u s packages and federal relief aid is distributed to the states and local c o m m u n i t i e s F i l l i n g o u t t h e Census fully and accurately helps ensure that we are receiving our fair share of the funds we all pay for and our communities deserve
I t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o m a ke sure that everyone understands that filling out the Census is safe a n d c o n f i d e n t i a l . E ve r y p i e c e o f i n fo r m at i o n t h at i s c o l l e c t e d by C e n s u s wo rke r s i s p ro t e c t e d under federal law The Census is p ro h i b i t e d by l aw f ro m s h a r i n g their data with any other federal o r l o c a l a g e n cy, i n c l u d i n g l aw e n f o r c e m e n t o f f i c i a l s E v e r y Census Bureau employee takes an oath to protect the confidentiality o f t h e d a t a t h e y c o l l e c t . T h a t oath is swor n for life and car ries significant criminal penalties for any violations
While the Census itself is safe a n d s e c u re, i t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o m a k e s u r e p e o p l e p r o t e c t t h e m s e l v e s a g a i n s t C e n s u srelated scams and oppor tunities
f o r i d e n t
financial infor mation or sensitive i d e n t i f i c a t i
your full Social Security Number, anything on behalf of a political p
suspect fraudulent activity, please contact the National Processing C
forward along suspicious emails t
tips for avoiding fraud and scams related to the Census at https://
surveys/surveyhelp/fraudulentactivity-and-scams.html. The cur rent state of emergency m
impor tant. A Census letter with your unique household ID should have been sent to all residences at this point Filling out the 2020 C e n s u s o n l i n e, by p h o n e, o r by mail is a safe and ef ficient way to g et counted. We cannot let this public health emergency frustrate
delayed but are be ginning a g ain as of June 1st. The new deadline
have extra time to g et the count complete there remains no time to waste and responding as soon as possible is crucial. Please take par t in this impor tant ef for t and encourage others to do so as well If we g et it wrong, we are stuck with the results until after 2030. Let’s make sure Berkshire County counts fully and receives our fair share of resources
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There have been several changes to Medicare policies and benefits due to the COVID-19 Pandemic These changes were developed to address coverage for COVID-19 patients as well as ensuring ongoing medical care for all Medicare beneficiaries
COVID-19 Speci c measures:
• Once a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available it will be covered by either Part B or Part C in full, with no cost to the beneficiary.
• COVID-19 testing will be covered in full by either Part B or C, if ordered by a physician
• COVID-19 related hospitalizations and COVID-19 quarantine stays requiring hospital level of care will be covered under Part A, with applicable deductibles
Prescription Drugs:
• Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans which include drug coverage must provide 90
day supplies for prescription medications upon request
• Requests for extended supplies of Part B medications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Elder Ser vices of Berkshire County, Inc. NUTRITION PROGRAM
SENIOR COMMUNITY DINING CENTERS
Medical Care:
• Medicare will cover expanded telehealth services during the State of Emergency (beginning March 6th 2020).
• Medicare will now cover ‘virtual check-ins”- brief conversations with providers outside of an appointment.
scammers. As always, guard your Medicare Claim Number as you would your Social Security number Review your Medicare Summary N o t i c e f o
o r s . A
, m o s t impor tantly make sure that you are interacting with known entities, such as your physician’s of fice or the Department of Public Health.
528-4118
442-2200
STOCKBRIDGE 298-3222 HEATON
sponsored in part by
Dear Friends of Elder Services: E
ly continues to provide its full complement of services to Berkshire Seniors during the cur rent Coronavir us Pandemic, which first be g an to impact Berkshire County this past March In response to this challenging and unprecedented crisis, Gover nor Charlie Baker issued a stay at home order on March 23rd. This order applied to households as well as non-essential organizations.
