June 2009

Hot Fun
Easy, Breezy
3 Staycations
John Glover:
Getting Godot

In The 5
Summer Camps
For Seniors
Pier 64:
Country Parkland
On The Hudson

Summer! Cool Drinks

6 That Sizzle The Benefits Of "Om"
PAGE 2 J U N2009E

Energy Tips 101 and 102

Less waste. More haste. For 100+ energy saving tips,

See and pay your bill online with e*bill. visit us at www.conEd.com
It’s fast, easy and convenient.
Save time. Save stamps. Save money.
Learn more at conEd.com/ebill.

Report any power problems including

dim or flickering lights, loss of power
or gas leaks to us immediately by
phone at 1-800-75-CONED. Also
report electric power problems online
at www.conEd.com.
©2008 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Ad: Arnell Group
 nyc
PAGE 3

In This Issue
June 2009
NEWS Pier 67: Country Parkland on The Hudson
Page 5 Patrick Hedlund

SAFE Watch Your Wallet

Page 7 Marcia Passos Duffy

LEARN Summer Camps for Seniors

Page 8 Stanley Mieses

TRAVEL Go Packing!
Page 11 Robert Downes

FUN Daytripper!
Page 13 Janel Bladow

SAVOR Cool Cocktails for Hot Summer Nights

Page 16 Rowann Gilmann

VISIT Cook Islands

Page 18 Janis Turk
PAGE 16
STAGE John Glover: Getting Godot
Page 20 Jerry Tallmer

REST Park In The Sky

Page 22 Katie Lorah

PROTECT Bug Zappers

Page 23 Amy Paturel

HEALTH The Benefits of OM

Page 24 Jenny Stamos Kovacs

MONEY A Savings Plan for School Abroad

Page 26 Michael J. Jappell

CARE New Nursing Homes Rating System

Page 27 Beth Baker

ADVICE Marci's Medicare

Page 29

ESSAY You Don't Know Jack

Page 30 Rolf Potts

PAGE 18

John W. Sutter PUBLISHER

Janel Bladow EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jerry Tallmer MANAGING EDITOR
Mark Hasselberger ART DIRECTOR
Jamie Paakkonen GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Allison Greaker, Colin Gregory AD
Published by COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC
145 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013
PHONE: (212) 229-1890 FAX: (212) 229-2790
REPS
ADVERTISING: (646) 452-2465 • www.thrivenyc.com

nyc © 2009 Community Media, LLC

www.nyc-plus.com
PAGE 4 J U N2009E

Cutting Care; Enough is Enough!

By Emma DeVito Letter

Now that the dust has settled in Albany, there’s just one word that describes
the impact of the recently adopted new state budget on long-term care:
Devastating.
No one argues that the state faced a considerable financial crisis that
demanded a responsible response by the governor and state lawmakers.
from the
Unfortunately, that’s not what we got.
The dire state of the economy notwithstanding, for most of this decade
annual state budgets were pasted together with various resources, some of
which, regrettably, were not of the recurring type. This was the year, everyone
knew well in advance, when it would be time to “pay the piper” for the
Editor
A
spending structure that had been built on a foundation of singular revenues. round my house, June means just one thing: the beginning of summer.
Of course, no one foresaw that economic turmoil that has beset the state, It’s the season of graduations, transitioning from one phase of life
to another. It’s time to garden, planting and watching beautiful spring
nation and world.
blossoms bloom into flourishing flowers.
But then, to take it out on the wrong people? A good share of what was And, around the city, it’s time to plan your escape! New Yorkers like noth-
done this year balances the state’s budget on the backs of the poor. ing better than to hit the Jitney to the Hamptons, Amtrak to Connecticut
I’m talking about frail older adults with chronic disabilities and persons beaches or the Thruway to head Upstate. Yes, it’s time to plan a vacation.
living with HIV/AIDS, individuals who particularly rely on Medicaid to pay For those who can’t get away this summer, we propose three fun “stayca-
for the long-term care they need. They are black men and women, women in tions” in our feature, “Daytrippers." You’ll be amazed at what awaits a quick
particular. Hispanic men and women. They are men and women who have ferry ride from the tip of Manhattan. Or, hop MetroNorth for a ride along the
grown old never having a lot of resources, including those who now live in Hudson to spend the day reliving the past.
a city that’s one of the costliest in the nation. Seniors with no place to turn. But then again, you might stroll along Manhattan’s two newest outdoor
They are people with HIV infection whose already difficult treatment regimen wonderlands, both of which are in the Chelsea area and open this month. “Pier
is complicated by substance abuse and mental health issues. 64: Country Parkland On The Hudson” promises to be a bit of English garden
and rolling lawn jutting out into the river, a great respite from heat and noise
That is the face of those in need. And that is exactly whom the state’s
in the city’s gray canyons. Meanwhile, a couple blocks away, you can take the
budget cuts impact most drastically and dramatically.
higher road. Check out our story, “Park In The Sky” for details on the wild
The state targeted long-term care this year for significant cuts, couching side of the new High Line.
those reductions in the language of “reform.” What has occurred, however, But our summer fun package doesn’t end there. We visit five “Summer
achieves very little in the way of true reform, while cutting deeply into Camps for Seniors” and present some of the city’s “Coolest Cocktails for Hot
the resources of providers who care for the most needy and frailest of our Summer Nights.”
society. Beyond adventure, Thrive NYC this issue offers up ways to relax in “The
This isn’t over. More government cutbacks may yet be in store as the year Benefits of Om,” keeping insect-free in “Bug Zappers,” and a look at Kerouac
goes on. Meanwhile, a new nursing home pricing method based on “regional” in “You Don’t Know Jack, Really.”
costs that will be developed over the coming months is likely to be a blunt Also, meet Tony-nominated actor John Glover in “God, Godot, Glover &
instrument being used by the state to further curtail residential care spending. Tony,” and get his insightful take on the difficult role of Lucky.
And, unless legislators by some miracle have second thoughts, nursing home Make plans, have fun, read and relax. Happy Summer!
Janel Bladow
rates for AIDS facilities such as Village Care’s Rivington House will lose a
Medicaid reimbursement factor that has traditionally been employed by the Editor
state to help facilities address the complicated needs of patients who are HIV
positive. These are all individuals who are among the most frail, and the
poorest, with complex care needs.
It’s time to say, “enough is enough!”
Enough harm has been done to the poor.
Enough has been taken away from frail seniors.
Enough has been eliminated from the care of those with AIDS.
More than enough.
We all want reform of care. Village Care has for more than a decade taken
on the mantle of reform, creating care for seniors and persons living with
HIV/AIDS that is primarily community-based and which offers individuals the
most opportunity and independence while giving them high quality services.
Village Care is not alone. Throughout the long-term care field, it has been
the providers who have tried to move from a system that shifts from a heavy
reliance on costly institutional care and addresses care and cost from the
perspective of patient need first.
Just a few days ago, I was in Albany to attend a reception honoring Carl
Young, who has headed the New York Association of Homes and Services for
the Aging for the past 20 years, and who will soon be retiring.
Carl talked about the way the term “special interests” is used so much these
days in a disparaging way. Special interests are bullied around as the cause of
our financial woes, Carl said. He went on:
“If special interests means frail seniors who need quality care and services…
if special interests means making sure that persons living with HIV/AIDS have
the care and treatment they need…if special interests means making sure that
people have access to rehabilitation and home care, allowing them to continue
to live at home, in the community…
“If that’s what special interests means, where do I sign up?”

