For anyone with an economics background the last year has been an interesting opportunity to witness the theories and accepted tenets put to the test. We’ve seen an unprecedented shutdown of much of the private sector, a displacement of workers in nearly every sector, a breakdown of the supply chains providing the basic necessities of everyday life, and a massive taking from future taxpayers to help keep businesses and households afloat while government agencies debate a myriad of policy solutions of varying efficacy. 

At its core, what this year has shown us is that economies are far too large and infinitely interconnected to be manipulated with precision: every policy has unintended consequences. Some of these turn out to be beneficial, and some to our detriment. 

Because the economy was in such a strong position prior to the pandemic, we believe the timeline and breadth of the recovery will be relatively short and wide. Had we been in an economic downturn at the end of 2019, we would be singing a very different tune.

The US government pumped $5 Trillion into the economy last year in an effort to help households and businesses bridge the pandemic. While the intention is laudable, it is not without consequences. This money will need to be paid back at some point, with interest, by our children and grandchildren. Expect future tax rates to consequently be higher than today.

Having increased the money supply by 30% in just one year, the economy is now awash in cash, and is ripe to experience higher rates of inflation than many of us have seen in a very long time. For over a decade, inflation has been extremely tame, but that is unlikely to last. Cases in point: the price of gas is up over 20% from pre-pandemic levels, and used cars are up 30% while clothing is up 7%. Higher inflation hurts the most economically vulnerable among us, including low-income families and the elderly, and may further exacerbate social inequities we are purportedly committed to quelling. 

A lack of supply is also working to drive up prices. Everything from chicken wings to motor vehicles are seeing steep price increases due to strained supply chains and heightened demand. While some of this is simply due to a lag from the time production resumes to when consumers receive goods, a large part is also due to a lack of the most basic resource in production: labor.

There are some who will say that the current unemployment benefits are not high enough to replace lost wages, and therefore cannot be a disincentivizing workers from returning to work. That simply isn’t true. Even if we grant that benefits are not high enough to replace earnings in every case, for the remainder we need to acknowledge that there is a benefit derived from just not doing anything. In other words, for many, the sum of the benefit derived from staying home, and the benefits received from the State is higher than the benefit of returning to work. While that’s well-intentioned, it’s not helpful to the recovery.

If I’m wrong, you won’t see any improvement in unemployment figures as benefits wind down.   

Furthermore, since we’re paying people to stay home, potential employers are not competing for labor at the market rate, they are competing with the State for labor at a subsidized rate. As a result, we’re seeing huge increases in wages for traditionally low-paying jobs. Many fast food restaurants in our area are offering more than $15.50/hour to start, and teen employment is at its highest level in decades as teens happily take jobs from those still sitting on the sidelines. Higher input costs yield higher output prices.

Markets are efficient, sometimes painfully. These issues will generally work themselves out on the macro level, but that means many may be left worse off in the wake.

As unemployment benefits wane, a glut of labor is likely to hit the workforce, which could actually end up driving down wages in many sectors, especially for workers in lower-skilled positions. With prices likely to increase for some time, these workers will be even more greatly impacted.

While we don’t expect the hyper inflation of the 1980s, we do expect higher inflation than many have ever experienced. At some point, sooner than many anticipate, the Fed will need to raise interest rates, which will have a cascading effect through the economy. As the cost of borrowing increases, businesses will be less able to build or upgrade factories and equipment to increase production. The cost of home ownership will continue to rise. 

It’s not all doom and gloom, and we think the coming year should continue to improve for most, but we are concerned about the long-term well-being of those who may be less able to adapt to what could be a rapidly changing economic landscape.

With all of the changes we’re sure to experience as the recovery picture becomes more clear, it’s as important as ever to make sure you work closely with your CFP® to chart your path through the recovery, and to capitalize on opportunities wherever they may be. Your commitment to your goals doesn’t change, but your strategy may need to.

Stephen Kyne, CFP® is a Partner at Sterling Manor Financial in Saratoga Springs and Rhinebeck.

Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sterling Manor Financial, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor or Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc. Sterling Manor Financial and Cadaret, Grant are separate entities.

We do picnic-type meals with some frequency during the summer, whether at the lake or the park or on road trips. Figuring out foods that are fairly easy to prepare and eat, can be made in large quantities, travel well, and have a high likelihood of being eaten by the majority of my children has been a task I’ve spent a lot of time on. 

