Senior 'Village Fair' Set for Sep. 17 in Valhalla

Gentle tai chi exercises, memory games, ballroom dancing and talks on topics from telehealth to spirituality in older adults are just a few of the wide variety of activities planned for “Celebrate Aging: The Livable Communities Village Fair” on Tuesday, Sept. 17. 

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said that seniors should take part in the terrific opportunities this event offers.

“This is a first-class, upbeat program,” Astorino said. “The variety of events is spectacular.  It’s still another example of the excellent programming the county offers seniors.” 

The age-friendly extravaganza will be under way from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Dr., Valhalla.

Registration is required.  To sign up, contact vqc9@westchestergov.com or (914) 813-6427.  For more details about the event, visit www.westchestergov.com/seniors. 

Admission and on-site parking are free.  The day will include a complimentary continental breakfast and a light lunch. 

The event is presented by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services, the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), and two of DSPS projects: the Age-Friendly Community Sustainability Collaborative and its award-winning Livable Communities Initiative.

Some of the 12 presentations by experts in their fields include:

• Telehealth Overview:  What is it?  What are the options?  Why would I want it? Telehealth offers a wide array of options to seniors who want to stay healthy and remain in their own homes as long as possible by providing real-time monitoring to seniors with chronic diseases. David Sachs and Jean Coppola, professor and associate professor, respectively, of information technology at Pace University, will present an overview of what telehealth is, the options it offers and how it can benefit seniors.
• The Spiritual Imperative in Older Adulthood – Penelope Moore, an associate professor at Iona College, said older adulthood has always been a time for seniors to reflect back on their lives.  But today more than ever it is also a time to look ahead and cultivate the spiritual lens to see the world from that angle and continue to live with integrity in later years.
• Mainstream:  Learning Opportunities at Westchester Community College (WCC) – Hannah Gross, a WCC program specialist, will explain how the Mainstream program can help mature adults learn new things, expand their existing skills or return to college.
• ArtsWestchester Presents Storytelling – Stuart Nager, a professional storyteller and teaching artist from ArtsWestchester, will lead an interactive workshop to encourage creativity using personal stories in a group setting to explore the basics of storytelling through memories and past experiences.
• "Industrial Sublime" Upcoming Exhibit at the Hudson River Museum: HRM’s director of curatorial affairs will discuss how New York's rise as an industrial power in the early half of the 20th Century was reflected in paintings of the region's cities and rivers.

There will also be 50 vendors at the fair with products and services of interest to seniors and caregivers. In addition, a representative from the office of New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli will have a booth where fair-goers can learn if the state is holding any unclaimed funds in their name.

The purpose of the Livable Communities initiative is to improve the quality of life for people of all ages and enable seniors to continue to live in their homes as they age. It works through grass-root villages, which are networks of people with shared interests, such as houses of worship, civic groups and businesses.  Today, there are more than 190 villages that represent more than 90,000 people.

DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said while this is the first “Celebrate Aging” Village Fair the county is presenting, she doubts it will be the last.

“I expect to see a wonderful turnout,” Carpenter said.  “It’s a great way to socialize, meet new people and explore new interests.  People who are involved in their communities have a better quality of life and often a longer life as well.”