(Ms. DeVito the president and chief executive officer of not-for-profit THRIVE PHOTO BY PATRICK HEDLUND
Village Care of New York.) The first of Chelsea’s three waterfront pier/parks just opened to the public, marking the culmination of
more than 20 years of work by local advocates.
 nyc
PAGE 5

For sunbathers and

samurai, Pier 64
makes grand debut
B Y P ATRICK H EDLUND

T
he first of Chelsea’s trio of
waterfront parks, Pier 64,
recently opened to the public,
marking the halfway point for con-
struction of the 5-mile-long Hudson
River Park.
The Michael Van Valkenburgh-
designed pier, between 24th and 26th
Sts., features an extended mall jutting
into the Hudson River with open seat-
ing, sloping lawns and English oak trees
lining the length of the 500-foot pier. Pier 64 is one
“Each addition to Hudson River
Park makes this magnificent treasure an
even greater gift to our city and state,”
of three that
said Diana Taylor, chairperson of the
Hudson River Park Trust, the city-state
will make up...
public authority that oversees construc-
tion of the park, in a statement. “It is Chelsea Cove
thrilling to witness the continued con-
struction progress as the park becomes
a beautiful finished product.”
Pier 64 is one of three that will make
up the Chelsea section of Hudson River
Park, also known as Chelsea Cove.
Two others, Piers 62 and 63, are cur-
rently under construction and sched-
uled to open next year. When complete,
THRIVE PHOTOS BY PATRICK HEDLUND
PIER 64, continued on page 6  Robert Trentlyon shows some original renderings for the Chelsea park and piers dating back to the 1980s.
PAGE 6
 PIER 64, continued from page 5
Chelsea’s waterfront parkland will mea-
sure more than 9 acres in total.
Robert Trentlyon, founder of the
Chelsea Waterside Park Association,
has spent more than two decades work-
ing to realize the piers’ redevelopment.
Ahead of Pier 64’s official opening,
he took us on an April 23 walking
tour—the date of his 80th birthday,
no less—reminiscing on the many
years he spent advocating for public
open space on the waterfront.
“I said, ‘Where can we put a
park?’” Trentlyon explained, remem-
bering the time in the mid-’80s when
Chelsea had only 7.5 acres of total
parkland, and the city started explor-
ing what could be done with the
waterfront after abandoning a plan for
the West Side Highway.
So, he set out with likeminded advo-
cates Edward Kirkland and Dorris
Corrigan, and elected officials State
Sen. Franz Leichter, Assemblymember
Richard Gottfried and District Leader
Thomas Duane.
“All of us have been working on this
since ’86,” Trentlyon noted. (Indeed,
more than 20 years later, Leichter is
now a member of the Trust’s Board
of Directors, Gottfried still holds his
Assembly post, and Duane is the dis-
trict’s state senator.)
Back then, Trentlyon ran into land-
scape architect Thomas Balsley, who
later designed the Chelsea Waterside
Park. They spent time brainstorming
J U N2009E
on what could be done with the water-
front space, and Balsley would come
back with renderings based on what
Trentlyon and the others were consider-
ing.
“I instantly fell in love with the
language of landscape architects,” said
Trentylon, who was then editor-in-chief
of the community paper The Chelsea-
Clinton News. “We had fun.”
Former State. Sen. Fred Orenstein
then recommended to Governor Mario
Cuomo that Trentlyon be appointed to
the West Side Task Force, which had
been set up to address what could be
developed in place of the failed West
Side Highway project.
“They agreed that there should be a
park on the West Side,” he said. “There
had been a lot of discussion of apart-
ment houses on the piers.”
Later, Trentlyon and others would
fight to get the community board and
the Hudson River Park’s governing
body to agree that the massive shed
covering Pier 64 needed to be removed
for construction, but they eventually
won support to develop the pier as pas-
sive space.
Reflecting on the landscape he
helped create, Trentlyon referenced an
old movie by acclaimed Japanese film-
maker Akira Kurosawa, in which the
main character realizes his dying wish
to turn a rundown cesspool into a chil-
dren’s playground.
“I think they’ve done a beautiful
job,” he said of the finished product.
How’s that for a birthday present?
Rob Popolow practices his sword skills at dusk on the pier’s lawn.
Looking east from the end of the pier
 nyc
WATCH YOUR
WALLET!
Tips for keeping your money safe while traveling
B Y M ARCIA P ASSOS D UFFY
T
raveling often brings out our
most distracted and frazzled
side as we struggle to catch
our connecting flight, fumble with our
passports and itineraries, precariously
balance our coffee, cell phone, laptop,
wallet or purse.
You can bet that thieves watch
this kind of behavior. Distraction
means easy pickings.
Don’t be left with an empty wallet
while traveling. Stay alert, limit the
amount of cash you carry, and follow
these tips for keeping your money
safe while traveling:
1. Don’t make it easy. You don’t
need to be paranoid, but do assume that
thieves may be watching you, particu-
larly if you are traveling abroad. Don’t
make it easy for pickpockets by draping
your purse casually from your shoulder,
or placing your bulging wallet in your
back pocket. Instead, put your purse
in front of you; put your wallet in your
front pocket.
2. Hide your money. The best way
to do this is to put excess cash in
a money belt under your clothing
Assume that
thieves may be
watching you,
particularly if
you are traveling
abroad
– there are different money belts
that can be used around your neck,
waist or leg. You can then carry the
equivalent of $50 to $100 in a wal-
let (preferably a cheap-looking one)
in your pocket. Carry only as much
money as you need for the day.
3. Be discreet. Don’t flash a lot
of money around in public. Always
pay for items with small denomina-
tions of the local currency taken
from an inexpensive-looking wallet;
keep change in your pocket for small
purchases. If you must carry around
more money, credit cards or your
passport, tuck them away in your
money belt. If you need to get more
cash from your money belt, go to a
restroom stall and take it out while
you are hidden.
4. Get a hotel safe, or leave valu-
ables at home. Go to the front desk
of your hotel, preferably when it is
not crowded, and give your valu-
ables to the staff for safekeeping.
Don’t bring along anything that you
will not need while traveling: leave
your social security card, member-
ship cards, jewelry or other valu-
ables at home.
5. Protect your credit cards. Limit
your credit cards you carry to just
two: one credit card and one debit
card. Before you leave on your trip,
call the issuers and let them know
the dates and destinations of your
travel otherwise the card can be put
on hold if the issuer starts to see
charges from overseas destinations.
To prevent theft in a restaurant or
store, make sure that you card is
PAGE 7
returned to you after it is swiped,
and check to see that it is indeed
your card since one scheme involves
old or invalid cards returned to you.
By the way, make sure you know
your spending limit on your credit
cards and don’t exceed them; in
some countries you can be arrested
for this mistake!
6. Be careful where you convert.
Don't exchange money at the airport
where conversion rates are unfavor-
able, plus, thieves are most likely to
hang around these exchange desks.
Don’t convert money with anyone or
anywhere except a reputable currency
exchange center in a bank or a hotel.
7. Keep a list. Make two photo-
copies of all the documents in your
wallet or money belt, such as your
plane ticket, passport, and credit
cards. Make sure you also take down
the numbers of the credit and debit
cards in case they are lost and sto-
len (put these numbers in another
place away from the cards). Leave
one photocopy of your documents at
home or with a business associate;
another pack in a separate place
away from the documents.
PAGE 8 J U N2009E

Not Your
Grandchild’s
Summer Camp
B Y S TANLEY M IESES

U
nlike the summer camps of
your youth, camps catering to
adults do not hold color wars,
trumpet Reveille early in the morning
or force you to sleep in uncomfortable
wooden bunks. There’s no summer-
long commitment, no auditions, and
no complicated packing to do, either:
Programs range from long-weekend
bursts to weeklong stretches, and in
some cases can be repeated a number
of times throughout the summer.
Adult summer camp promises:
The chance to meet like-minded
folks with a common focus in a
comfortable country setting that
takes you away from what you
know. There are several summer-
time camps for adults serving a
wide range of interests near New
York City, and we have chosen five
for their well-devised programs,
recommended accommodations and
expert supervision.

