We Want to hear from you…

Fall Fest will be held at the Lowville Elks Lodge #1605, 5600 Shady Avenue, Lowville, on Friday, September 27th. It includes a public hearing at 11 a.m. for Lewis County residents and agencies to ask questions and comment regarding services that are delivered to senior citizens by the Office for the Aging. Anyone interested may submit advance questions or comments by stopping by the office, calling 315-376-5313, Ext. 5, sending an email to ofa@lewiscounty.ny.gov or sending us a message on the Lewis County Office for the Aging Facebook page. As always, attendees may still submit written comments or questions on the day of the hearing. The public hearing will be followed by the presentation of the Randy Streeter Senior Citizen of the Year award. A roast pork dinner will be served from noon to 1 p.m., followed by music by a very familiar and favorite band, the Adirondack Playboys. Earlier in the day, a variety of vendors will be on hand from 9 to 11 a.m., and a flu immunization clinic will also be offered during that time. The theme this year, “Is your insurance healthy,” will get everyone thinking as we enter the open enrollment season for Medicare. A member from NYS Office for the Aging Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) will be our guest speaker. Tickets are $12 per person and will be on sale at our office located at 5274 Stowe Street through Wednesday, September 18th, or from a senior club president. Tickets are limited. For more information, call the office at 315-376-5313, Ext. 5.

The Lewis County Office for the Aging and NY Connects is supported by 18 federal and state grants that help

provide wonderful programs like home delivered meals, congregate meals, in-home care, nutrition counseling,

insurance counseling, transportation, respite, legal services, NY Connect information and assistance and many

others. However, the need for services often exceeds available grant funding, so we encourage financial

contributions to help us serve more seniors.

Name

Address

Clip and return this coupon with your donation. Please send to: Lewis County Office for the Aging, P.O. Box 193, 5274 Outer Stowe Street, Lowville, N.Y. 13367

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Thank you!

LEWIS COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING

P.O. Box 193, 5274 Outer Stowe Street Lowville, New York 13367

(315) 376-5313 Website – www.lewiscounty.org/departments/office-for-the-aging

September 2019

Northern Cruisers give Shelf Stable donation The Northern Cruisers Car Club recently gave a generous donation of $500 toward our Shelf Stable food project. Pictured are club representative Sylvia Woodhouse (center) with Nutrition Services Coordinator Vicki Meyer (left) and Director Kelly Hecker (right) Our office is again collecting shelf stable food items over the next several months to distribute to our home delivered meal participants. In the event that we are unable to deliver meals to our home-bound seniors due to winter storms, they can at least have some shelf stable items on hand to carry them over until their next meal delivery. Our food requests are listed below. Donations of food items or money may be dropped off at our office at 5274 Outer Stowe Street in Lowville.

Shelf Stable Food List Tuna or salmon pouches Canned Chicken Peanut Butter Ensure/Boost/Glucerna (supplemental nutrition drinks) Canned vegetables (low sodium, no-salt-added) Canned fruit in 100% juice Dried fruit, no sugar added Dry milk Canned beans (lentils, kidney, white beans, etc.) (low sodium or no-salt-added preferred)

Shelf stable milk or milk alternatives (soy, almond, etc.) Whole grain dry pasta Tomato sauce (low sodium preferred) Brown rice Plain oatmeal Unsweetened applesauce Whole grain, low sugar cereal (plain Cheerios, Chex, Kix, bran flakes, etc.) Dried beans, peas, lentils Whole wheat/grain crackers

Volunteer Van Drivers Needed

Lewis County Office for the Aging is looking for volunteer substitute drivers. Substitute drivers are currently needed for the nutrition lunch van route.

This van service runs Monday through Thursday. The route is within the Lowville village and Beaches Bridge area. The van transports seniors to the Lowville Nutrition site located on East Road, Lowville. The time commitment is approximately 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

A valid driver’s license and defensive driving certificate is required. A department vehicle and complimentary lunch are provided. To volunteer or for additional information, call 376-5313, Option 3.

Meet our new certified nutrition specialist Megan Dolhof joined the Office for the Aging team as the certified nutrition specialist in August. She is excited to interact with the seniors in the community.

