Orange County Office For The Aging SENIORS MATTER The OFFiCiAl NewsleTTer OF The OrANge COuNTy OFFiCe FOr The AgiNg 66 FRIDAY,FRIDAY, FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 12, 2021 12, 2021 Message from County Executive Message from the Director Steven M. Neuhaus AnnMarie Maglione As we all know “tempus fugit,” and time is indeed flying by as we enter the second month of 2021. COVID is still very much Greetings- a concern and, if you haven’t already completed the County’s Vaccination Information Request Form, please be sure to sign Happy 2021 and good riddance to 2020! up at https://vaccination.orangecountygov.com. This is not a vaccine appointment, but your name and contact information With 2021 comes renewed hope and promise for the will be added to a list to receive information about when and future. It’s been almost a full year living with the COVID where the vaccine will be available. If you don’t have access pandemic and what a difference a year has made! For to a computer or need assistance, call the County’s Office for the Aging at 845-615-3700. Please be patient; and continue to many it’s the hardest year of their lives. We seen loved wear your mask, social distance and take the hand washing and sanitizing precautions that ones very ill and lost many, we’ve had to isolate and you’ve been practicing all these months. quarantine, we’ve missed family gatherings, holidays, and outings. We’ve been afraid, lonely, anxious, and scared. But we’ve survived! We’ve also seen many random acts February is the American Heart Association’s Heart Health Month; a great time to assess our of kindness, people going out of their way to help their neighbors and strangers. health and lifestyles to be sure that each of us is doing all we can to remain heart healthy. During February, the American Heart Association (AHA) challenges all Americans, regardless And we have a vaccine! We at OFA are assisting many get appointments for the of our age, to learn more about heart disease and its risk factors, and to join the Association’s vaccine. If you haven’t gotten one yet, please be patient, you will. There is a national mission to promote a heart- healthy lifestyle. shortage, but it gets better every day. To register, please go to www.Ornagecountgov. com and sign up for the wait list. Each week, my staff and several others call people With quarantining and isolating, as well as the snow and the cold, it’s a little more difficult to be as healthy as we’d like, but certainly not impossible. Brisk walks outside, stretching, from that list and schedule appointments. YouTube videos of workouts that are at your level, as well as healthier food choices are all within our control and will all help us to remain heart healthy. In a ‘normal’ year many of us are in the midst of fulfilling our New Year’s resolutions, or at least thinking about it. This may include losing weight, quitting smoking, According to the AHA, cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease, stroke, and managing finances, or spending more time with family and loved ones. I encourage high blood pressure, is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It is you to keep it up! It’s critically important to take care of ourselves. If you are also a leading cause of disability, preventing people from engaged, I hope you are all being successful, don’t give up, you can do it! Part of working and enjoying activities that many take for granted. Our seniors are gardening, success is education. running or strolling, playing with their grandchildren and participating in many other physical activities that cardiovascular disease can make difficult or February is Heart Health Month. Take care of your heart. impossible. Take care of your hearts so you can continue to partake in the activities that you enjoy! Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United Embrace a heart healthy lifestyle to prevent and mitigate many coronary heart disease (CHD) States. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable. One of the best ways risk factors, including high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. Only a few to prevent a heart attack is knowledge. The following are suggestions for living a of the risk factors, including age, gender and family history, are out of our control. heart healthy lifestyle: You can do your part to control or reduce risk factors by: Engage in regular moderate aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week or more vigorous workouts at least 20 minutes three times a week. • Managing your stress levels • Exercising a minimum of 30 minutes five days a week Adopt a diet low in salt, saturated and trans fats and high in