When I was growing up, any time we were going to be in the van for a while, my mom would bring a loaf of bread and a package of bologna or sliced ham and pass back sandwiches as kids were hungry. To this day, bologna on bread is one of my favorite things to eat, no joke! But the family I’ve created with my husband doesn’t care for bologna on bread, or ham on bread (some of them don’t like anything on bread, crazy kids!), so I’ve had to get creative with food-on-the-road. Here are some of our recent favorites:

MEATBALLS OR MEATBALL SLIDERS

It’s so easy to put a tray of frozen meatballs in the oven for twenty minutes, let them cool for ten, and then pop them in a container to go. I’ve done this while getting everyone and everything ready for whatever excursion we’re setting out on. I bring a bag of rolls (already sliced, or I pry them open with my fingers) and put one meatball in each one for an easy slider. I also bring a bunch of forks for those who don’t like sandwiches and hand out meatballs speared on the end of the forks like lollipops, which the younger kids especially like. 

HOT DOGS

As with the meatballs, I put the hot dogs on a tray in the oven for twenty minutes and let them cool for ten. If I have enough time, I like to then put each hot dog in a bun and then wrap it up in parchment paper or foil — my kids tend to get more excited about food that’s individually wrapped (and honestly, so do I!). If I don’t have the time, or I know people are feeling extra anti-sandwich-y that day, I’ll put the hot dogs in a container and bring the buns and some forks, just like with the meatballs.

CHICKEN NUGGETS

Like with the meatballs and hot dogs, the frozen nuggets go in the oven on a tray for twenty minutes and then cool for ten. In our house, a cooked component (even if it’s no longer hot by the time we eat it) is fairly crucial to happy on-the-go eating, and chicken nuggets are particularly kid-friendly.

PIZZA BITES

Yes, one last heat-and-go option! I get a huge bag of pizza bites — usually just cheese so my littlest guys don’t freak out (which also makes this good for Meatless Friday families) — and put them in a big container. It’s really cute to see my boys standing around the big bowl of pizza bites, popping one after another — there’s something really appealing about a container of easy finger foods.

QUESADILLAS

My last go-to option requires a bit more hands-on work, but takes less time overall. I cook simple quesadillas in a frying pan: just tortillas and cheese, which makes this another great meatless option. When I’m making quesadillas for an at-home meal, I’ll include chicken and veggies, but for travel, cheese is good enough. This is another food that wraps up nicely in individual portions — I cut them into wedges and wrap two or more wedges up in parchment or foil for easy distribution. 

The items mentioned above serve as the “anchor” of my on-the-go meals — a part of a formula I use every time: main dish plus chips plus fruit plus dessert. I buy those big bags containing individual chip bags, as well as fruit (fresh when I can take the time to wash it and figure out a good crush-proof container — grapes are some of the easiest to travel with, as are a bag of clementines — but often applesauce pouches, which are so easy) and usually a dessert (a box of cookies, for example). The container of cooked food, the fruit, and the dessert fit inside a reusable shopping bag, and the big bag of chip bags gets carried alongside. Easy peasy! I generally don’t worry about plates, but I do try to make sure to bring a lot of napkins. And having the boys bring their school water bottles is the easiest beverage solution.

I hope this is helpful to you as you spend time outside and/or on the road with your family this summer!

Kate and her husband have seven sons ages 16, 14, 13, 11, 9, 7, and 2. Follow her at www.facebook.com/kmtowne23, or email her at kmtowne23@gmail.com.

I’m guessing your kids are signed up for a sport this summer or maybe they will participate in sports at summer camp. The coaches and counselors will focus on skills like dribbling the basketball, shooting the soccer ball, bouncing a tennis ball on a racket and other sport specific skills. But how many will report that they did any running? Too often the focus is on the specific sport and yet almost every sport involves running! What is challenging about running and why should your child practice? Running is the basis of all sports!

The following fundamental movements are the best for recruiting muscles, increasing coordination, and building the basis for future skill development. 

1. Throwing and Catching
2. Jumping/Hopping
3. Running
4. Kicking
5. Ball Bounce
6. Stopping/Starting

We quickly encourage our kids to focus on all, but often with very little emphasis on number 3. Running is part of just about every sport! Does this mean your athlete should be putting in miles every day? Absolutely not. For kids it is all about fun and movement. However, paying a little bit of attention to how we move can set them up for success later on – whether in competitive sports or entering that first 5K in their 30s!

If I could meet with your kids and offer advice, I would encourage the following:

1. Eyes focused forward throughout the run
2. Feet landing right below hips
3. Arms bent at elbows and drives back
4. Feet land at midfoot
5. Body lean is from the ankle

Sports programs start for kids as young as 3-5. The free Kids Runs at the Freihofer’s Run for Women offer opportunities from 50m up to the mile and we have kids running, walking, and toddling! As they get older the distances can increase which is why we offer the Junior 3K for kids up to the age of 14. This 1.86-mile run is the perfect distance for those who like to use running to stay active and maybe help their other sporting endeavors.