Megan is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, the gold standard for advanced nutrition professionals. She earned her Master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from New York Chiropractic College in April 2017. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health with a concentration in Administration from SUNY Cortland. She enjoys using her nutrition knowledge to develop new recipes, facilitate group nutrition education classes and teach individuals how to make healthful changes to live their best lives.

Megan is the owner of Open Sky Wellness Center, located in Lowville. Open Sky offers a variety of wellness services for the whole family.

Megan, a Lewis County native, is committed to helping make her hometown community a healthier, better place to live! In addition to her passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan also enjoys kayaking, hiking, playing sports, fishing, snowshoeing and traveling.

Megan looks forward to working with the aging members of the community. She will be visiting the meal sites throughout the month of September.

See us at LC Night Out, Cream Cheese Festival

During the month of September, Lewis County Office for the Aging will have booths at Lewis County Night Out and the Cream Cheese Festival.

Lewis County Night Out will be held on Friday, September 6th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lewis County Fairgrounds. The event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; recovery, and generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts. This year’s event will be recognizing several local Police Working K9’s as well as Lewis County Service (Therapy) Dogs and their handlers, an include several demonstrations and more than 35 informational

tables. There will also be free food by Lamont’s; Stewarts Ice Cream; and Moser’s-Maple Floss.

The 15th annual Cream Cheese Festival will be held on Saturday, September 21st, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout downtown Lowville along a portion of North State Street and Parkway Drive. It features entertainment, vendors, contests with cash prizes, cheesecake sampling, delicious food and much more. Activities will include mural painting, a cream cheese eating contest, bingo, cream cheese toss, corn hole, rolling contest, wagon wheel walk, bowling, and children’s bounce houses plus other activities in the park.

Both events feature free admission. We look forward to seeing you there.

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

2

Labor Day!

Sites & Office Closed

3

Chicken w/ Maple Mustard

Glaze

Pureed Winter Squash

Broccoli Yogurt

CCE @ Copenhagen

4

Beef Burgundy

Mashed Potatoes

Capri Blend Vegetables

Cantaloupe

CCE @ Croghan &

Lowville

5

Roast Pork w/ Gravy

Sweet potatoes Zucchini & Summer Squash

WW Bread CCE @ Harrisville &

Lyons Falls

6

Salmon w/ White

Sauce

Lima Beans

Parsley Carrots

Mandarin oranges

9

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Boiled Potatoes

Green Beans

Mixed Berries

10

Beef on Noodles Brussels Sprouts

Peach & Berry Crumble

11

Codfish Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Italian Blend Vegetables

Banana

12

Chicken Cacciatore

Brown Rice

Asparagus

Birthday Cake!

13

Egg & Cheese Strata

Spinach

Warm pears

Bran muffin

LS V8 Juice

16

Lemon Dill Fish

Sweet Potatoes

Brussels Sprouts

Peaches

17

Cook’s Specialty HDMs

Fred’s Day @ Sites

*Osceola Site Closed

18

Chicken Parmesan

Pasta w/ Sauce

Italian Blend Vegetables

Apricots

19

Liver w/ Bacon &

Onions

Boiled Potatoes

Mixed Vegetables

Mandarin Oranges

20

Roast Pork w/ Peach

Glaze

Sweet peas

Harvard Beets

Fig Newton 23

Chicken Penne

Lima Beans

Spinach

Mandarin Oranges

24

Beef Chili

Corn Muffin

Green Beans

Pears

25

Spanish Rice

Peas

Capri Blend Vegetables

Grapes

26

Meatloaf w/ Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Italian Blend Vegetables

Banana

27

Lemon Pepper Fish

Pureed Winter Squash

Asparagus

Pineapple

30

Chicken & Biscuits

Broccoli & Cauliflower

Diced Beets

Peaches

1% Milk

Offered Daily

Menu is Subject to

Change Without

Notice

Megan Dolhof, MS, CNS -Nutrition Services Coordinator

LEWIS COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM (376-5313)

MENU IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE!

The suggested donation is $3.50 Guest Fee – $8.35

The Nutrition Program accepts cash, checks & Food Stamps

Copenhagen, Croghan, Harrisville, Lyons Falls, Osceola & Lowville

August 2019

LEWIS COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM (376-5313)

MENU IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE!