NOTHING BUT NET

At Total Tennis, in the foothills
of the western Catskill Mountains,
in Saugerties NY, players are
matched with students of com-
parable skill under the watchful
eyes of house pros, who offer
videotape instruction and private
lessons for each half-week of time
booked. Total Tennis has 11 red
clay, seven all-weather and two
synthetic grass outdoor courts,
as well as five cushioned indoor
courts for year-round play. Oh
yes, and there are six separate
lodges situated on 73 acres dotted
with magnolia and lilac trees and
bounded on one side by the active
Beaverkill Stream. Many of the
rooms have decks or porches with
unobstructed views of the Hudson
Valley; what is now a fulltime ten-
nis camp was once a 1920s moun-
tains resort and the grounds retain
that flavor. There is daily maid ser-
vice, on-premises massage-therapy
rooms and gourmet dining. Prices
range from $395 per person for
a mid-week two-night visit and
$950 per person for a week’s stay
based on double occupancy. Call
reservations to negotiate rates for
single rooms). The Elder Tennis
package (Sunday, September 13
to Thursday, September 17) costs
$495 per person based on double
occupancy, and includes 17 hours
of group instruction, round rob-
ins, free play, and three full meals
per day.
Total Tennis
1811 Old Kings Highway,
P.O. Box, 28
Saugerties, NY 12477
Phone: (800) 221- 6496
or (845) 247- 9177
Web Site:
http://www.totaltennis.com
AN APPETIZING SCHOOL
Enrollees in the Culinary
Institute of America’s “Boot
Camps” will leave tired but not
hungry. A gourmet breakfast is
served at 6 AM and class begins an
hour later. Next, culinary cadets
receive a cooking lesson and work
with other students to prepare a
lavish lunch. Stove-side instruc-
tion then resumes until late after-
noon. After a break at your hotel,
students waddle back to the CIA’s
Hyde Park, NY campus for din-
ner at one of the four renowned
student-run restaurants. The two-
day Barbecue Boot Camp (July
1-2, 29-30, August 13-14; $850)
teaches brining, marinating and
smoking techniques, and even how
to create grilled desserts. The four-
day Italian Cuisine Boot Camp
(August 18-21; $1695) promis-
es a “gastronomic tour” of Italy
with a different regional cuisine
taught each day. Tuition includes
all meals, as well as two compete
chef’s uniforms. Accommodations
cost extra, but several area B&Bs
offer discounts to CIA students.
The Culinary Institute of America
1946 Campus Drive,
Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499
Phone: 800-788-7850
Web Site:
http://ce.culinary.edu
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOTAL TENNIS
A GRAPE TIME WILL BE HAD BY ALL
Four days of “tasting, toasting
and tutorials’’ covering every aspect
of winemaking and wine-tasting is
what’s on tap at Wine Camp on
the North Fork of Long Island.
The joke the folks who run Wine
Camp like to tell in their pitch is:
“Pack your bags for camp — socks,
toothbrush, corkscrew.” But oeno-
philes take their wine seriously
and Wine Campers go beyond the
“Sideways” experience. Eight of the
area’s wineries participate in the
intensive program, which features
winery tours, wine-making classes,
tasting lessons, al fresco lunches
amidst the grape vines, dinner at
the acclaimed North Fork Table
and Inn and a climactic five-course
“pairing” dinner at the renown
Castello di Borghese winery in
Cutchogue, NY. Available dates
are June 15-18 and July 20-23.
Included in the $829 per person
(based on double occupancy for
 nyc
PAGE 9
three nights) package is a case of
wine from the participating wineries.

Long Island Wine Country

B&B Group, Inc.
Phone: (631) 495-9744
E-Mail: info@longislandwinecountry-
bandb.com
Web site: www.winecamp.us

THE ART OF RELAXATION

The Omega Institute for Holistic
Studies, located on 195 acres in bucolic
Rhinebeck NY is more than a well-
ness and yoga retreat and more than a
continuing ed campus for the spiritu-
ally inclined—though it has been all of
that since 1977. During the summer,
Omega offers “Drawing on the Right
Side of the Brain” (June 28-July 3, also
August 30-Sept 4), a workshop that
challenges conventional thinking about
the process of drawing and “packs a
semester-long art course into five days.”
Instructor Lynda Greenberg, MFA, a
disciple of Betty Edwards (the author
of the book on which the workshop is
based), will lead the lectures and studio
exercises that are meant to encourage
PHOTO COURTESY OF CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA/KEITH FERRIS
people of all skill levels and perceived
level of talent to participate. Tuition
costs $535, not including on-site lodg-
ing fees. Camping with your own tent
costs $315, including three meals per
day. A small private dorm room with
shared bath is $440 including the meal
plan. A private room with private bath
costs $1085, including meals.

The Omega Institute for

Holistic Studies
150 Lake Drive
Rhinebeck, NY 12572-3252
Phone: 800-944-1001
Web Site: www.eomega.org

FLY THE CO-OP

At Elderhostel’s “Birding and
History on an Ocean Island (Class #:
11716RJ)” held on the Isles of Shoals
off the coast of New Hampshire, you
can learn birding skills from the ground
up. Topics of study include species clas-
sification, banding, the use of mist nets,
bird photography and the handling
of live birds. There are special boat
trips (to visit the Cornell Bird Banding
Station) and ample opportunity to
learn the topography of the islands,
which were once used as a hideout by
Victorian-era pirates and a retreat for
writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne.
From August 29-September 4 (with
prices starting at $686 per person for
a double room with shared bath based
on double occupancy), this natural
seaside flyway should be fluttering with
activity. The price includes accommo-
dation, all meals, activities, insurance
and transportation to the islands by
boat. Elderhostel, the nation’s largest
educational travel organization primar-
ily for adults, can match singles with a
roommate upon request.

Elderhostel
Phone: 800-454-5768
Web Site:
COURTESY OF OMEGA INSTITUTE FOR HOLISTIC STUDIES
http://www.elderhostel.org/programs
Lynda Greenberg teaching "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain," a drawing camp at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY.
P A G E 10 J U N2009E

In these difficult times, we need

an independent, honest leader like
Mike Bloomberg to keep New York
moving forward.

Join Mike Bloomberg’s Team. Volunteer today.

“This election is really important. That’s why

I’m volunteering for Mike’s campaign, and you
should too.” — Danielle Harrington, Manhattan

Volunteer today. Log on to

www.mikebloomberg.com
Paid for by Bloomberg for Mayor 2009, Inc.
 nyc
P A G E 11

Go Packing!
Seniors take to a younger style of international travel - backpacking
B Y R OBERT D OWNES

A
s a backpacker who has trav-
eled through some of the most
exotic countries on earth,
Ann Taylor has enjoyed the kind of
adventures that would give Indiana
Jones a run for his money.
Delicately inquisitive, with a
twinkle to her eyes and a Brit’s
sense of decorum, Ann is a retired
hospitality specialist from Leeds,
England who didn't start travel-
ing seriously until she was in her
late 50s. I met her in southern
India while backpacking around the
world in 2007.
By that time, Ann was 64, she had
journeyed throughout Asia, Russia
and Africa — sometimes going it
alone in Third World countries.
Her experiences included riding the
trans-Siberian railway twice (once
on a bunk beneath a strapped-in
comatose drunk who vomited for
two days straight), and traveling all
around southern Africa and eastern
Europe. We spent two weeks travel-
ing together around southern India,
after which she headed on for three
more weeks in Rajasthan.
Not what you'd expect from your
typical 64-year-old!
And yet it's not unusual to meet
older travelers on the international
backpacking trail these days, espe-
cially since there are now many
companies which cater to seniors PHOTO BY ROBERT DOWNES
interested in adventure travel. One of the highlights of backpacking through southern India for Ann Taylor, 64, was visiting the Orphanage of the Little Angels in Mamallupuram. That's her at
In the case of our trip through right, pictured with fellow backpacker, Florence Bancel, an investment banker from France who also participated in a small-group tour for adventure travelers. Ann
southern India, for instance, Ann was the life of the party, teaching the kids how to do the "Hokey-Pokey."
and I were participants in a tour led
by Intrepid Travel of Melbourne, Perhaps this isn't surprising, coast-to-coast ride on the C2C Bike
Australia. The company offers small- because although persons 65 and Trail, over the Pennine Mountains.
group tours for up to 11 backpack- older account for just 12.4 percent In Prague, I met an American
ers at a time, relying on local trans- of the population (according to the toxicologist in his 60s who was
portation, native hotels and home last U.S. census), they tend to travel cycling the backroads to Budapest in
stays to provide authentic travel more than younger Americans, aver- Hungary. It was his dream to cycle
experiences on some 300 different aging more than three trips per year. throughout East Europe and he'd
trip options. It's not unusual to find
travelers in their 60s sharing rides
I myself turned 55 during my
solo trip around the world. My trip
already seen much of the region
on previous trips. In Malaysia, I
The median age
on camels, rickshaws or elephants
with their 20-and-30-something
included cycling 700 miles across
Ireland, England and down the
met a rehab physician from the
Netherlands, who like me, was trav- of adventure
counterparts on an Intrepid trip. Danube to Vienna. Then, donating eling around the world. His dream
Plus, you meet like-minded adven-
turers from all over the world —
my bicycle to a hostel in Prague,
I traveled on with only a small
was to retire to Uganda, where he
had already spent time doing mis-
travelers and
Australia, England, New Zealand,
France — people who may become
pack and a half-sized guitar through
Egypt, India and Southeast Asia,
sion work.
Other older travelers met on the international
life-long friends. fulfilling a lifelong dream to travel byways of the world included law-