Proper form does matter – at all ages!

Fun and functional should be the focus.

Dynamic warm up

Pick 4 and do 8-12 reps:
• 1/2 lap around a field skipping
• Leg swings (front-back, side-side)
• Squat to calf raise
• Walking lunge
• High knees
• Butt kicks
• Frankenstein walks
• Carioca (grapevine)
• Run backwards
• Ice skaters

COOL DOWN

Hold stretches for 30 seconds:

• Calf stretch
• Quad stretch
• Hamstring stretch

TRAINING PLAN

The key is making a plan work for your child. Everything can be adapted, and fun comes first. There are additional resources at www.freihofersrun.com. Each week has three days of running. Group A is younger or just starting to run. Group B is 5th grade up or already running.

Week 1: Equal run/walk time
Group A :30 run/:30 walking for 10-15 minutes
Group B 1 min run/1 min walk for 10-15 min.

Week 2: Same as week one or add 5 minutes to each run session.

Week 3 and 4:
Group A :45/:45
Group B 2 min/2 min. Goal at least 15 min

Week 5:
Group A 1 min run/1 min walk
Group B 3/1. Goal is 15 min.

Week 6:
Group A 2 min run/2 min walk
Group B 5 min run/1 min walk for 15-20 min

Week 7:
Group A 3 min run/2 min walk for 15-20 min
Group B 7 min run/1 min walk for 20 min. Pick one day and run straight for 1 mile.

Week 8:
Group A 4 min run/1 min walk
Group B run 10 min/walk 1. 25 min

Week 9:
Group A 5 min run/1min walk
Group B run 1 mile/walk 1 min/run to 25 min. One day run 2 miles.

Week 10:
Group A 7 min run/1 min walk for 25 min
Group B 1 mile run/1 min walk/1mile run

Kristen Hislop is the Director of the Freihofer’s Run for Women and the owner of Hislop Coaching. Hislop Coaching is happy to meet with youth athletes to design an effective program.

For more visit www.freihofersrun.com and www.hislopcoaching.com.

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there…” – Author Unknown

The comfort zone is a unique place where one feels safe, in control, and content. Who wouldn’t want to stay there? A person who chooses to grow and evolve. That’s who!

So, what does it take to leave the zone?

1. Commitment
Resolving to remain on the growing edge of life, at any age.

2. Desire 
Seeking to identify meaningful ways to expand your lifestyle, attracting the new experience, people, and opportunities you’ve been hoping to find.

3. Willingness
Spontaneously opening up to new possibilities, giving yourself permission to try something new out of the ordinary. 

4. Confidence
Arriving at a place where you know you are ready and feel the task is achievable. Possessing a positive attitude and approach. 

5. Prepared
You’ve done your research to determine if your goal is realistic and how to proceed. At this juncture you need to be humble and ask for the emotional, technical, or physical support you need to be successful.

6. Opportunity
Are you looking for a once in a lifetime experience or seeking an ongoing experience? Sometimes you simply are unaware of what piques your interest until the right opportunity comes along. It may take the form of a group or venue. Other times, you may be the catalyst who initiates the process via a blog, newsletter, or a newly formed group. What truly matters is that you watch for clues and respond to opportunities that arise.

7. Acceptance
Be kind to yourself. Avoid forced outcomes, unnecessary pressure, and unrealistic expectations. Release control. Trust the process. Accept the outcome without judgement.

Remember growth takes time, patience, and persistence. If you enjoy a new activity, stick with it. Otherwise, move onto the next experience. Proceed at your own pace, build up your skills and confidence. Maybe start with a small step. Do something you feel very comfortable doing. Then move on to an unfamiliar task. 

There are not rules; it’s a growth process. 

Attitude is everything. 

This is the way I’ve always done it. I am not going to change. There is nothing new for me! VS. I’m choosing to open myself up to a new way of doing things. With the right information, tools, and support I can accomplish anything. There is a whole universe to be explored and enjoyed just waiting for me. 

The decision is yours This is your unique life.

Stay on the sidelines and play it safe, Or Take a leap of faith, try something new, and grow!

The Persian mystic Rumi one said, 

“When you go to a garden, do you look at thorns or flowers? Spend more time with the Jasmine.”

Step up! Step out of your comfort zone. I wish you a joyful, interesting …and fragrant life!

I remember the evening vividly.

