Susan Koppenhaver, Director
1003 Development Court
Kingston, NY 12401
Phone: 845-340-3456 or Toll Free at 1-877-914-3456
Fax: 845-340-3583
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), is recruiting people who are 60+ years old to participate in a landmark, large-scale survey effort that is currently underway. The agency is conducting the state’s first-ever statewide community assessment survey of older adults. If your household received this survey in the mail, please complete it. All New Yorkers 60+ are encouraged to complete the survey online today (https://polco.us/n/res/vote/state-of-new-york/community-assessment-survey?pn-area=1&pn-method=open).
The survey closes March 30, 2023 and covers topics such as community and belonging, health and wellness, and productive activities, like social and civic engagement. All information is confidential.
It is the mission of the Ulster County Office for the Aging to assist and empower older adults and their families to live as independently as possible, with dignity and purpose.
Ulster County will strive to reach more older adults and expand upon its current services by bringing them to remote and underserved areas of the County. This includes new educational health promotion, service enrollment and senior advocacy program opportunities so they can stay in, and contribute to, their community.
To view the Ulster County Senior-Friendly Community Action Plan please click here.
PLEASE NOTE: DURING SEASON OF BAD WEATHER, THE ULSER COUNTY SENIOR HUB AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS WE PLAN MAY BE AFFECTED. ALL CLOSINGS OF THE ULSTER COUNTY SENIOR HUB FOR ACTIVITIES WILL COINCIDE WITH KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSINGS, WHETHER THEY BE A TWO HOUR DELAY (MORNING ACTIVITIES WILL BE CANCELLED) OR SCHOOL CLOSURE (ALL OFFICE FOR THE AGING SCHEULDED ACTIVITES AND EVENTS CANCELLED). PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE AT 845-340-3456 IF YOU ARE UNSURE.
For Community Cafe's: PLEASE NOTE THAT GATEWAY HUDSON VALLEY WILL MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CAFÉ SITES THE MORNING OF BAD WEATHER. Click here for Community Café winter weather closing policy.
If you are not feeling well please stay home. In addition, appointments may be made ahead of time by calling 845-340-3456.
Dear Ulster County Seniors!
February, although gloomy and cold, offers a lot of things to ponder! It holds President’s Day, Lincoln’s birthday, and Black History Month! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President was successful in preventing a succession, ended slavery as it was, but had to endure a very bloody civil war, and wrote documents that last to this day, helping African-Americans begin to achieve an equality in society. Black History month began 53 years ago, has gone through name changes, but the fact that it is celebrated in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom shows its importance in parts of the world. One of the most famous Black Americans was Frederick Douglass, a former enslaved person who escaped slavery, fled to NY and Massachusetts, and became an orator and leader in the abolitionist movement before slavery was ended. As for President’s Day, it is now a celebration of all American presidents, although it started as a remembrance of Washington and Lincoln. I hope it all makes us proud to be Americans!
February is also a time to start thinking about your garden: what to plant, and on a nicer day, start readying the soil. Spring is just around the corner! Soil prep is very important as is early starts to seeds, which can be germinated in homemade containers (milk cartons cut in half with good soil inside) and left outside each day – the plastic of the container will keep the heat in, let the light in, and protect the seedlings from colder temperatures. I used many successfully in starting seeds last year. A good recycling project! Or, seedlings do well planted in the spaces in cardboard egg cartons, which then after sprouting, can be planted directly in the soil. Even the eggshells can be used!
Valentine’s Day is also celebrated (see? It’s a busy month) in February, and although many older folks may no longer have a partner or spouse, doing a loving thing for someone else is always in the spirit of St. Valentine, a martyred saint who allegedly gave sight to a blind girl, and signed a note to her the night before his execution as “from your Valentine,” a phrase that endured and was expanded upon throughout history.
Susan Koppenhaver
Director
New York State GetSetUp free online classes for Seniors at https://www.getsetup.io/partner/NYSTATE
CLICK HERE for March 2023 The BUZZ NEWSLETTER