ON THE RISE
In 2000, the London Times
reported that the median age of
adventure travelers and international
backpackers is on the rise. Mature
travelers often have more money and
leisure time to journey abroad, and
many of us still have fond memories
of our college days, vagabonding
around Europe with a backpack and
a railpass.
around the world. My wife met me
for two weeks in Thailand, where
we enjoyed the tropical islands of the
Andaman Sea, along with elephant
rides in the jungles of Chiang Mai.
I met numerous travelers my age
or older who were still filled with
the joy of adventure travel: While
cycling across northern England, I
spent the night in a hostel with a
group of bicyclists in their 60s and
70s who were making the 225-mile
yers, three investment bankers, and
a gourmet chef from Australia. In
backpackers is
fact, at times it seemed as if the
older adventurers outnumbered the
on the rise
college kids traveling abroad on their
"gap" year.
YOU'VE GOT OPTIONS
Fortunately, you don't have to be
an "Indiana Jones" to travel as a back-
GO PACKING, continued on page 12 
P A G E 12
 GO PACKING, continued from page 11
packer on a budget these days. On my
trip, I was worried that I'd be rejected
by hostels because of my age. I was
pleasantly surprised to find, however,
that older travelers are welcome at
most hostels around the world (with
some exceptions, such as Germany).
Most hostels also offer single-room
options if you don't care to sleep in
a dormitory bunkbed with anywhere
from four to 10 other wayfarers.
And, as noted above, there are ample
resources for mature adventurers, with
information only a web-surf away:
• Small-group adventure compa-
nies welcome mature travelers and
often offer a "comfort" option of
better hotels and transportation than
those used by younger clients. Some
notable companies include Intrepid
Travel (www.intrepidtravel.com);
Toronto-based G.A.P. Adventures
(www.gapadventures.com); and
California-based Mountain Travel
Sobek (www.mtsobek.com).
These companies may charge far
less than the typical "seniors" guided
bus tour or cruise because they rely
on native transportation and hotels.
And the sense of adventure is unpar-
alleled: you may find yourself riding
a camel through the Sahara, dining
on BBQ up near the Mongolian bor-
der, sailing the Nile on a felucca, vis-
iting the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam, or
bunking with a Bengali family on the

BU
XXXOFXTDIPPMFEVSFHJTUFSUPEBZ
second-class "sleeper" trains of India
— all of which were experiences I
enjoyed with small-group adventure
companies.
• Elderhostel offers nearly 8,000
tours in the U.S. and 90-plus coun-
tries for travelers 55 and older.
Elderhostel also offers an intergen-
erational option where you can bring
your grandkids along. The tours have
an educational component, such
as exploring ancient ruins, hiking
through the Swiss Alps, cooking
classes in Tuscany, cycling through
France; discovering the opera of
Italy and scores of other options.
For information, check out www.
elderhostel.org .
• Volunteer options are on the rise
for seniors who'd like to experience
a foreign culture, short of joining the
Peace Corps. Want to spend a week
on a chocolate farm in Costa Rica?
For a few hours work each day, you
get room and board and a fascinat-
ing experience shared with travel-
ers from other lands. Check out
Volunteer Latin America (www.vol-
unteerlatinamerica.com); Universal
Giving (www.universalgiving.org) or
your local church group for vol-
unteer and mission opportunities
overseas.
• Going solo. Why not? You've
got age, experience and possibly
even a little extra cash on your
side. I traveled around the world at
J U N2009E
the age of 55, purposefully seeking
out experiences that would bring
me close to other cultures. I freely
declared myself to be an American
everywhere I went — even (and
especially) in the Muslim countries
I traveled through, and for the most
part, found a friendly welcome at
every turn.
Speaking of going solo, the last
time I saw Ann Taylor, she was
so enthralled by our ride through
Kerala, India on a dirty, old, clunk-
er-junker bus that it made her vow
to accept a fi ve-month position
teaching English in southern China,
Older travelers
despite the wishes of her stay-at-
home husband. The bus driver's are welcome
seat looked like it was held together
with chicken wire and he was try-
ing to stay awake by chewing a
at most hostels
mild narcotic known as khat, mixed
with tobacco leaves. Meanwhile, a around the
TV screen was blaring a film in the
Hindi language at rocket-volume
level and our packs were piled up
world
in the dust at our feet. What was
there about that bus ride that made
a 64-year-old woman want to keep
pushing further into the unknown?
The spirit of adventure — a quality
that knows no age.
Robert Downes is the author of
"Planet Backpacker: Across Europe
on a Mountain Bike & Backpacking
On Through Egypt, India & Southeast
Asia -- Around the World." The
Wandering Press, 2009.
New York is SMART
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weeks—so you can learn a lot in a little time. Take
classes on a noncredit basis or earn credit toward
your college degree. Study on campus in the heart of
Greenwich Village or online from wherever the summer
takes you. What could be smarter than that?
Choose from hundreds of courses in
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P A G E 13

PHOTO BY PETER AARON

Admiral’s Quarters in Governors Island’s Nolan Park.

Daytripper!
Want to get away just for a day?
Take one of these short hops for a fun getaway
B Y J ANEL B LADOW

E
very once in a while every New Yorker, no
matter how much they love the Big Apple,
needs an escape. Even if it’s just to another
borough, a quick getaway might be just the answer
for the summertime blues. And, in this economy, a
day trip might be the best break for your pocket-
book. These three staycations – two within the city
and one two hours away by train – are great ways
to relax and enjoy.

HISTORIC HYDE PARK

This group of historic buildings is operated by
the National Park Service and includes Springwood,
the home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, his
Top Cottage retreat, the Eleanor Roosevelt center
at Val-Kill Cottage, the FDR Museum & Library
and the Vanderbilt Mansion historic site. There is
so much to see and do here that you might want
even want to make two trips! In addition to the
historic buildings and grounds, visit the many res-
taurants and local shops nearby.
On Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in
six concurrent sessions throughout the day, the
FDR Presidential Library hosts the Sixth Annual
Roosevelt Reading Festival. Twelve authors who
used the library archives for their research will talk
about their books, have a Q & A session and book
signing. Copies of all the books are available at the
New Deal Book Store in the Henry Wallace Visitor
Center, which also houses Mrs. Nesbitt’s Café.