I was standing outside on Broadway on a cold November night having just finished dinner with a group of friends. One of my friends introduced me to Arthur Gonick who was writing for Saratoga Today newspaper and had a social scene weekly feature. Arthur asked what I did for a living and was intrigued that I was a psychotherapist. I told him I had always wanted to write a column for a newspaper based on the techniques and interventions I used in my practice.  This was my beginning with Saratoga Publishing. My first article was in December of 2008 and as they say, the rest is HERSTORY. 

Coming up with monthly content for the Families Today section was so often based on personal experiences of loss, heartbreak, and dysfunctional relationships sprinkled with insight and humor.

Writing became my own personal therapist and way to heal my own struggles and challenges. Often times when writing an article I would realize I wrote the solution to a problem I was having in my own life with a difficult relationship or work situation. Looking back, I realize my Families Today Column has been my trusted advisor and loyal therapist in my own life.

Writing has always been a way for me to release and express everything I want to say or wish I had said to my younger self or the version of myself that struggled with feeling worthy and self-confident. I look back on my 13 years with this column and see how I grew with every article written.

My favorite days were the ones where an unexpected email would pop into my inbox thanking me for writing something that helped unlock insight and freedom from a toxic relationship or environment. One unforgettable evening was when someone walked by me in a restaurant and yelled, “GPS! I now follow my own inner GPS and it never steers me wrong, Thank you!”

Working on this team and writing this column has been an incredibly fulfilling journey and one that has been life changing and affirming.

As I tell all of you, following our intuition (aka internal GPS) is essential to honoring our peace of mind in every-day life.  The season of life I am currently in with my own practice, family and almost five year old is one that keeps every minute of time accounted for. 

For me to make the space to write from a place of inspiration and creativity I have to have time to let ideas flow and inspiration guide. Post Covid I find myself working hard to carve out space for the people and things I love. I am trying to take as much off of my plate as possible to make more space for NOTHING! I know that this space will help refresh my ability to creatively express myself through writing and other mediums.

To my readers, THANK YOU. You have inspired me every single month to dig deep and listen to what people are starving for- acceptance, insight and freedom from dysfunctional patterns. I will never stop the journey of wanting to know more and share more. THANK YOU for helping me see my worth.

To my Saratoga Publishing Team, Chad Beatty, Chris Bushee, Arthur Gonick and Robin Mitchell.  Thank you for giving me a chance, the freedom to write about anything and everything and never- ending patience when missing deadlines.  I have loved being a part of this incredible team and community.

To my husband and family, thank you for letting me write about our lives, our relationships and for listening with enthusiasm every month to my new article as if it were my first.

While this is the end to my monthly column I know that I will continue to find ways to do what I love best, helping people be the best version of themselves and healing from the inside out.

WE are worth it!

For more information email meghanfritzlcsw@gmail.com or visit www.fritzstanger.com

First things first…

Thank you for voting for Goodemote Physical Therapy…it’s an honor to be voted “Best of Saratoga for Physical Therapy” for the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW!  From my point of view, the quality of therapy I see at GPT is the best I have ever been a part of in my 24 years of being a PT. 

As the COVID restrictions are being lifted I have been allowing students to return and with that comes an opportunity to, hopefully, influence the next wave of PTs. Having students gives me the opportunity to reflect and consider what principles guide us at GPT. Today I thought it would be a good idea to dive a bit deeper and try to provide examples of what a physical therapist can/should be doing with their patients.

I was the first group of physical therapists that graduated with a Masters Degree in Physcial Therapy and now every PT gets their Doctorate. At my graduation we were told how important it was as a profession to have “more” eduation so we could be better prepared for the changing landscape of healthcare in America. I can say with absolute certainty that this is still stressed and the new generation of PTs learns more than I did in PT school. 

Education is an important foundation for a quality PT…but it’s not the whole story. The other equally important part of being a good PT is what I call the “art of physical therapy.”

When I started my career, I felt like my education had definitely prepared me to see patients and I was raring to go! But one day my surpervisor asked me a question that changed the trajectory of my career because it shifted my mindset. 

He asked me, “why are you doing that exercise with Mrs. Jones?”

I gave him a “textbook” answer…to which he replied, “I don’t care what the book says Matt…I want to know why YOU are doing it!”

This was a defining moment for me and it has stuck with me every since. It may sound obvious, but I had learned to give the “right” answers to get good grades in school, but this is not how it works with patients. The education is the foundation, but there is so much more to actually guiding patients through their rehabilitation. I still review my day and ask myself why “I” am doing what I am doing. It started me on this journey to step outside the “book” answers and find an answer that works for the individual patient. 

As with most medical professions we are taught to use what the most current research shows us is beneficial to patients. I am a big supporter of this philosophy…as a starting point and/or as a guideline…but as with most research there are patients that don’t quite fit into the “typcial” mold. I think it is our job as a physical therapist, to keep our minds open to use what the “book” teaches us AND to interpret the patient’s actual experience to help us decide “why we are doing what we are doing.” 