The suggested donation is $3.50 Guest Fee – $8.95

The Nutrition Program accepts cash, checks & Food Stamps

Copenhagen, Croghan, Harrisville, Lyons Falls, Osceola & Lowville

September 2019

Six things to know about Fall Open Enrollment is the time of year when you can change your Medicare coverage. You can: Join a new Medicare Advantage Plan or stand-alone prescription drug plan (Part D) plan Switch between Original Medicare with or without a Part D plan and Medicare Advantage Listed below are six things to keep in mind while you are choosing your Medicare coverage. 1. Fall Open Enrollment occurs each year from October 15 through December 7. Any change you make during Fall Open Enrollment will take effect January 1. In most cases, Fall Open Enrollment is the only time you can pick a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. If you have Medicare Advantage, you can also switch to Original Medicare. To get drug coverage, you should also join a Part D plan. Depending on where you live, you may be able to buy a Medigap policy, which helps pay Original Medicare costs. Limitations apply as to who can buy a Medigap and when. 2. Review your current Medicare health and drug coverage. If you are dissatisfied with your coverage for next year, make changes during Fall Open Enrollment. If you have Original Medicare, take a look at next year’s Medicare & You handbook to know your Medicare costs and benefits for the upcoming year. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Part D plan, you should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC) from your plan. Review these notices for any changes in the plan’s costs, benefits, and/or rules for the upcoming year. Even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare coverage, look at other Medicare options in your area that may better suit your individual needs in the upcoming year. For example, check to see if there is another plan in your area that will offer you better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price. Research shows that people with Part D could lower their costs by shopping among plans each year. There could be another Part D plan in your area that covers the drugs you take with fewer restrictions and/or lower prices. 3. Help is out there. Call the Lewis County Office for the Aging at 315-376-5313 and ask to speak with a HIICAP counselor who can help you understand your Medicare coverage options and navigate any changes. Use Medicare’s Plan Finder tool if you need help finding Part D plans. The Plan Finder tool compares plans based on the drugs you need, the pharmacy you visit, and your drug costs. If you want to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, call 1-800-MEDICARE to find out which plans are in your area. When you receive the list of plans, check the plans’ websites or call them to see which best fits your needs. If you research a plan online, also call the plan itself to confirm what you have learned. Make sure the plan includes your doctors and hospitals in its network. Confirm that the plan covers all your drugs, and that your pharmacies are in the preferred network. Write down everything about your conversation, including the date, the representative you spoke to, and any outcomes or next steps. This information may help protect you in case a plan representative gives you misinformation. (Continued on next page…)

Fall Open Enrollment… 4. The best way to enroll in a new plan is to call 1-800-MEDICARE. Enrolling in a new plan directly through Medicare is the best way to protect yourself if there are problems with enrollment. Write down everything about the conversation when you enroll through Medicare, including the date, the representative you spoke to, and any outcomes or next steps. Before you enroll in a new plan, remember to confirm all the details about your new plan with the plan itself. 5. If you are dissatisfied with a Medicare Advantage Plan you choose during Fall Open Enrollment, you can change your plan during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP). The MA OEP occurs each year from January 1 through March 31, with changes taking effect on the first of the month following the month you enroll. During this time, you can switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another, or switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare with or without a Part D prescription drug plan. 6. Understand the difference between Fall Open Enrollment and Open Enrollment for the state or federal Marketplaces. The federal Marketplaces (also known as Exchanges) offer annual open enrollment periods for uninsured and underinsured Americans. This enrollment period may overlap with Fall Open Enrollment. The Marketplaces are typically not meant for people with or eligible for Medicare. If you have or are eligible for Medicare, you should only use the Fall Open Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7) to make changes to your Medicare coverage.

Lowville Food Pantry looking

for more volunteers The Lowville Food Pantry is looking for more volunteers. The pantry provides food for as many as 300 families every month, and the entire staff is made up of volunteers. Workers do everything from helping clients and stocking shelves to assisting at fund raisers and doing

routine maintenance at its 7646 Forrest Avenue location. To learn how to help in this worthwhile effort, contact Denise by calling 315-436-6302 or emailing at 424teamgeneral@gmail.com, call the pantry at 315-376-7431 or send an email to CEO Dan Taylor at daniel@lowvillefoodpantry.com. More information may also be found at the organization’s web site: www.lowvillefoodpantry.org.