DAYTRIPPER!, continued on page 14  FDR PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

P A G E 14
Colonels Row house at Governors Island.
 DAYTRIPPERS!, continued from page 13
All the homes are open throughout the summer
to tour. “Springwood,” the lifelong home of FDR,
is a 35-room mansion on a hill overlooking the
Hudson River. It also houses the FDR Presidential
Library and Museum. Self-guided tours of the
museum are also available or your can stroll the
grounds, gardens and trails of this 300-acre pre-
serve. The site is open and free to all, tours of the
buildings have a minimal charge.
Over at Val-Kill Cottage, Mrs. Roosevelt’s
escape, you can tour both the home and lovely
gardens. A new film “Close to Home,” describes
her life here.
The nearby Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic
Site gives visitors a great escape to another time and
a totally different lifestyle. Modeled on the English
country house, it is one of the few of these grand
PHOTO BY ANDREW MOORE
estates to still stand. Tour the house but be sure to
spend plenty of time walking through the 211-acres
of park land featuring more than 100-year old trees
and the beautiful Italian Gardens, and stunning
Hudson River and Catskill Mountain views.
To Go: Take MetroNorth from Grand Central
Station to Poughkeepsie and taxi from there to
the Wallace Center. Trams and shuttle buses are
available between historic locations. Open daily
throughout the summer. Grounds open dawn to
dusk. Details: http://www.nps.gov/hofr/ or call
1-800-FDR-VISIT.
GOVERNORS ISLAND
Skip the crowds in Central Park. If you want a
relaxing getaway without leaving the city, take a
quick hop on the subway, jump a ferry for a short
ride and spend an afternoon on Governors Island,
J U N2009E
STATEN ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
Basket weaving at Richmond Town.
which reopened to the public Memorial Day week-
end. Only 800-feet from Lower Manhattan, the
island sits in the heart of New York Harbor, at the
toes of the Statue of Liberty. For nearly 200 years,
the island was a military base, home to the US
Army and Coast Guard. In 2003, NYC bought the
172-acre island from the federal government for a
dollar and plans are underway for open space, edu-
cational, non-profit and commercial facilities. But
before then, stroll the grounds around the former
military station or take a picnic basket and bask
in the shade of beautiful old tree. While you enjoy
the peace and serenity of this pastoral island, you
can look across the water to the majestic views of
Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey.
To Go: The Governors Island Ferry departs from
the Battery Maritime Building located adjacent
to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan.
STATEN ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
Wool cleaning at Richmond Town.
 nyc
Aerial view of the Nolan Park area at Governors Island
The ferry terminal is accessible by
subway: #1 to South Ferry, #4 & 5 to
Bowling Green on weekdays, R train
to Whitehall St. Station. Details:
www.govisland.com.
RICHMOND TOWN
Staten Island, which maybe be
the city’s most overlooked borough,
has some great sights tucked away
for those seeking something differ-
ent for a day. Take a walk through
New York history with a visit to
Richmond Town. First established
as a crossroads for nearby farmers,
Richmond Town grew into a gov-
ernment center in the 1700s. Early
Dutch, English and French settlers
made up the area farmers, black-
smiths, shoemakers, shopkeepers in
this mill town. During the American
Revolution, British troops were bar-
racked here and in the next century,
the 1800s, wealth New Yorkers
built estates and resorts as the
island because a popular vacation
destination.
Today, you can tour the historic
village and museum complex, and
explore life in America from its
colonial roots. The village of 15
P A G E 15
Parking
in NYC for
$
a month?
99
Only if you’re
!
PHOTO BY ANDREW MOORE
smart car owners
receive $99 monthly
buildings on 25-acres of the 100-
acre site includes homes, commer-
cial and civic buildings. Visit shops
parking rates at over
filled with local crafts and dine in
tasty restaurants. There’s always
180 Icon locations
something fun to do in the summer.
Revolutionary War Weekend is
Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and
throughout New York
14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., when soldiers
of the First & Second New Jersey
City. To find out more,
Regiments will perform drills and
you can join in the fun. Join the
drills for an on-the-spot look at life
please call
on the battlefield. Or if a passionate
discussion of politics is your inter-
888.660.smart or visit
est, join the debates at the local
Tavern while savoring the delectable
aromas of colonial cooking.
IconParking.com and
Sunday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 5
p.m., is Yankee Peddler Day when
click the smart button.
more than 150 vendors will gather smart center Manhattan is located at
for a flea market and crafts fair ($2 West 41st Street and 11th Avenue, NYC
admission). Closest to Port Authority Bus Terminal/
Times Square Subways:
To Go: Historic Richmond Town A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3, 7
is a 30-minute ride on the S74 bus
from the Staten Island ferry termi-
nal. Get off at Richmond Road and
smartcenterManhattan.com
St. Patrick’s Place. Admission is $4
for seniors. Visit: www.historicrich-
mondtown.org.
P A G E 16 J U N2009E

A Bounty of Memories
The Cook Islands offer the perfect antidote to worldwide recession
B Y J ANIS T URK

“W
ater has perfect memory,” writes
Maya Angelou, and here in the
South Pacific, I know she is right.
It’s only a Tuesday, everywhere else, but in The
Cook Islands, the sea breezes are magical. And as
blue waves constantly rinse, lather and repeat, it is
then that I recall Ms. Angelou’s words. The sea has
perfect memory, and it asks me to listen.
Unlike Ulysses, I don’t believe in sirens who
call young sailors to crash on rocky strands; no,
it is water that calls us. Stand on any shore, and a
sense of nostalgia, childhood dreams, songs from
our parents, and stories of ancient explorers will
come in waves.
I’d never been to the South Pacific before, and
all I had of it was a vague sense of Polynesian
promise — of banana-leaf hats, flower necklaces,
fire dancers, coconut bras and grass skirts, Mutiny
on the Bounty, and “Some Enchanted Evening” in
a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
The Cook Islands are 15 tiny white-sand pearls
of paradise scattered in the sea spread out over a
million square miles in the South Pacific. To the
east is Tahiti. The Cooks share a close friendly tie
with New Zealand, even though the largest one,
Rarotonga, is still 3-hours away by air.
Tall, green, vine-covered mountains fill the cen-
ter of tiny Rarotonga, a land lush, dense and tropi-
cal. The sun shines daily, and the people are warm
and welcoming. They speak with ease both English
and Maori, their native tongue. The islands lie so
far south that June brings winter, and temperatures
are a perfect sunny 77F today—warm enough to
swim, but not too hot for dining outdoors.
Rarotonga is the only Cook Island with an inter-
national airport, and I flew to Los Angeles before
taking a pleasant direct, non-stop flight there on
Air New Zealand.
British explorer Captain James Cook passed
through the region in 1773 and 1777, and today
these islands bear his name. Europeans explorers
first landed here in 1814, and by 1821, missionar-
ies arrived. Island natives, believed to be related to
New Zealand Maori and the Maohi of the Society
Islands in French Polynesia, may have come here as
early as 500 AD. The land was divided among six
tribes, each one headed by a tribal king, called an
Ariki; today, these tribes remain. People here have
a strong sense of their history and tribal culture, all
apparent in their love of native song, dance, and
food. Dancers don costumes made of fibers from
the wild hibiscus tree, as well as bark cloth, flow- THRIVE PHOTOS BY JANIS TURK
ers, pandanus leaves, shells, feathers and coconut
leaves. And yes, I was greeted upon arrival with a
garland of fresh, fragrant white gardenias.
I chose The Cook Islands for my South Pacific
escape because I’d heard an interesting fact—the
government just announced that the nation has
“officially decided not to take part in the world-
wide recession,“ according to Minister of Tourism,
Wilkie Rasmussen. As one local newscaster here The slender slivers of white beaches
put it, “The recession is not the boss of me.” I had
to agree. I was unwilling to give up travel altogeth-
er, and I wanted a vacation that promised value for
make room for vast ocean vistas and
my limited travel dollar.
The Cooks came through. the bluest waves I’ve ever seen
This clever marketing approach means that,
while the rest of the world is drowning under
tremendous economic pressures, this island oasis
is still afloat with a steady growth in tourism, busi-
 nyc
ness and offshore investments. It is
also the source of the highly valuable
black pearl. And for U.S. travelers,
all that translates into reasonable
prices and a great exchange rate with
the New Zealand dollar. Air New
Zealand got on board with the “reces-
sion-free” idea by partnering with the
tourism board and local businesses to
help bring affordable fares and value-
driven vacation opportunities to the
Islands, too.
And so I spent the first day on
Rarotonga doing absolutely nothing.
The slender slivers of white beaches
make room for vast ocean vistas and
the bluest waves I’ve ever seen.
Perhaps the most tranquil and
most beautiful of the Cook Islands
is Aitutaki, with great snorkeling and
diving spots along its coral reef. The
Cook Islands are the epitome of all
things “laid back,” not a place where
college kids drink Coronas and play
loud music. It’s ideal for couples, for
families, and seasoned travelers who
P A G E 17
want to hike up the hill and see the
views before visiting the villages and
walking on the beach.
I took an open-air Land Rover IF YOU GO:
expedition with Tangaroa tours,
Lodging:
which traveled down Ara metu, an
Crown Beach Resort, Rarotonga
ancient road in Rarotonga, to visit
www.crownbeach.com
sacred maraes (tribal meeting places)
and to see the vine-covered ruins
Pacific Resort Aitutaki
of ancient palaces. After the tour,
www.pacificresort.com
they served lunch from a traditional
earthen oven, or umu, and we ate
Flights:
mata (ceviche) rukau (taro leaves)
Air New Zealand
and meat wrapped and baked in
www.airnewzealand.com
banana leaves. At night, native danc-
ers entertain us at dinner. By day, I sit
Dining:
by the water with a good book or visit
Tamarind House Restaurant & Bar
with other travelers under thatched
www.tamarind.co.ck
roof huts. I listen to their stories. II
hear the prayers of the local people
Tours:
before every event, every meal. There
Tangaroa 4x4 Tours www.tangaroa4x4.co.ck
is thankfulness in their voices, hope
in their smiles.
For more information on The Cook Islands, visit
And all the while, water surrounds
www.recessionfreeoasis.com and www.cooksislandtravel.com
us.
Perfect memory, indeed.
P A G E 18 J U N2009E