I call this, “the art of therapy.” 

The “art of therapy” is about relating to patients, using our education to interpret what they are saying and then to guide them to the outcome they want. This is an important part of our role as PTs…to guide the patient to “their outcome.” For me this means remembering that I am treating the whole individual…not just their diagnosis. 

The diagnosis is a helpful starting point for deciding the best course of treatment, it is the “book” part of being a physical therapist. But the person is not a diagnosis…and too often a diagnosis doesn’t take into account the chain reaction that happens to the body, resulting in multiple areas of concern. This is where my job gets fun…interpreting what clues the body is offering to figure out the real source of the problem. 

For example, someone with knee pain from degeneration will often walk with a slightly bent knee (especially when there is swelling). This is because the knee “feels” better when it has a slight bend to it. Unfortunately, this “bent knee gait” often leads to pain behind the knee at the calf and pain on the inner aspect of the thigh. The longer someone walks with the bent position, the more lopsided their hips/pelvis are while walking which in turn will often lead to muscle tension and potential pain in the hips and lower back. So by the time we see this patient, they have 3-4 problems that a diagnosis of knee degeneration simply cannot explain. 

The diagnosis is the “book” part of the condition and the chain reactions are where the “art of therapy is needed. We need to tailor our interventions by taking into account the physical, mental, emotional and social experiences of our patients. The job of the PT is to decipher all this information to understand the “whole person” and then use this to design a program to meet their individual needs and desired outcomes. 

At GPT, we feel that seeing the whole person is the key to success and this can only happen by listening to our patients and helping them achieve the outcomes they want. That is what we are here for and we are happy to help in any way we can!

Winning the “Best of Saratoga for Physical Therapy” is a reminder to keep learning and honing our skills to provide the best care we can and to live up to this honor! Thanks again for voting for Goodemote PT…it is an honor to serve Saratoga!

June Events & Programs
…adding new programs all the time.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Friday, June 18 • 12 – 6 p.m. 

At the Saratoga Senior Center. 

Visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.

YARD SALE 

Friday, June 18 • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Saratoga Senior Center Parking Lot. Music by Jeff Brisbin: 11 a.m. -12 p.m. Concession Stand: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tie dye station $5. Tarot Card Reading with Mary Shimp: 10 a.m.

LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES AT NOON IS BACK!

Concerts will be held in the parking lot of the Downtowner Hotel, 413 Broadway, unless otherwise indicated. Chairs provided. Free. Donations appreciated.

• June 15: Devesh and Veena Chandra perform classical music of North India – Devesh’s innovative and imaginative approach and Veena’s mesmerizing sitar makes their performances en-thralling to both Western listeners and Indian classical purists.

• June 22: Red Canna chamber jazz group playing the original compositions and arrangements of pianist/composer Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius and a selection of other modern composers

• June 29: Zan and the Winterfolkan eclectic group of musicians with wide-ranging influences, from folk to bluegrass to jazz to rock. Paired with Strumfelds seductive vulnerability and soulful lyrics, The Winter Folk creates a unique and captivating sound in both their recordings and live performances.

• July 6: Garland Nelson Soulist’ Defined by many spiritual dimensions, Garland is an entertainer’s entertainer. Pure Energy

CHIT CHAT & MUSIC GROUPS

Mondays •  1 p.m. at the Center

Facilitated by Skidmore Interns Abby and Jackie. Join us for a fun hour of chit chat, laughs and music! Meet new friends and connect with old ones! 

WE ARE BACK! GOLF LEAGUE

Tuesdays • 9 a.m.

Call the Front Desk if you are interested in joining. We play 9 holes at Spa State Park on Tuesdays usually around 9 a.m. We are looking for someone to assist the front desk in facilitating the league. 

TUESDAY “TO-GO” MEALS

Call the front desk to order. $11 Pre-order meals by 4 p.m. the day before. Sponsored by The Home of the Good Shepherd and Humana Healthcare. We will deliver to Senior Housing Sites if you put a bulk order together (10 or more dinners).

 • Tuesday, June 15: Longfellows

• Tuesday, June 22: Simply Food by Maura –

   Roast Turkey Dinner – stuffing, mashed potato,
   gravy, green beans. 

• Tuesday, June 29: Home of the Good Shepherd

BINGO & SOUP! 

Wednesdays • 11:30 a.m. 

Bingo: 12:30 p.m. Join us for homemade soup, $3 per cup then join in a rousing game of Bingo! Welcome new caller, Tony!