T h e o rd
essential organization that seniors rely on Our seniors need to feel safe, secure and healthy in their homes. Our kitchen continues to prepare meals each weekday that our Drivers deliver to seniors throughout the County. Our Nurses and Client Service Coordinators continue doing assessments, c
Infor mation and Refer ral Specialists provide more infor mation about Elder Services and other Berkshire resources to more people than ever, O m bu
rov
SHINE, Money Management, Options, Care giver and Elder Mental Health Counselors continue to provide counseling sessions
Particularly during this dif ficult time, we appreciate your donation in any amount. Your support helps ensure that Berkshire elders continue to receive the pro g rams and services they need to help them live the most fulfilling lives possible in the homes of their choice
T hank you in advance for your gift in suppor t of the many valuable prog rams of fered by Elder Services. Here are ways to donate:
1. Visit www esbci org for an online donation form
2. Send your check in the enclosed envelope
3. Call Elder Services’ Fiscal Department at (413) 499-0524
T hank you a g ain, and if you may have an interest in helping Elder Services as a volunteer, your assistance will be most helpful and appreciated Call us any time for volunteer opportunities.
Sincerely,
John Philpott, President Board of Directors
Philp tt Presiden
Thank You To Our Donors:
The following donations were received during the period of April 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020 Donations received on or after June 1, 2020 will appear in the nex t publication of Berkshire Senior
General Donations
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Stewar t
Mr. & Mrs. Terr y F. Cardin
Mr. Je Waingrow
Mr. Joshua King
Mr Royce Buehler
Mr Steven Lee
Ms Andrea Eichstedt
Ms Danielle Christ
Ms Judith Trask
Ms Laura Vidale
Ms Maria Docker y
Ms Nanc y Zawistowski
Ms Sharon Bar tels
Ms Vera Lecocq
Ser vice League of the Stockbridge Congregational Church
Elder Independence Donations
Mr Bruce Collingwood
Mr David B Grady
Ms Ann K Ghublikian
Ms Barbara Delmolino
Ms. Charlotte M. Eichstedt
Ms. Louise H Frankenberg
Ms. Mar y E. Hayes
Ms. Michelle Filiault
Ms. Patricia Trzcinka
Ms Susan Horsford
Ms Suzanne M Crerar
Ms Virginia Cariddi
Ms Jane L Mole
In Honor of Donations
In Honor of: Ms. Helene Fr ydel
Ms. Beverly Tavares
Meals on Wheels Donations
Coronavirus Community of Passion
Dr Eugene Talbot
Mr Rober t Johnson
Mr Royce Buehler
Mrs. Jean A Doak
Ms. Carol M. O’Brien
Ms. Jacqueline McDonough
United Steel Workers of Local 12325
Memorial Donations
In Memory of: Mrs. Irene Baczek
Ms Nanc y Edwards
In Memory of: Mrs Mar tha Bressette
Mr & Mrs Car y Maroni
Mr & Mrs John Collins
Mr. David Galisa
Ms Karen Burns
Ms Kathleen Roche
Ms. Vicki Cardoza
In Memory of: Mr & Mrs William and Jean Collins
Ms. Kerr y Burke
In Memory of: All Corona Vic tims
Mr Jerr y LeBer teaux
In Memory of: Ms. Mary Daley
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Dawson
In Memory of: Mr. & Mrs. Jack and Helen Fitzpatrick
Ms Sheila Fitzpatrick
In Memory of: Mrs. Helen C. Hankey
Dr Sherr y Ackerman-McDermott
Mr & Mrs Kevin Wheeler
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Finkle
Mr & Mrs Gerald Keefner
Mr & Mrs Kenneth Keefner
Mr. Christopher Cobb