The Majesty of Fall

W T W W U N S A P P L E S E D

Q O Y I M O U M F O E C T K J

Q O L U N D N W D C A F E X T

H L T L G D F U O G V X K B S

C U A Y E X L L T H E Z C C F

A O V N R Y O H C S S E A F N

E J R H P R W G N H E R J W U

D H S N S A E X P L E V O E N

I T F J U Q R K S C K R R M O

R E N B G C S W R C B M R A L

Y L L A B T O O F S H X E H H

A G R E E N W P O Y A O D A J

H E G N A R O R I H U N O A G

I A P K K L P W X A F O L L Z

D X Q F G D G O A X B Y L V T

APPLES AUTUMN BROWN

COLORS CORNUCOPIA FOOTBALL

GREEN HARVEST HAYRIDE

JACKET LEAVES ORANGE

RED SCARECROW SCHOOL

SUNFLOWERS WIND YELLOW

Lewis County Office for the Aging

2019 Calendar of Events

If you are interested in attending any of these events & would like more information, Please call our office at (315) 376-5313, option #5.

September 2nd – Labor Day (Office Closed) 5th – Bus trip to Alexandria Bay 6th – Bus trip to Alexandria Bay 6th – OFA Golf Tournament, Brantingham GC 14th – Alzheimer’s Walk in Sackets Harbor 19th – Caregiver Support Group; 10 a.m. 27th – Fall Fest; Lowville Elks Lodge October 7th – Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia;

noon, JRT Room 14th – Columbus Day (Office Closed) 15th – Medicare open enrollment begins 17th – Caregiver Support Group; 10 a.m. November 5th – Election Day 11th – Veterans Day (Office Closed)

14th – Effective Communication Strategies; noon, Community Conference Room

20th – Bus trip to Salmon Run Mall, Watertown 21st – Caregiver Support Group; 10 a.m. 28th – Thanksgiving (Office Closed) 29th – Day after Thanksgiving (Office Closed) December 7th – Medicare open enrollment ends 9th – Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia;

noon, JRT Room 19th – Caregiver Support Group; 10 a.m. 24th – Christmas Eve (Office closed at noon) 25th – MERRY CHRISTMAS (Office Closed)

Seeking nominations for senior award

We are now accepting nominations for the Randy Streeter Senior Citizen of the Year award.

This award is named in honor of the founding director of the Lewis County Office for the Aging, Randy Streeter, who held the position from 1974 to 1991.

Nominations are open to all adult citizens of Lewis County, age 60 and over, who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to seniors of Lewis County, their community or have shown a sincere and faithful dedication to senior citizens through their personal actions. Examples of such commitment may include those who participate with local organizations that benefit the community or other seniors; volunteer their service with a group or organization that benefits the community or other seniors; or show personal and independent actions on behalf of the community or other seniors. These are only examples and are not meant to be the sole criteria for selection.

Nominations must be received by the Office for the Aging director by Friday, Sept. 13th. The recipient of this award will be recognized at Fall Fest, be given a certificate of recognition and gift certificate, and have his or her name engraved on a plaque located in the Lewis County Office for the Aging.

For more information on the award or to receive a nomination form, visit our office at 5274 Outer Stowe Street in Lowville or call us at 315-376-5313, Ext. 5.

Automated Phone System Reminder Here are the automated option numbers for our telephone system and who you’ll be connected to: Press #1 – If you are new to the office OR calling about a new service for yourself or someone you know – NY

Connects (Tina Stanford or Steve Virkler) Press #2 – If you have questions on your Medicare or Health Insurance (Chris Baker) Press #3 – If you have questions on your Home Delivered Meals or the Nutrition Program (Vicki Meyer) Press #4 – If you have questions about your EISEP or Home Care services (Toni Spann) Press #5 – For any other inquiries or to reach the Administrative Assistant

Our friends at the Volunteer Transportation Center need

drivers. Each day they transport our neighbors, family,

and friends to medical appointments, cancer treatment,

renal dialysis, food sources, and more.

The ability for them to

provide this transportation relies on volunteers. Drivers are

provided reimbursement for mileage and, even more so, a

sense of pride knowing they helped someone in our

community. Apply on-line here:

https://form.jotform.us/61038212879155.

Or call VTC at 315-788-0422.