TAROT CARD READINGS 

Last Thursday of the Month • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Welcome back Mary Shimp! Call the Front Desk to make a 15-minute tarot card reading appointment. $5 suggested donation.

10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMERS   

Wednesday, June 16 • 11:30 a.m. via ZOOM 

Facilitated by Katie Keary, Alzheimer’s Association. June is Alzheimer’s & Brain awareness month! Alzheimer’s and other dementias cause memory, thinking, and behavior chang¬es that interfere with daily living. Learn about common warning signs of Alzheimer’s and what symptoms to look for in yourself and others, as well as tips to approach someone who is experiencing changes in their memory, the benefit of early detection and diagnosis, and more.

DIABETES 101 – 2 PART SERIES 

Thursday, June 17 and Monday, June 21

Via ZOOM. Facilitated and sponsored by MVP.

Part 1: Become knowledgeable about the different types of diabetes, how they are diagnosed, signs and symptoms, etc. A cooking demo geared toward healthy eating with diabetes will be presented.

Part 2: I have diabetes, now what? Learn about the screenings and tests that you need so you can live well with diabetes. 

GROWING MICROGREENS

Tuesday, June 22, 11 a.m. 

At the Center. Facilitated by Capital Roots and sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield. If you don’t have space for gardening, microgreens are a great option because they can be grown easily on a sunny windowsill. As the name implies, microgreens are miniature versions of plants and they’re packed with lots of nutrients. Join Capital Roots’ educator to discuss the benefits of eating microgreens, how to grow them, and how to incorporate them into your meals.

NEW SUMMER SKIDMORE INTERNS & CLASSES

Keep an eye on the eblast for new programs! Jackie, Maya & Abby have some great ideas for summer classes.

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE CLASSES AT THE SENIOR CENTER!

Do you carry United Healthcare and are 65+ years? You may be eligible for Renew Active and free classes at the Center. Do you carry any of the following Medicare advantage plans: BlueCross BlueShield, BlueShield of NENY, CDPHP,  EmblemHealth, Empire BlueCross, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, healthfirst, Humana, Independent Health, MVP, or WellCare? You may be eligible for the Silver Sneakers program and free classes at the Center

VAN TRIPS ARE BACK! 

Lunch Bunch: Water’s Edge Lighthouse – Tuesday, June 15

The Water’s Edge Lighthouse is located in Schenectady on the shore of the Mohawk River. The scenic location is a wonderful backdrop with which to enjoy a good meal. Leave the Center at 11 a.m. Pay $10 at sign up. Please bring additional money for lunch.

Berkshire Botanical Garden – Monday, June 21

Enjoy an exciting, guided walking tour, led by experienced Garden Guides. A “museum of living things,” the Garden features dozens of display areas that are educational and highly ornamental, with plant collections emphasizing plants that are native to the Northeast. Have lunch at Pleasant and Main, a hidden cottage restaurant in the gorgeous Berkshires. Leave at 8:15 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Pay $28 at sign-up. Please bring additional money for lunch. 

Van Trip Protocol: Van trips are open to members only. You must sign up with the front desk. Masks must be worn on the van.

The most important document in your estate plan, other than a properly drafted Will or Trust, is undoubtedly your Power of Attorney. That is why it is important to understand the new changes to the New York Power of Attorney law, which will be effective on June 13th.

The new law will create a new “statutory short form” for a New York Power of Attorney, which will become the appropriate form to use after June 13, 2021.  The form and the statutory provisions associated with it reflect a number of key changes outlined below.

Before I address the changes, please understand that if you currently have a New York Power of Attorney, the changes in the law do not make your form invalid.  As soon as the form that you have was the appropriate form at the time and it was properly executed, it will continue to be valid. 

So, with that said, what are some of the key changes to the New York Power of Attorney Law?

New York Statutory Gifts Rider Eliminated

The current New York Power of Attorney (POA) statutory short form (in effect until June 13) includes a Statutory Gifts Rider (SGR).  The SGR has been in place since 2009 and is an optional part of the current POA form.  If you opt to execute an SGR with the current POA, you can allow gifts in excess of $500 per person per year to be made on your behalf by your agent.

Unfortunately, there have been a number of cases where the current SGR form was not properly drafted or executed, which have resulted in significant problems.  In order to address this issue, the SGR has been eliminated.  In the new POA form, you can still allow for larger gifts to be made, but you will need to set forth exactly the nature of that authority in the Modification section of the new POA form. 

Exact Wording Requirement Replaced

Under the prior law, certain sections of the statutory short form POA had to be exactly worded as set forth in the statute in order to be valid.  Under the new law, the POA form needs instead to “substantially conform” with the statutory short form POA.