Ms Anne Mullany
Ms Beverly Dunn
Ms Carol Piontek
In Memory of: Mrs Joann Maselli
Mr & Mrs Donald Andrews
Mr. & Mrs. James English
Mr & Mrs James Gancarz
Mr & Mrs James Pilot
Mr. & Mrs. Je rey Bona
Mr & Mrs John Cariddi
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeMarco
Mr & Mrs Joseph Domenichini
Mr & Mrs Lawrence Cariddi
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Boyer
Mr & Mrs Patrick R Cariddi
Mr & Mrs Peter Gaudreau
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Strange
Mr & Mrs Zygmunt Gorgol
Mr. Carl Goldstein
Mr Jonathan Brown
Ms. Angela D. Poulimenos
Ms Anne M Baruzzi
Ms Frances A Brown
Ms Judith Marcotte
Ms Linda Distefano
Ms. Linda M. Reardon
Ms Mar y Jane Betti
Ms. Paula Flynn
In Memory of: Ms. Jeanne Massimiano
Ms C Nanc y Woitkowski
In Memory of: Mrs Valerie Milos
Mr & Mrs Rober t St Pierre
Mr Rober t S Szukala
Mrs Jean R Lucz ynski
Ms. Lois Lucz ynski
In Memory of: Mr Raymond Milukas, Jr
Mr & Mrs George Milukas, Jr
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Sera n
Mr Timothy O’Brien
Ms. Beverly Bourassa
Ms Joann Skrocki
Ms Ronnie Lacey
United Steel Workers of Local 12325
In Memory of: Mrs Alice Jane Morris
Mr & Mrs John Nolan
Mr & Mrs Johnnie Morris
Ms. Diane Mirante
Ms Elaine G Matthew
Southview Condo Association
In Memory of: Mr Richard
Salvadore
Mr David Cooke
In Memory of: Mr Andrew Scelsi
Ms. Maida Henriques
In Memory of: Ms. Phyllis Watroba
Mr & Mrs Kenneth Miner
Mr & Mrs Rober t Watroba
In Memory of: Mr Raymond Wells
Ms. Toni Clukey
Currently airing on PC T V Channel 1301 Access Pitts eld
Broadcast schedule:
PC T V channel 1301
Mondays at 5 p.m., Tuesdays at 3 p.m., Thursdays at 11 a.m. & Saturday 11:30 a.m.
Or watch online, ON DEMAND on pitts eldtv.org.
Thank you to our friends at PCT V for all their help in making Berkshire Senior T V accessible to our communit y.
Berkshire County Farmers’ Markets 2020
F i n d t h e B o u n t y o f
M a s s a c h u s e t t s A g r i c u l t u r e a t your Local Farmers’ Market! You can expect to find a wide ar ray of fresh ve g etables and fr uits You may also find baked goods, maple products, honey, e ggs, farmstead ch e e s e s, ap p l e c i d e r, j a m s a n d jellies, flowers, and even turkey and meats To make the Farmers’ Markets more af fordable to all, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts o f f e r s S e n i o r Fa r m e r s ’ M a rke t
Coupons and, in addition, many F a r m e r s ’ M a rke t s a r e a b l e t o
a c c e p t E B T- S NA P b e n e f i t s. To u s e yo u r S NA P b e n e f i t s at t h e
M a rke t f i n d t h e M a n a g e r ’ s o r
I n f o r m a t i o n B o o t h w h e n yo u
a r r ive Te l l t h e p e r s o n a t t h e
Booth you would like to use your EBT card at the market and they will explain how it works. If you are a SNAP household you will be automatically enrolled in HIP, the Healthy Incentives Pro g ram
a n d m ay b e e l i g i b l e t o r e c e ive
$1 for each dollar you spend on eligible fruits and ve getables, up to a monthly limit. SNAP benefits can also now be used for online ordering at some markets
S e n i o r F a r m e r s ’ M a r k e t
Coupons are usually not available
u n t i l a f t e r Ju ly 1 – ch e ck w i t h
yo u r l o c a l C o u n c i l o n A g i n g o r
S e n i o r C e n t e r a f t e r t h a t d a t e.