Cool New Cocktails

Heat Up Summer
Nights
B Y R OWANN G ILMAN Retired are the staid long-timers behind the bar
(think Screwdrivers and Manhattans). Inventive

B “Let’s slip out of these

lame it all on Carrie Bradshaw’s Cosmopolitan,
the irresistible refresher “Sex and the City”
made famous. It launched what has become
the ‘new school’ of bartending, better known these
days as mixology.
In the creative department, “mixologists” are
sharing center stage with many of the city’s most
innovative chefs. Some have even been spotted
wearing professional chefs’ whites as they add
intrigue and imagination to traditional cocktails.
The result? Cocktail hour: a sexy, elegant, utterly
civilized rite that now sports a “new age” profile.
new alcohol blends and fruit juice combinations
have taken over, with nature’s gifts in mind.
Cocktail creators are experimenting with dozens of
natural ingredients, reaching out to teas and chais,
honey, milk, fresh flowers and herbs; even freshly
wet clothes and into a
ground peppercorns and pomegranate seeds. With
the appearance of never-before seen labels on many dry martini.”
cocktail liquors, the possibilities know no bounds.
Yet little black-dressy as it all seems, these new -- Robert Benchley
cocktails can be easily made at home. Get your
arms in shape for plenty of vigorous shaking, stock
up on ice, and start with a few of these.

PHOTO AND RECIPE COURTESY OF NEW AMSTERDAM STRAIGHT GIN

WWW.NEWAMSTERDAMGIN.COM

THE CENTRAL PARK

Created especially for each of New York City’s
boroughs, mixologist Alex Ott started out with
California-made, ultra-smooth New Amsterdam
Straight Gin. These two cocktails will kick off your
city tour.
2 oz. New Amsterdam Straight Gin
3 drops vanilla extract
4 oz. tomato juice
1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
Pinch of cayenne
Whole vanilla bean for garnish, optional
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, shake very
hard, and pour contents over ice in a highball glass.
Garnish with a cherry tomato speared with a whole
vanilla bean.
PHOTO AND RECIPE COURTESY OF NEW AMSTERDAM STRAIGHT GIN
WWW.NEWAMSTERDAMGIN.COM
THE BIG APPLE
2 oz. New Amsterdam Straight Gin
1 whole starfruit (carambola)
2 oz. apple juice
1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
Cut the starfruit into small pieces, reserving one
or two whole slices for garnish. Blend the pieces
with 1 cup water and 5 teaspoons sugar to make
a juice mixture. In a shaker, combine ½ oz. of the
starfruit juice mixture with remaining ingredients,
shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled martini
glass. Garnish with reserved starfruit slices.
PHOTO AND RECIPE COURTESY OF MIGHTY LEAF TEA/APERITEA
RED SQUARE COSMO
It doesn’t get more Russian than vodka, and this
isn’t your everyday Cosmopolitan.
2 oz. ZYR Russian Vodka
1 oz. Chamomile Citrus Berry AperiTea
½ oz. Cointreau
Freshly squeezed juice of half a lime
½ oz. grenadine syrup
Fresh flowers for garnish
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker, shake
thoroughly, and pour into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with fresh flowers or slices of lime if
desired.
 nyc
P A G E 19

PHOTO AND RECIPE COURTESY OF DUBONNET ROUGE/WWW.DOYOUDUBONNET.COM

RIVIERA
A truly lovely summer seducer. Beware!
1¼ oz. Dubonnet Rouge
½ oz. Grand Marnier
1 oz. freshly squeezed blood orange juice

Add the ingredients to a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake thoroughly and
strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.

PHOTO AND RECIPE COURTESY OF MOUNT GAY RUM/WWW.MOUNTGAY.COM PHOTO AND RECIPE COURTESY OF TANTEO TEQUILA/WWW.TANTEOTEQUILA.COM

SUMMER SCENTSATION MARGARITA TANTEO

There’s a special ingredient in this cool delight, but no one will ever guess Here’s the real thing: Mexican tequila hand-infused with jalapeño pepper,
what it is. but balanced just right. It’s not too, too hot, but it’s not so innocent either.

