A publication of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging May 2016 • Free Inside Discover our city’s public art & sculpture Get Physical Elder honored: Wisdom, spirituality, integrity Bocce began in Egypt ... 14 By Marcia Z. Siegal “Go, Marie! Try to find strength!” “Give ‘em hell, Julie!” “Terry, we need you!” “Green’s in!” “Red got two!” “The stress is killing me!” At Guerin Recreation Center in South Phila- delphia, bocce is serious business. Just ask mem- bers of its women’s bocce teams. Ranging in age “Swann Memorial Fountain” at from 45 to 90, the players meet Thursday eve- Logan Square was originally named nings from October until May, when the finals “The Fountain of Three Rivers” for are held. At the Guerin Center, as traditional Philadelphia’s main waterways: the • continued on page 18 Delaware River, Schuylkill River and Wissahickon Creek. In Season: VisitPhiladelphia for B. Krist by Photo Two delicious strawberry recipes ... 16 By Alicia M. Colombo civic organization dedicated to creating a “museum without walls” by integrating public art and urban design. Philadelphia is known as the “The Many of Philadelphia’s most iconic City of Murals,” but it’s also home to sculptures represent the people and plac- a collection of 1,500 pieces of outdoor es of our region. When “Swann Memo- sculpture, with a tradition of public art rial Fountain” opened in 1924 at Logan that goes back almost a century and a Square (Benjamin Franklin Parkway at half. 19th Street), it is said that 10,000 people “Philadelphia is unique in that we danced the tango in the streets to music have one of the largest and oldest collec- played by the police band. It was created tions of public art in the United States,” as a memorial to Dr. Wilson Cary Swann, said Laura Griffith, assistant director of Health Briefs . 2 founder of the Philadelphia Fountain So- the Association for Public Art (aPA). ciety. It was originally called “The Foun- Calendar . 12-13 “Public art is available to everyone, 24/7. tain of Three Rivers,” and features three Don’s Column . 23 You don’t need a ticket to see it. You can Native Americans reclining amidst soar- see it at your own pace. It’s meant for all The Milestones ing jets of water which represent Phila- citizens and visitors to Philadelphia to delphia’s main waterways: the Delaware Nogueras Paola by Photo Crossword . 23 enjoy.” River, Schuylkill River and Wissahickon Pictured at the Guerin Recreation Center are The city’s dedication to preserving Creek. bocce players Mary Ann Quattrone (left) and Next Month: and showcasing public art dates back to Summer weather offers an added 1872, when the aPA was established. It Barbara Stuirniolo of the Penrose Diner team. Caregiving was the nation’s first private, nonprofit • continued on page 10 June 2016 Milestones 2 PCA Helpline: 215-765-9040 Call 24/7 to report suspected elder abuse. Health Brief Outside Philadelphia toll-free: Published by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging 888-215-765-9041 (TDD) Get fit while you sit with chair exercises Holly Lange, President and CEO Editor: Linda L. Riley 215 765-9000, ext. 5080 Side Arm Raise: Board Officers and Directors Advertising: Shoulders Glenn D. Bryan, Chair Joan Zaremba, 215-765-9000, ext. 5051 Katherine E. Galluzzi, D.O., F.A.C.O.F.P., You can do this Distribution & Subscriptions: Vice Chair exercise while sit- Home delivery: $12/year Sheri C. Gifford, Treasurer LaTasha Johnson, ting in a sturdy, arm- Barbara Waynant Murphy, Secretary 215-765-9000, ext. 5050 less chair, or while Judee M. Bavaria standing. Keep both Jack Dembow We welcome your letters, comments and sug- feet flat on the floor, Angela Foreshaw-Rouse gestions. All submissions of letters for publi- Dick Goldberg cation must be signed and dated and include shoulder-width apart. writer’s home address and phone number. Sub- Frederick Lewis mission constitutes permission to edit for clar- Hold a weight in each Frances Miller ity, length or space and to publish in any form hand with your arms Victor M. Negron, Jr. or medium. PCA reserves the right to not publish any submission; receipt may not be acknowl- straight down at your Satya B. Verma, O.D., F.A.A.O. edged and submissions will not be returned. Lenore Wasserman Scola Iavarone Evangelina by Photo sides and palms fac- ing inward. Slowly John Whitman Mail to: PCA Milestones Editor A group of seniors at KleinLife practices chair exercises. Emeritus: Arthur E. Helfand, D.P.M. 642 N. Broad St. breathe out as you Philadelphia, PA 19130-3409 Email: [email protected] Strength training isn’t just for body raise both arms to the Milestones is published monthly