To b e e l i g i b l e f o r t h e c o u p o n s
yo u m u s t b e 6 0 ye a r s o f a g e o r
o l d e r, o r d i s abl e d a n d l iv i n g i n senior housing where cong re g ate nutrition services are provided, a n d y o u r g r o s s h o u s e h o l d
i n c o m e ( i . e. b e f o r e t a x e s a r e withheld) must be no more than 185 % of the U S Pover ty Income
G u i d e l i n e s T h e g u i d e l i n e s f o r
Ju l y 1 , 2 0 2 0 t o Ju n e 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 : 1
p e r s o n h o u s e h o l d , $ 2 3 , 6 0 6 / y r
( $ 1 , 9 6 7 / m ) ; 2 p e r s o n s $ 3 1 , 8 9 4 / y r ( $ 2 , 6 5 8 / m ) Fa r m e r s ’ M a rke t Senior coupons are used like cash
w i t h p a r t i c i p a t i n g f a r m e r s a t certified Far mers’ Markets Look for the Far mers’ Market Coupons
A c c e p t e d s i g n a t i n d i v i d u a l f ar mers’ stalls at the market. If you do not see the sign, just ask the g rower if he/she par ticipates
i n t h e p r o g r a m . N
given for the coupons, so be sure
coupon with each purchase. P
detailed market safety guidelines
Berkshire Area/Lanesboro Farmers’ Market
Berkshire Mall South Parking Lot; Route 8
Until November 25thWednesdays & Saturdays, 8 a m – 2 p.m.
WIC & Senior Coupons Accepted, SNAP-EBT/HIP acce pted with select vendors only
Great Barrington Farmers’ Market
18 Church Street
Until November 14 - Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. preorder / pick-up available
WIC & Senior Coupons, & EBTSNAP/HIP Acce pted g reatbar ringtonfar mersmarket org also on Facebook
Lee Farmers’ Market
Town Green next to Town Hall & First Cong re g ational Church
Until October 10th - Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WIC & Senior Coupons, EBTSNAP/HIP Acce pted
leefar mersmarket com
See them on Facebook
Lenox Farmers’ Market 21 Housatonic St in front of Ceri Boutique
Until October - Fridays, 2 – 6 p m
EBT-SNAP Accepted by select vendors only lenox.org/lenox-far mers-market
New Marlborough
New Marlborough Village Green (Route 57)
Sundays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. through Se ptember
WIC, Senior Coupons Accepted
Nor th Adams Farmers’ Market
Cur rently online pre-order with delivery only to Adams, Nor th Adams, Williamstown Marshall St. & Center St-St. Anthony Municipal Parking Lot June to October - Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
CARES Ac t Bene ts Individuals and Charitable Organizations for 2020 Filing
their deductions. For instance:
i n c l u d i n g c h a n g e s
t o c h a r i t a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n s .
T h i s c h a n g e b e n e f i t s b o t h
t h e i n d i v i d u a l t a x p a y e r a n d
c h a r i t a b l e o r g a n i z a t i o n s
C h a r i t a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n s a r e
i t e m i z e d d e d u c t i o n s ; w h e n
c o m b i n e d w i t h i t e m s l i k e
m o r t g a g e i n t e r e s t , r e a l e s t a t e
t a xe s a n d m e d i c a l e x p e n s e s, i f the sum of itemiz ed deductions exceeds the “standard deduction”
- $ 1 2 , 4 0 0 f o r a s i n g l e t a x p aye r ; $24,800 for mar ried filing in 2019 the taxpayer receives the benefit
f r o m c h a r i t a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n s
T h i s d e d u c t i o n s t a n d a r d i s changed for 2020.
FOR THE 2020 TAX YEAR the CARES Act allows an individual t o m a ke a c a s h c o n t r i bu t i o n o f up to $300 to qualifying charities
a n d d e d u c t t h e c o n t r i bu t i o n i n computing adjusted g ross income
T h u s , t a x p a y e r s w i l l r e c e i v e
t h e c h a r i t a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n
i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s t a n d a r d deduction. This “above-the-line”
d e d u c t i o n i s h e r e f o r 2 0 2 0 a n d b e yo n d , bu t i s a v a i l abl e o n l y t o a taxpay er who does not itemiz e
d
a d j u s t e d g r o s s i n c o m e . T h e
d e d u c t i o n i s i n a d d i t i o n t o h i s standard deduction.