This may seem like a minor change, but under the prior law the “exact wording” standard could have serious consequences.  In a 2015 case where a mother sought to bring a lawsuit on behalf of her daughter for personal injuries, the lawsuit was dismissed because she sought to bring it using a POA her daughter had granted her, but which did not meet the “exact wording” standard in place at that time.

More generally, some financial institutions have previously refused to honor POA forms which failed to meet the exact wording standard.  In those cases, if the person who executed the POA was no longer able to do a new corrected POA form, this could result in no POA being available to manage that person’s financial affairs.

Timeline Established for Honoring POAs

On occasion, a financial institution may refuse to honor a POA form.  Under the prior law, it was difficult to seek relief in those cases.  Under the new law, there are key changes which will help protect individuals and their agents utilizing POA forms.

Under the new law, a timeline is established for honoring the POA.  Within ten days of receiving a POA from an agent, a financial institution must: a) honor the POA, b) reject the POA with written reasons, or c) seek an affidavit from the agent verifying the legitimacy of the POA.  If the POA is rejected, the agent can then provide a response to the financial institution.  After the response is received, the financial institution has seven additional days to make a final determination to accept or reject the POA.

Damages and Legal Fees Available if POA Unreasonably Rejected

Under the prior law, financial institutions which rejected a POA form had little to fear because the agent would then need to bring a legal proceeding in order to force its acceptance.  Such legal proceedings generally did not result in the financial institution being found legally responsible for damages or legal fees.

However, under the new law, if a proceeding is brought by the agent to compel a financial institution to accept a POA and a court finds the financial institution unreasonably refused to honor the POA, then the agent may be awarded damages and attorneys fees, as a result.  This is a significant change which will hopefully result in financial institutions not refusing to honor POA forms unless they have a very good reason to do so.

The changes outlined above are some of the most important changes to the law, but they are not a comprehensive list.  If you currently are contemplating executing a POA, you should make sure that you are using the new form and that you understand the substance of the document (including the key changes above).  To ensure the POA is properly drafted and executed, you would be wise to obtain the assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney. 

Matthew J. Dorsey, Esq. is a Partner with O’Connell and Aronowitz, 1 Court St., Saratoga Springs. Over his 23 years of practice, he has focused in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and estate administration.  Mr. Dorsey can be reached at 518-584-5205, mdorsey@oalaw.com, and www.oalaw.com.

Sunny weather and children go hand-in-hand, but summer is also a time for allergies, infections, and getting irritants in the eyes, all of which can make your child’s eyes become inflamed and pink. Conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” is quite common and easily treated, depending on the cause, but can result in serious vision issues if not treated appropriately. Here are some of the recommendations I give parents:

Allergies

If the cause of your child’s conjunctivitis is allergies, first try cool moist compresses and lubricating artificial tear eye drops. Children with more severe allergic conjunctivitis may require over-the-counter topical and/or oral allergy medications, and sometimes prescription allergy medications, also. 

Artificial Tears

When choosing a lubricating eye drop for children, you might consider a gel drop, which lasts longer so there are fewer applications. Keeping the lubricating eye drops in the refrigerator will cool them, making them more comfortable to apply and more soothing.

Infections

Infectious conjunctivitis generally requires an evaluation by a physician, as topical antibiotics are often required. This form of “pink eye” is contagious, so keep your child home from school and daycare, and make sure everyone washes their hands frequently. 

Eye Irritants

If your child feels like something is in their eye, discourage them from rubbing it. Foreign body sensation may be a sign of something benign, such as an eyelash, however it could also be due to a corneal abrasion (a “scratch” on the front of the eye), foreign body on or in the eye, or other serious injury to the eye. 

If you see something on or in the eye, or if there is a history of eye trauma, bring your child immediately to the emergency department for further evaluation. Do not attempt to remove anything more serious from the eye. That said, if you instead see an eyelash on the eye or under the lid, you can gently sweep your clean finger over the closed eyelid toward the nose, or apply some lubricating artificial tear eye drops to help irrigate it out.

Conjunctivitis may also be due to some other cause of inflammation in the eye, glaucoma (“high eye pressure”), or injury, all of which would need evaluation by a physician. If you don’t know the cause of your child’s “pink eye,” talk to your pediatrician before treating at home.

Dr. Reynolds specializes in children’s eye disorders, such as strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) and amblyopia (“lazy eye”). She also treats adults with strabismus and double vision. She sees many pediatric eye issues, including but not limited to conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), nasolacrimal duct obstruction (“blocked tear duct”), ptosis (“droopy eyelid”), and non-emergency eye injuries due to sports or other physical activity. She has been working with children, including premature babies, for 20 years. 