and distributed at more than 800 locations throughout Phila- builders and professional weightlifters. side, to shoulder height. Hold the posi- delphia including stores, libraries, community and senior centers, and organizations and agen- cies serving older adults. It’s extremely important as you grow tion for one second. Breathe in as you older. Even if you have mobility and slowly lower arms to the sides. Repeat Milestones will not knowingly accept or publish advertising that is fraudulent or misleading. Milestones reserves the right to edit, revise or reject advertising. Milestones assumes no respon- balance issues, there are chair exercises 10 to 15 times, rest and repeat 10 to 15 sibility for errors in advertisements, misprints, omissions and misinformation, for failure to publish an ad, or for any damages of any kind. In this publication neither the publisher nor any that can help you regain and build your more times. other party is rendering expert advice. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without the express written permission of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. strength, and your independence. Prac- ticing these exercises regularly will help Leg Curls: Thighs ©2016 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. All rights reserved. keep your muscles and bones strong, Sit in a sturdy chair with your back which in turn helps prevent falls and supported by the chair. Only the balls of fractures. Try to build a habit of doing your feet and your toes should rest on these exercises at least twice a week. the floor. Put a rolled bath towel at the Build up slowly and aim to increase the edge of the chair under thighs for sup- weight and/or repetitions of each exer- port. Breathe in slowly. Breathe out and cise over time. slowly extend one leg in front of you as straight as possible, but don’t lock your Before you begin knee. Flex your foot, pointing toes up to- Chose a chair that is stable and solid; ward the ceiling. Hold position for one one that doesn’t fold or have wheels. second. Breathe in as you slowly lower You should be able to sit with both the raised leg back down. Repeat 10 to feet flat on the floor and knees bent at 15 times, then switch to the other leg right angles. Wear loose, comfortable and repeat for two sets with each leg. clothing and keep a water bottle handy. When weights are indicated, you can Chair Dip: Arms use light hand weights, 20-oz. bottles Sit in a sturdy chair with armrests. of soda or water, or cans of soup. Keep feet firmly, flat on the floor, shoul- The following seated exercises are der-width apart. Lean slightly forward; recommended for seniors by the Na- keep your back and shoulders straight. tional Institutes of Health. Grasp both arms of chair with your hands. Breathe in slowly. Breathe out Wrist Curls and use your arms to push your body Rest your forearm on the arm of a slowly off the chair. (The pushing mo- sturdy chair with your hand over the tion will strengthen your arm muscles, edge. Hold a weight in one hand with even if you are not able to lift yourself the palm facing upward. Slowly bend up off the chair.) Hold position for one your wrist up and down. Repeat 10 to second. Breathe in as you slowly lower 15 times, then switch to the other hand yourself back down. Repeat 10-15 times, and repeat for two sets with each hand. then rest and repeat 10-15 more times. June 2016 Milestones 4 CelebrateGet Physical Arts & Aging Now she says “Take my bike – Please!” the big city, bike after bike – meticu- By Maralyn Lois Polak lously chained to the telephone pole in Why does adulthood seem to need- front of my fashionably located Ritten- lessly complicate things? Take riding a house Square apartment – gets stolen, bike. One of my best memories as a kid Kryptonite(TM) lock or not. Eventually I growing up in small-town America is rid- buy a house. I get another bike to ride, ing a bicycle, pedaling just for the joy of alongside my dog. And guess what? It’s motion, the breeze caressing my skin. stolen. Even though it was a used bike, This was at the North Jersey shore, first which I imagined would appeal to no one in Asbury Park where as a 5-year-old I’d but me. ride along the sidewalk on Sunset Ave. un- One more try der the trees until I came to the winding white bridge leading to Wanamassa, and Years pass. One dog becomes another. I’d turn back, the good girl my parents One dream blurs into the next. Eventu- raised me to be, going just far enough, but ally, I get me a classic brand-name bicycle, not too far. from the Internet. It’s new and presumably Two years later my family moved six tantalizing to bike thieves.