Example: Mrs Jones itemizes her deductions and makes a $250
c a s h p ay m e n t t o h e r f avo r i t e
charity Mrs Jones may deduct
t h e p a y m e n t a s a c h a r i t a b l e
c o n t r i b u t i o n o n h e r S c h e d u l e
A as an itemiz ed deduction, but may not claim the deduction as an “above-the-line” deduction
For individuals who do itemize,
t h e n e w l aw t e m p o r a r i l y l i f t s
t h e l i m i t s o n c h a r i t a b l
t o p u b l i c c h a r i t i e s h a v e g e n e r a l l y b e e n l i m i t e d t o 6 0 %
o f a t a x p aye r ’ s a d j u s t e d g r o s s
income. T he CARES Act allows such contributions to be deducted
u p t o 1 0 0 % o f a d j u s t e d g r o s s income for 2020, with any excess
c o n t r i b u t i o n s av a i l a b l e t o b e carried over to the next five years.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n
CARES Act changes for charitable contributions and other changes that benefit taxpayers go to www IRS/COVID.org
NO TE: T he 2019 Tax Retur n Filing Date has been extended Until July 15, 2020
•Rent is IncomeBased
•AllUtilitiesIncluded
•Appliances &Window Coverings
•On-SiteLaundry
•Elevator
•PlannedActivities
• Professional Sta
•Resident Services
•ConvenientLocation
•ControlledEntry
•PrivateBalconies
(for mostapartments)
•We arePet Friendly
•24Hour Emergency
MaintenanceServices
Hot Tips for Keeping Cool This Summer
By Laura Feakes
t h e y d o n ’ t swe
ive
y and have poorer circulation than yo u n g e r p e o p l e O b e s i t y, h e a r t disease, dementia, diabetes and other chronic medical conditions
c a n c o m p o u n d t h e r i s k . S o c a n
also be dang erous if the proper
Excessive heat forces your body
which can result in a heat related i l l n e s s, s u c h a s s u n b u r n , h e a t exhaustion, dehydration and even heat stroke.
M o s t h e at re l at e d s i ck n e s s e s a r e a r e s u l t o f p r o l o n g e d exposure to the sun but can also become an issue in a hot, stuf fy apar tment or home. Older people in par ticular are at g reater risk of heat related complications as
c e r t a i n m e d i c at i o n s, e s p e c i a l ly diuretics or those prescribed for hy p e r t e n s i o n a
disease.
Stay Aler t!
Wat
illnesses: •
n s a re p a i n f u l
ab d o m i n a l s p a s m s a n d c r a m p s in major muscles such as the le gs a n d ab d o m e n C r a m p s s u b s i d e
w i t h r e s t , c o o l i n g d o w n a n d
plenty of water.
• Heat Exhaustion has many symptoms-fever, heavy sweating, f ainting, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, clammy skin, ashen skin tone and nausea Overexertion and not drinking enough water is the usual cause. To treat it, go indoors
w i t h a f a n o r a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g
o r t o a s h a dy s p o t , ap p ly c o o l compresses, immediately lie down with your le gs elevated, loosen tight clothes, and drink cool water or sports beverages
• H e a t S t r o k e ( S u n s t r o k e )
c a n b e l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g a n d
r e q u i r e s i m m e d i a t e m e d i c a l help T he symptoms include not only those associated with heat e x h a u s t i o n , bu t a l s o ve r y r ap i d
p u l s e a n d b re at h i n g , d e l i r i u m , u n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d l a c k o f
perspiration to cool the body
R i s
include:
• Dehydration
• Age over 65
• Obesity
• Consuming alcohol in hot weather
• Having chronic hear t or lung disease
Preventive Measures T
are indoors or outside enjoying nature’s beauty:
S
comfor table and is often ignored. Drink plenty of water during hot weather The war m temperatures can dehydrate you quickly, so it is very impor tant to have plenty of fluids available Some signs of d e hyd r at i o n i n cl u d e : d e c re a s e d amount of urine or less frequent urination, strong dark urine, dry
skin or cracked lips, slee piness, headache, increased hear t rate
Some medications have the side ef fect of fluid and electrolyte loss increasing the risk of dehydration
s
n cause those blood levels to rise to dangerous levels, creating serious health consequences. Increasing fluid intake on hot days can help prevent such events You should always check with a pharmacist or doctor to ensure that medications will not cause you or your loved
o n e s t o b e m o re s u s c e p t i bl e t o heat-related problems.