1½ oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Gold Rum
3 or 4 generous chunks of fresh, seedless watermelon
¾ oz. Lavender Syrup*
¾ oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
In a large glass, muddle the watermelon chunks well. In a shaker filled with
ice, add the remaining ingredients. Shake vigorously, then double-strain and
pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with watermelon wedges speared
onto toothpicks or bamboo skewers.
*Lavender Syrup: Boil 2 cups water. Add 2 cups sugar and ¼ cup dried
lavender. Remove from heat and let steep until cool. Drain and refrigerate.
1¾ oz. Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila
¾ oz. Grand Marnier
1½ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
½ oz. agave nectar
4 lime wedges
Additional limes and lemons for garnish, if desired
Use a muddler to mash the lime wedges and agave nectar. Add remaining
ingredients and ice to a shaker. Shake vigorously and strain through a fine
sieve. Serve in a chilled, salt-rimmed margarita glass, or over ice in an on-the-
rocks (double Old-Fashioned) glass. Garnish with citrus slices if desired.
P A G E 20
God, Godot,
Glover & Tony
Nominated for a Tony Award, actor John Glover ponders his part
B Y J ERRY T ALLMER
P
OZZO: Think, pig! Stop! Forward! Stop!
Think!…
LUCKY: Given the existence as uttered
forth in the public works of Puncher and Wattmann
of a personal God quaquaquaqua with white beard
quaquaquaqua outside time without extension
who from the heights of divine apathia divine
athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some
exceptions for reasons unknown but time will tell
and suffers like the divine Miranda with those who
for reasons unknown but time will tell…
…and 641 words later (for a total of 709 words)
Lucky is still at it, jiggling, joggling, slobbering,
drooling, convulsively delivering the most con-
founding monologue in all of theater since play-
writing first began.
“I don’t even know if I can learn it,” John Glover
had said over the phone to his friend Nathan Lane,
the Estragon-elect of the then upcoming Studio
54 Roundabout production of Samuel Beckett’s
“Waiting for Godot.”
“Don’t worry,” said Lane, “if you go up” — blow
your lines — “nobody will ever know.”
Glover was at that moment in Los Angeles,
where he’d come across “a beautiful ad in The
New York Times” for this “Godot’ redux starrng
Lane as Estragon (or Gogo), Bill Irwin as Vladimir
Pictured (l-r): John Glover, Bill Irwin, Nathan Lane, John Goodman in "Waiting for Godot."
(or Didi), John Goodman as Pozzo, and David
Straithearn as Lucky the slave, under the direction
of Anthony Page, who’d triumphed with a similarly
revisited “Godot” at the Royal Court in London.
“I was jealous,” Glover says today. “And then
my agent called to tell me that David Straithearn--
an incredible actor [and never more so than as the
Edward R. Murrow of George Clooney’s “Good
Night, and Good Luck”]— had had to drop out
because of a badly sprained ankle.”
The agent thought Glover should try for the
part.
“But I had seen and read ‘Godot’ and had never
understood that role. To me it was three pages of
nonsense, and on the phone I made up three differ-
ent excuses why I shouldn’t do it.
“My agent hung up. But then he called back and
said I was a fool.
“Then Nathan called and said: ‘We’re all hoping
it’s you.’ ”
The upshot: In a long, meandering opening -
night review in The Times, that unsure fool would
receive just precisely one word of appraisal:
“Superb.” And would become the only member
of that high-powered four-man cast to receive a
2009 Tony Award nomination — which, if he should
win, John Glover, at age 64, could place beside the
1995 Tony he took home for his performance(s)
as a couple of twin brothers in Terrence McNally’s
J U N2009E
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS
“Love! Valour! Compassion!”
Glover began preparing — bracing himself—for
his performance as Lucky with three-mile morn-
ing hikes through the mountains adjoining Los
Angeles, He had been too young and far away to
have seen Alvin Epstein’s remarkable Lucky in
the 1958 Broadway “Godot” of Bert Lahr, E.G.
Marshall, Kurt Kasznar, and Epstein.
“I had played Estragon [the more intellectual of
the two tramps] in the summer of 1965, when I
was a kid of 21, at the Barter Theater in Virginia.
But,” says the keenly intelligent actor who (like
Epstein) has never stopped working in films and
on stage from that day to this, “I had no idea what
‘Godot’’ was all about.”
And now? Has it become clearer? What is
Lucky talking about?
“Thanks to Anthony Page, it’s become much
clearer. Too many people treat it like a sacred text.
‘This piece of great literature.’ But it’s really a very
human story. I think Lucky’s talking about what
Pozzo says:
“‘One day, is that not enough for you, one day he
went dumb, one day I went blind, one day we'll go
deaf, one day we were born, one day we shall die,
the same day, the same second, is that not enough
for you? (Calmer.) They give birth astride of a
grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night
once more…’”
 nyc
Glover’s voice breaks briefly into
a stammer — his own stammer, not
Lucky’s.
“Right before my Dad died, in
January 2002, soon after 9/11,”
Glover says, “he started having — not
Alzheimer’s — but his brain became a
kind of cobweb. Words came out in a
kind of gibberish…”
The actor pauses, takes a breath,
then says: “The earth…We’re prob-
ably going to destroy the planet. The
air, the earth, the sea, the earth. This
abode of stones, where humanity will
probably not be here anymore — and
this guy Lucky has figured it out…”
Suddenly I hear William Wellborne,
my boozy, insightful Greenwich
Village friend and fellow “Godot”
apostle of fifty-plus years ago, explod-
ing from (very probably) the grave:
“‘Sweet mother earth!’ That’s what
Gogo hollers as he clutches the earth,
and that’s what Beckett is telling us.”
Anthony Page, who had won his
own Tony Award a couple of seasons
ago for his direction of Ibsen’s “A
Doll’s House” on Broadway, spent
one full hour working alone with
Glover on Lucky’s monologue before
rehearsals of “Godot” began each day
— “until we found a way to do it.”
It was also Page who taught the
cast to say “GOD-oh instead of
“Go-DOUGH,” the way I and every-
body else in this country has been
saying it for fifty-plus years. When I
came home from seeing the show at
Studio 54, I called Barney Rosset,
the firebrand American publisher of
“Waiting for Godot” and much else
of Beckett’s, and asked him how his
friend Sam had pronounced Godot.
“Not the way I do,” said Rossett.
“Beckett pronounced it: GOD-oh.”
So Page is right, and for fifty-plus
years the rest of us — including John
Glover — have been wrong.
Of course that puts a pretty direct
God spin on the play that has, at
least in its earlier years, baffled so
many. May this witness to its earlier
years merely note that, whatever the
pronunciation, he saw God in it from
the very first, and said so in the public
prints.
John Glover, Jr., the actor son of
Jack and Cade Mullins Glover, was
born August 7, 1944, in Kingston,
New York, and grew up in Salisbury,
filmmaking
on the
edge
Sponsors: The Phoenix, Provincetown Banner, HBO, Bacardi, Crown & Anchor,
Art House, Mass. Cultural Council, Visitors Service Bureau
,'/%+/.%=@CD■NNN%GKFNE=@CD=<JK%FI>
P A G E 21
“But I had
seen and read
‘Godot’ and had
never understood
that role. To me it
was three pages
of nonsense… ”
Maryland, where his father was a sales-
man and distributor for Philco.
“We had the first TV and the first
color TV. I was the most popular kid
on the block.”
At Towson State Teachers College
he was training to be a teacher, but
along came theater, and that was that.
He describes himself as “ambidex-
trous — or bicoastal,” with footholds
divided between California and an
apartment in the Flatiron district of
Manhattan. He and his partner, sculp-
tor Adam Kurtzman, are now in their
16th year together.
Coming up after “Godot”: a nice John Glover
fat part opposite Rosemary Harris in
George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber’s
“The Royal Family,” not so loosely
based on the Barrymores: Ethel, John,
and Lionel.
Meanwhile we have Lucky, at the
end of his rope — the one connect-
ing his neck to Pozzo’s slave-driving
hand. John Glover says he has seen
three and a half “Waiting for Godots”
in his lifetime. “I walked out of one
in Vancouver.” He does not think
anyone will walk out of this one, nor
“Damn good!”
–Village Voice
do I.
WAITING FOR GODOT. By
Samuel Beckett. Directed by Anthony “Refreshing
Page. A Roundabout presentation Change of
through July 12 at Studio 54, 254 Pace.”
–Zagat
West 54th Street, (212) 719-1300.
Morten Sohlberg
Chef/Owner,
Smörgås Chef
Join us for an authentic Scandinavian experience
at Smörgås Chef Restaurant in New York City! Offering
lunch, dinner, & brunch prix fixe specials everyday!
For locations or info, visit us at
WWW.SMORGAS.COM
P A G E 22 J U N2009E