Dr. Reynolds lives locally and has a large family in the area, including her brother, Dr. Frederick Reynolds, who is chief of general surgery at Saratoga Hospital.  Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Pediatric Eye Care is located at 3050 Route 50, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. To make an appointment, call 518-580-2228. Learn more at SaratogaHospital.org.

My mom has told me on more than one occasion that there’s an old saying: “Children need to know when Mother has a headache.” I’ve thought of this many times since becoming a mom, and what exactly it means. I used to think it meant that it’s not a bad thing for kids to know that sometimes Moms don’t feel well and need to lay down, or need to serve cereal for dinner, or can’t host a playdate, and I still do think that’s a large part of it — this idea that Moms aren’t amazing as kids are inclined to believe (not always, anyway), and they need grace and mercy and patience as well. But something happened recently that showed me another side to this saying, and I’m still thinking about it a couple of weeks later.

I’d been having progressive, chronic pain that started on the top of head and by the time I first went to the doctor, I was having fairly constant headaches and had started having pain on the skin of my forehead on one side; after a weekend of trying the doctor’s initial suggestion, it was worse, and it had spread down my face and I had stabbing pains deep in the top of my head, my temple, my ear, and my throat on one side. The doctor’s best guess was shingles, and after a week of antiviral medication as well as medication for nerve pain, I’m nearly one hundred percent better, so I think she was right (and I’m so grateful!). 

The thing is, I’d been dealing with this creeping, worsening pain for a couple of weeks before my shingles diagnosis — pain that was there when I went to bed, was aggravated by placing my head on the pillow, and was there when I woke up — and then it took a couple of days after starting taking the meds before I really started feeling better, so this one day, right before I started feeling better, I lost it on the kids. Every single thing they were doing made me feel like I was losing my mind — the arguing! The laughter! The sound of the foosball men being twirled on their poles and kicking the ball into the goal! The sound of the dishes clanging against each other as one of the boys put them away! The NOISE! The bad noises, the good noises, so many noises! Every bit of sound they made was so loud and pinged around inside my sore head until I started yelling at them for every little infraction I could think of and I ended with, “And none of you even care that I’m not feeling well!”

“Really?” answered one of them (the bravest one, apparently). “I didn’t know you weren’t feeling well!” It was a little voice of reason that broke through the haze of pain and I thought to myself, very clearly and calmly, “Well of course. How would they know?” I had never told them. I hadn’t even thought to tell them. I’d just kept plugging away at our everyday life and all the things that needed to be done, so all they saw was “business as usual.” I felt quite patient all of a sudden, and soothed, even. I called them all in and told them that it was unfair of me to expect them to be quieter and better behaved because I wasn’t feeling well, when I hadn’t even told them I wasn’t feeling well. They all felt quite badly for me — they hugged me and made sounds of sympathy (which, funny enough, didn’t make my head hurt worse) and made little efforts here and there to be helpful for the rest of that day and several days after.

“Children need to know when Mother has a headache” means not only my initial understanding about children having lower expectations of Mom when she’s not feeling well, but also allowing the children to tap into their reserves of compassion and giving them opportunities to step up and help out more. (Some of this is also, certainly, the difference between having all small children versus having big kids.) I keep thinking about how all my irritation seemed soothed once I realized they didn’t know what I was dealing with, and how sweet they were about it once they found out. 

I’d actually been working on sharing more with the kids recently, but from the opposite perspective — I’d been making a point to share with all of them the various successes they each had (a good test grade, a great catch during the baseball game, a good job helping to clean the house) and those of me and my husband (a good day at work for him, and the amazing honor I had recently of being selected one of Saratoga TODAY’s Saratoga County Women of Influence), so that we can all celebrate together. It’s been so fun to see how happy we all are for each other, and thinking of little ways to mark our achievements (getting ice cream from King’s Dairy is our current favorite).

I think often of how the family is the first school, and how “as the family goes, so goes the world.” All of the good parts and hard parts of being in a family help prepare all of its members for life and relationships outside the family. I know for sure that being privy on a very intimate level to the inner workings and vulnerabilities of each of the members of my household has helped me to be more understanding, patient, and compassionate with those outside my family, and in these recent instances of sharing sickness and success with my kids, I can see that they also are learning that people are often dealing with things you can’t see, that sometimes more is required of us than at other times, and also that no success is too small to celebrate with ice cream. Those are pretty good life lessons!

Kate and her husband have seven sons ages 16, 14, 12, 11, 9, 7, and 2. Follow her at www.facebook.com/kmtowne23, or email her at kmtowne23@gmail.com.