R E M E M B E R : P o p s i c l e s , wa t e r m e l o n , c a n t a l o u p e, f r u i t salads and jello all contain a lot
o f wa t e r. A n d s u m m e r t i m e i s
t h e p e r f e c t t i m e t o i n d u l g e i n such treats But avoid caf feine or alcohol.
Limit High Energ y Activity
a n d E x e r c i s e ! S t r e n u o u s
a c t i v i t i e s c a n o v e r l o a d y o u r
b o dy i n h o t t e m p e r a t u r e s. T r y
t o e x e r c i s e d u r i n g t h e e a r l y
m o r n i n g o r l a t e eve n i n g wh e n
t e m p e r a t u r e s a r e t y p i c a l l y
c o o l e r. T a k e r e g u l a r b r e a k s when possible if you have to work outdoors in the heat.
Protect Your Skin! It’s very i m p o r t a n t t o p ro t e c t yo u r s k i n
f ro m t h e d a m a g i n g r ays o f t h e
s u n S u n s c r e e n i s a n e c e s s i t y when you know you’ll be outside for a prolonged period of the time. Apply it liberally to all exposed s k i n a t l e a s t 3 0 - 6 0 m i n u t e s before going out and frequently thereafter especially during peak
s u n h o u r s o r a f t e r swe at i n g o r sw i m m i n g N o t o n l y w i l l t h i s h e l p p reve n t s u n bu r n bu t s k i n cancer as well. Too much sun is also a risk factor for cataracts, so u s e s u n g l a s s e s t h at bl o ck U VA a n d U V B u l t r av i o l e t r ays. A n d don’t forg et your wide brimmed hat to lessen sun exposure to the f a c e a n d n e ck a s t h e s e a re t wo spots that are very vulnerable to contact with the sun.
R E M E M B E R : C e r t a i n m e d i c a t i o n s c a n c a u s e p e o p l e t o bu r n m o re r ap i d ly a n d m o re severely
Ta ke A c t i o n ! I f yo u d o n o t h ave a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g i n yo u r h o m e, g o s o m ewh e re t h at d o e s. A m o v i e t h e a t e r, a f r i e n d o r relative’s home or a community senior center are all good options.
If you need to get out of the house and don’t drive a car, call a taxi, a friend or a transpor tation service
Do NOT wait outside for the bus in extreme heat.
I f yo u a re ab s o l u t e ly u n abl e
t o l e ave t h e h o u s e a n d d o n o t
have air conditioning, take a cool
b a t h o r s h o w e r t o l o w e r yo u r body temperature on extremely h o t d ay s . Ke e p i n g t h e d r a p e s o r b l i n d s c l o s e d d u r i n g t h e
daytime hours on a hot summer
d ay c a n a l s o re d u c e t h e i n d o o r temperature of your home by a few de g rees.
R E M E M B E R : I f yo u o b s e r ve signs of severe heat stress or heat e x h a u s t i o n , m ove t h e a f f e c t e d
p e r s o n i m m e d i a t e l y t o t h e nearest cool shade and cool them quickly using whatever methods you can- spray with water, apply
a c o l d c o m p r e s s , p l a c e i n t h e
s h owe r H ave s o m e o n e c a l l 9 1 1 for immediate medical assistance
D o n ’ t fo r g e t yo u r p e t ! Pe t s
c a n g e t d e hyd r a t e d q u i c k l y, s o give them plenty of water when it’s hot or humid. Make sure they have a shady place to g et out of
t h e s u n , b e c a re f u l n o t t o ove r-
e x e r c i s e t h e m , a n d ke e p t h e m
i n d o o r s w h e n i t ’ s e x t r e m e l y hot. Never leave pets alone in a
c l o s e d ve h i c l e. M a s s a c h u s e t t s
l aw p r o h i b i t s p e t ow n e r s f r o m
l e av i n g a n i m a l s i n s i d e ve h i cl e s
d u r i n g e x t r e m e h e a t . T h e
l aw a l s o p r o h i b i t s d o g s b e i n g tethered outdoors for more than
1 5 m i n u t e s d u r i n g a w e a t h e r
a dv i s o r y o r w a t c h , a s w e l l a s extreme weather conditions
Finally, Be a good neighbor
C h e c k o n f a m i l y, f r i e n d s , a n d neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s, t h o s e wh o may need additional assistance, and those who may not have air conditioning.