unsaturated fats (fish, • Eating heart-healthy meals and snacks • Maintaining a healthy weight avocado, etc.) like the Mediterranean Diet. • Quitting smoking • Limiting alcohol use Maintain a normal body weight with caloric adjustment. • Managing diabetes and other illnesses properly • Taking any prescribed medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or other Take fish oil supplements. conditions/illnesses Avoid smoking and recreational drug use. It is truly never too late to make whatever important, heart-healthy changes that you can. I encourage you to take the steps and make the changes that will improve or continue a heart- Consume no more than ½ to 1 alcoholic beverage per day. healthy lifestyle. You and your loved ones will be so grateful that you did, and you may serve as a life-saving example to others. Here’s to your heart health, in February and all year round! Maintain your cholesterol level, blood pressure and stress levels. These, unless Steven M. Neuhaus controlled, may lead to higher risk. Orange County Executive. Know and review your risk factors with a trusted physician. Your physician may recommend medications to control cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. High-risk individuals should consider taking a daily aspirin. You should know the common risk factors for heart disease. Although heart disease can happen at any age, four out of five people who die from coronary heart disease are aged 65 or older. The risk of stroke doubles with each decade after the age of 55. The risk for women increases as they get older. Making heart-healthy choices now, Walden knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this often-silent killer. SUPER HERO February is also Black History Month when we celebrate the achievements by African Americans and recognize the central role of blacks in U.S. history. Since Deliver a nutritious lunchtime meal to a homebound neighbor! 1976, February has been designated Black History Month. Maximum impact on your community! Minimum impact on your schedule! The 2021 theme, The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity. Family One hour per month earns you your hero’s cape! offers a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American past and present. Call LoriAnn Prochazka at 845-615-3703 Finally, February also recognizes Presidents’ Day, officially Washington’s Birthday, is recognized as honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is ORANGE COUNTY sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents. OFFICE FOR THE AGING Until next month, I wish you health, happiness and peace. STEVEN M. NEUHAUS, COUNTY EXECUTIVE www.orangecountygov.com Warm regards- AnnMarie SERVING THE SENIOR COMMUNITY IN THE HUDSON VALLEY • 845-762-8112 Orange County Office For The Aging SENIORS MATTER The OFFiCiAl NewsleTTer OF The OrANge COuNTy OFFiCe FOr The AgiNg FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 FRIDAY,FRIDAY, FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 12, 12, 2021 2021 77 FEBRUARY EVENTS VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND @ EMPORIUM SQUARE February 13, 14, 10:00 am-6:00 pm Emporium Square Artisan Market. 128 Dolson Avenue, Middletown Come get some handcrafted gifts from our Merchants at Emporium. You can also get inspired by our Pop Up Vendors. Don’t miss out on this weekend of LOVE. Want to be a Pop Up Vendor? Fill out the application online www.emporiumsquareny.com 845-636-9091, www.emporiumsquareny.com VALENTINE’S ORCHARD WALK & FONDUE FOR TWO February 13,14, 11:00 am-4:30 pm Pennings Farm Cidery. 4 Warwick Turnpike, Warwick Take a romantic self-guided hike through The Cidery Orchard at 4 Warwick Turnpike, Warwick, NY. Then share a steamy and creamy cheese fondue for two complemented with two craft beverages of choice from an extensive menu of craft beer, hard cider, and wine down below at Pennings Farm Market, 161 State Route 94S, Warwick, NY. The stroll through the orchard is at the couple’s leisure between 11am and 4:30pm on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14. The last entry into the orchard is 3:30pm. Make Reservations: https://bit.ly/3sYg1Ju (845) 987-9922, www.penningscidery.com KIWANIS FISH & CHIPS DRIVE-THRU/TAKE-OUT DINNER February 19, 4:00 pm-7:30 pm Chester Elementary School. 2 Herbert Drive, Chester ANNUAL FIRST FRIDAY OF LENT FISH & CHIPS It’s coming up soon!!! Please note several changes this year due to COVID-19: New location: Chester Elementary School. This will be a TAKE-OUT event ONLY! Reservations are now being taken for the annual Kiwanis Fish & Chips dinner at Chester Elementary School. Cost per dinner is $16 for adults, $13 for seniors over 65 and children under 12.