Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

Plenty to Celebrate

May 24, 2009

I’m beginning to think May is a month filled with as many showers as flowers. Nevertheless, it is also a month filled with memorial services and parades, honoring and remembering not only veterans who gave their life in service to this country, but also police officers killed while attempting to keep our communities safe. Other month long commemorations in May include Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Even though I am sure I could come up with a few words on any of these interesting topics, I am writing about the one other May celebration I didn’t list. May is also Older Americans Month as established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Originally called Senior Citizens month, President Carter in 1980 thought “Older Americans” sounded more politically correct. Back in 1963, only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday, with about a third living in poverty and few programs available to meet their needs. The number of Americans currently age 65 and over is more than 36 million, approximately 12% of our population. Most Americans consider 65 as the beginning of old age. This was obviously connected to the age that many Americans were entitled to retire with full Social Security benefits, but even that has now changed.

A perfect kickoff to the Older American’s month started on May 3 when Si Ford and Councilwoman Vicki Ford opened their home to host the one-year anniversary of the wonderful organization, Gramatan Village. This organization is dedicated to keeping seniors or older Americans in their own home. The program embraces “aging in place”, a more modern concept for our aging population. Increasing physical capability and the length of time seniors can remain in the homes they love addresses one of the more significant emotional aspects of aging. This is accomplished with a network of volunteers and a screened list of service contractors often at a reduced rate. Gramatan Village also provides transportation and social activities.

On Monday, May 18, the Tuckahoe Village board members and I honored the “Snow Angels”. This is a group of our own residents attempting to make a difference in the lives of older Americans. The “Snow Angels” recently finished their first successful winter season shoveling the homes of older residents throughout the village and town. Councilwoman Sheila Marcotte and Tuckahoe Police Sergeant Peggy Belles rounded up about 25 kids to volunteer for this worthy endeavor. Being a father of two of these Snow Angels merely required me to continually remind them during each snowstorm what they signed up for. So with that in mind I realize I need to thank all other parents as well. This low-tech program is an excellent “villagey” approach to assisting our elder residents.

This coming week, Tuckahoe resident Sandy Reyes- Guerra and the local Girls Scout troop will plant annuals in the backyard of the Tuckahoe Senior Center located at 4 Union Place. Their four-year ongoing commitment has led to beautifying this gathering place of our older Tuckahoe members. The Tuckahoe senior program, which operates at the center under Director Barbara Stires, offers an excellent social setting. The Tuckahoe Seniors most significant fundraising endeavor is their annual 50/50. Members can be seen manning a table at town gatherings even in blazing sun or rain. And this isn’t their only fundraising effort; on a smaller scale their ingenuity has come up with the “Transportation Jar” for anyone’s spare change to supplement traveling cost.

Both the Snow Angels and the annual plantings illustrate that as a community some are cognizant that seniors deserve our attention. However, as our population continues to reach ever-greater ages, we must address the taxes in our region that ultimately force many to leave. Older American programs (both those funded as well as volunteer) are in our collective best interest. The balance of younger homeowners with growing families and senior homeowners is a symbiotic relationship that must be nurtured. If every home in our village became filled with a younger family, the ranks of our classrooms could swell and ultimately force our taxes even higher as we search for space and teachers.

Senior homeowners certainly contribute greatly to our tax base and should be assisted in remaining in their homes in Tuckahoe. But I don’t want to oversimplify the situation and insinuate that helping an older neighbor shovel or mow their lawn facilitates keeping taxes down. Obviously, it’s much more complicated than that; but it doesn’t hurt. If one were able to show such a correlation, I would sign my kids up right away. However, judging by the state of my own lawn with which they assist, I am not sure that would be in the best interest of Tuckahoe.

Beyond all the things I’ve touched on regarding Older Americans Month, I believe the simplest thing to remember this May is the old adage “respect your elders”. It has been good advice since the beginning of time. By “respect” I am referring to acknowledging the past and current contributions of this ever-growing group by showing a little courtesy. Let’s face it, someday we may be members of this elite crowd.