L a u ra Fe a k e s i s o n e o f E l d e r
Services’ Infor mation & Referral Specialists.
Ro n n i e o n h e r m i ss i o n – ra i n o r s h i n e !
The Eyes Have I t!
By John Arthur Miller, Options Counselor
about being “out and about” and took a bit of a hiatus.
It was a pleasure to cautiously fill in, having enjoyed that role in
Center.
may have been expressed by all f
c ove re d by a m a s k
the eyes! I’ve seen many “ang el eyes” on my MOW route Not the
j a z z s t a n d a r d m a d e f a m o u s by t h e l i ke s o f N at K i n g C o l e, E l l a Fitzg erald, or Willie Nelson and Ray Charles No, these are actual eyes of angels, reflecting love and thanks between human beings.
I’ll tell you about one.
Veronica or “Ronnie” was bor n and raised in Great Bar rington on “the Hill” with four brothers and two sisters At 88, she is the last of her generation but has numerous nieces, ne phews, and friends who look after her When asked what she likes to do, a twinkle comes into those eyes. She loves being o u t d o o r s, s p e n d i n g t i m e s i t t i n g on her chair at Bostwick Gardens, where she has resided since the 9 0 s. W h e n fo rc e d i n s i d e h e r T V pleasure includes Walker-Texas
R a n g e r, G u n s m o k e , B o n a n z a ,
w i t h a l i t t l e F l i n t s t o n e s a n d
Happy Days thrown in to kee p of f the dusty trail. The only dislike in the food arena that she could say after a long thoughtful pause was – olives – with a squint of those beautiful eyes
M y M OW
“ l i s t ” p r e p a r e d by o u r N u t r i t i o n D e p a r t m e n t a n d
s e n t t o d r ive r s eve r y d ay w i t h
o u r wo n d e r f u l h o t m e a l s h a s
Ve r o n i c a a t t h e t o p o f t h e l i s t .
M y f i r s t d ay I w a s c o n f u s e d because it was crossed out with a n o t e, “ t r a n s p o r t e r d e l ive r s ”
h a n d w r i t t e n . I a s k e d P o l l y, another person with “angel eyes”
w h o i s D i r e c t o r o f t h e C l a i r e
Te a g u e S e n i o r C e n t e r i n G re at Barrington, to fill me in.
Ro n n i e r e p o r t e d e v e r y d ay a t
8 : 0 0 o r s o , t o s
m t h e C e n t e r a r e l o a d i n g t h e i r m e a l s b e f o r e t h e i r r u n s . S h e s a y s s h e d o e s i t f o r t h e e x e r c i s e We ’ v e d e v e l o p e d a w o n d e r f u l h a b i t o f w a v i n g , s ay i n g h e l l o, a n d s m i l i n g w i t h o u r e ye s B e c a u s e I h ave a f e w
Ap p a re n t ly, b e fo re t h e C e n t e r
c l o s e d d o w n f o r t h e d u r a t i o n ,
s t o p s a l o n g h e r w a y h o m e , I m i g h t wave t h r e e o r f o u r t i m e s a s we “ r a c e ” e a c h o t h e r o n m y r o u t e t o B o s t w i c k G a r d e n s , wh e r e s h e i s h e a d e d h o m e I ’ ve eve n s e e n h e r m a ke a s h o r t s t o p, d ro p p i n g o f f a “ g o o d i e ” , l o a f o f b re a d o r m u f f i n s a c q u i re d f ro m t h e d o n at i o n b ox at t h e c e n t e r t o a f r i e n d ’ s ap a r t m e n t o n t h e way. W h a t a j o y Ro n n i e i s W h a t w o n d e r f u l w o r k P o l l y d o e s , wa t c h i n g ove r h e r f l o c k . W h a t wonderful ang el eyes they both h ave ! W h at a n o p p o r t u n i t y I ’ ve had as a MOW driver Cer tainly wo r t h yo u r t i m e i f i n t e r e s t e d i n s h a r i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g emotions through the eyes!
My Hero(s)
By Will Tur ner, LICSW Behavioral Health Clinician, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.
I
y wife and I in Pittsfield She is my mother-in-law and a native of Lee.
M a r i e i s a w a r m , f r i e n d l y, happy person She has probably many reasons why she could be u n h ap py a f t e r w i t n e s s i n g b o t h
s i d e s o f h e r f a m i l y r e l a t iv e s p a s s o n , a s we l l a s f r i e n d a f t e r
f r i e n d , b u t n o. M a r i e i s n eve r happier than when her children, g r a n d c h i l d r e n a n d g r e a t
g r a n d ch i l d re n v i s i t h e r W h i ch
b r i n g s u s t o t h e p r e s e n t d ay.
N o o n e c a n v i s i t h e r d u e t o t h e
C OV I D - 1 9 c r i s i s S u r p r i s i n g l y
s h e h a s a d ap t e d a n d b e e n o k ay with Zoom birthday par ties, Zoom visits on holidays and phone calls.
o f h a rd s h i p.
H e r m a s ke d s o n s h ave v i s i t e d
b r i e fly o n M o t h e r ’ s D ay o u t o f
c o n c e r n f o r t h e i r m o t h e r. S h e
b e a m e d fo r d ays a f t e r S h e h a s laughed long and hard during our 2 (so far), Zoom bir thdays. She is adapting. She is letting what is be okay for now
S h e i s o f s t r o n g s t o c k . N e w
E n g l a n d b o r n a n d b r e d . L i k e the elders throughout Berkshire
C o u n t y, s h e i s r e s i l i e n t a n d sturdy. New England elders are a h a r dy l o t . I t i s n o t t h a t t h e y don’t have challenges, but rather m a ny e l d e r s ch o o s e t o fo c u s o n the positive. In the middle of our cold winters, they think of spring.
In the middle of a heat wave they have been overheard to say, “we will wish it was this hot when it is winter.”
Marie says a hefty amount of prayers every day It protects all of us in her sphere of influence. Boy, am I glad I know her.
Yes, my 98 year old (soon to be 9 9 ) m o t h e r i n l aw, M a r i e, i s my hero. She is not unlike her elder peers who I have to admit are also my heros’ T heir super power is l o n g ev i t y a n d p o s i t iv i t y
• Noentrancefee
• PersonalCare,plusextra carewhenneeded
• MedicationReminders
• Fullservicedining
• TransportationServices, housekeepingandlaundry
• 24-hourAwakeStaffand EmergencyResponse
• On-SiteWellnessClinic
• Activityprograms,fitness center,andmuchmore.
face of hardship. She is surviving the COVID-19 crisis as we all are
M y g
S o m e p e o p l e w a n t t o b e l i
“Mike.” Me, I want to be like Bob, Kate and Mary You know them They are your elders in Berkshire County. My hero(s).
Wash your hands.
Wear your mask.
Kee p Physically Distant But Emotionally Connected!
Creating Conv ersations and Relationships
Because we CARE!
It’s a Senior Friends Pro g ram
C
someone to lean on.
You may feel isolated but you a re n o t a l
We
to gether and eager to help
Would you enjoy a phone call from a friendly voice to checkin or just say hello?
O u r l o c a l s e n i o r f r i e n d s a r e eager to chat with you.
Please call the Lenox Council on Aging at 413-637-5535 to sign up and receive a friendly phone call for yourself or a loved on! T