‘Park in sky’
chugging along
toward June opening
B Y K ATIE L ORAH

I
n just a few days, the first section of the High
Line will open to the public. Section 1 of the
park runs through the Meatpacking District
and the southernmost blocks of Chelsea, from
Gansevoort St. to 20th St. An exact opening date
has yet to be set, but is likely to fall in early June.
The second section, from 20th St. to 30th St., is
projected to open one year later.
To get ready for the High Line’s debut, contrac-
tors are now putting the finishing touches on the
park’s landscape, in the final stage of the landscape
work that began more than a year ago. First, the
construction crew installed the High Line’s path-
ways, made of long, smooth, concrete planks. The
planks were designed to taper at their ends to
allow the plantings to push up between them, just
as grass grew up in the gravel ballast of the origi-
nal High Line rail bed. Many of the High Line’s
original steel railroad tracks have been returned
to their locations, integrated into the planting
beds. The beds themselves were then prepared,
using a layered system much like a typical green
roof. Several layers of specialized material — a
perforated drainage mat, pea gravel and filter fab-
ric, were installed to aid in soil drainage. Two lay-
ers of soil — a coarse subsoil and a nutrient-rich
topsoil — were then delivered and spread into the
planting beds. At the same time, lighting, irriga-
tion and rodent-proofing systems were installed. PHOTOS COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE
Last fall, a team of landscape specialists began Flats of grasses and perennials await planting on the High Line between the reinstalled railroad tracks in the park’s Gansevoort Woodland section.
working to bring the High Line’s planting beds
to life, as envisioned by planting designer Piet “Slow Stairs,” part of the Gansevoort St. access Board 4 and many elected officials, is advocating
Oudolf. Since then, the one-of-a-kind landscape point, will bring visitors up through the structure for the full preservation of the entire High Line
has taken shape block by block. With the help itself. at the rail yards, and its integration into the site.
of landscape contracting company Siteworks, At 17th St., large window-like cutouts were Friends of the High Line is encouraging the city
the Section 1 environment of hardy perennials, recently made in the steel of the High Line’s to take ownership of this section of the High
textural grasses, shrubs and trees has taken root Tenth Avenue Square, one of Section 1’s most Line, much like it did with the rest of the High
on the High Line. There are roughly 210 differ- unique design features. Soon, glass will be Line in 2005. To find out more about the High
ent plant species in the beds of Section 1, rang- installed, providing High Line visitors with a Line at the rail yards, and to learn how you can
ing from a meadow-like mix of asters, goldenrod view up Tenth Ave., and a peek into the park to help save the entire High Line, please visit www.
and big bluestem grass in the low beds of the those walking below. Amphitheater-like seating, thehighline.org.
Sundeck, to a grove of gray birch and service- doubling as a ramp and staircase, will allow High The opening of the first section of the High
berry trees as part of the Gansevoort Woodland. Line visitors to drop down into the steel struc- Line will be celebrated in June with a street fes-
Besides the planting work, several of the ture of the Square. In the coming weeks, work tival, put on by Friends of the High Line. The fes-
High Line’s special design features are nearing on the High Line’s access points, planting beds, tival will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of
completion. The monumental “Slow Stairs” are pathways and seating will be completed. the founding of Friends of the High Line, and the
now in place at the future High Line access point While two-thirds of the High Line is owned 75th anniversary of the High Line itself. (It was
at Gansevoort St. This blocklong staircase rises by the city and is currently under construction completed in 1934 to lift dangerous freight trains
from street level, underneath the High Line, to cut to become a park, the future of the northern- off the city’s streets.) There will be a variety of
through the steel of the structure itself. Visitors most section, around the West Side Rail Yards, free public programming, both on and off the
will ascend along the staircase, coming face to remains undecided. There is still a chance that High Line, during the park’s inaugural summer.
face with the High Line’s heavy steel girders and this section could be partially or fully demol- More information about what’s planned for
hand-driven rivets, before emerging into the wild ished, depending on a planning process now tak- the opening season will be announced through
landscape above. With the adjacent site being ing place between the city, the New York State- Friends of the High Line’s e-mail newsletter. You
planned as the new Whitney Museum, the south- run M.T.A. and The Related Companies, the pri- can sign up to receive updates and information on
ern terminus of the High Line is set to become one vate developer leasing the site. The 26-acre rail how you can get involved at www.thehighline.org.
of the city’s liveliest new public spaces. yards site is the largest developable plot of land You can also read the latest construction updates
Clockwise from above left, workers have in Manhattan, and the current scheme calls for and announcements on the High Line Blog, www.
installed foliage in between the High Line’s path- more than 12 million square feet of commercial thehighline.org/blog.
ways; trees, with root balls wrapped in burlap, and residential development, along with several
that will be planted in the park’s Gansevoort acres of public open space. Lorah is media and project manager, Friends of
Woodland section; the newly installed, blocklong Friends of the High Line, along with Community the High Line
 nyc
P A G E 23

Bug Zappers
10 things you need to know to survive bug season
B Y A MY P ATUREL

B
ug season is around the corner and pesky
insects are gearing up to itch, bother and
burn. But today’s insects are more than just
an annoyance; they’re a major public health concern.
Mosquitoes carry deadly diseases including Malaria
and West Nile — a fatal virus infecting approxi-
mately 3500 Americans annually. With such
high stakes, it’s important to protect yourself,
and should you fall prey to a bloodsucking sieve,
handle the bite appropriately. To help you get through
summer unscathed, Self tracked down experts to dispel
the myths, present the facts and offer outdoor aficiona-
dos a frontline defense against the buggers.

1. READ THE LABEL

Repellents should contain at least 20 percent
DEET. “DEET is the only effective product, for
any reasonable period of time, following a
single application,” says Paula Elbirt, M.D.,
assistant professor of pediatrics at Mount
Sinai Medical Center and former medical director
of the Children's Aid Society. “Mosquitoes are
attracted to carbon dioxide from our skin. DEET
interferes with their ability to detect carbon diox-
ide.” So when they land on DEET-protected skin,
they don’t recognize the human blood beneath.
Stick with higher concentration spray repellents
(OFF! Deep Woods, OFF! Skintastic and Sawyer
Controlled Release) — wristbands only protect
a few centimeters from the band. No DEET on
the label? Look for N,N-diethyl-meta-tolumide or
N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenamide.
2. GOING DEET-LESS
For all its protection, DEET is a potent chemi-
cal that can eat away plastic in watches and glass-
es, absorb into your skin, and make you a sticky,
stinky mess — and over exposure to DEET can
cause skin irritation, rashes and painful blisters.
DEET-free alternatives like citronella, lavender
and other plant-derived oils and Avon’s Bug Guard
Plus may soften skin or shield you from the sun,
but they offer minimal protection against bugs. In
one study, these products worked for less than 20
minutes. As for garlic, another natural remedy, it
can fight off vampires (and boyfriends), but not
bugs. The strong scent may mask carbon dioxide,
but it’s relatively ineffective says Dr. Elbirt.
3. SWEET BLOOD?
It could be that you just have more of it.
“Mosquitoes are attracted to bigger people,” says
Mark Fradin, M.D., Adjunct Clinical Associate
Professor of Dermatology at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “maybe because
they have more blood.” Genetic factors also play
a role — some people naturally give off scents that
are more attractive to mosquitoes.
4. STAY NEUTRAL
Debating what to wear to the family picnic? Stay
away from dark colors (they retain heat, drawing
mosquitoes), and bright colors (bees will think
you’re a giant daffodil). Wear light
colors, and if you’re worried about
ticks, be sure to tuck your
shirt into your pants, your
pants into your socks and
wear boots, not sandals.
5. BE LAZY you make an X over the bite with your fin-
Activity makes you a mosquito magnet. We gernail). The pain from nail digging blocks
release more carbon dioxide when we sweat the itching sensation. Both techniques actu-
says Dr. Elbirt. The hotter, stinkier and sweat- ally increase blood flow to the area causing
ier you are, the more likely you’ll be attacked. inflammation. For a humane fix, apply ice or
And humidity or perspiration can wash away cold compresses to the welt — there is no risk
any repellent you had for cover. of burn, no need for an outlet and they don’t
make a sound.
6. AREA PROTECTION
Skip the citronella. According to Dr. Fradin 10. NEVER FORGET THE BASICS
any candle will provide the same benefit (most Cover up, avoid the magic hour of dusk
citronella candles don’t have enough citronella and put away perfumes, floral shampoos and
to make an impact). As for electronic bug zap-
pers, says Dr. Fradin, “they don’t work – less
than one percent of bugs zapped by those
machines are mosquitoes.” There is a new gen-
eration of somewhat effective and very expen-
sive “zappers” that emit carbon dioxide and
warmth, but these machines are hundreds of
dollars. Visit www.frontgate.com for details.
7. WATER WORKS
For mosquitoes, that is. Female mosquitoes
lay their eggs in stagnant water. Remove still
water sources from your property, turn over
empty buckets and cans, and keep Buffy’s
water bowl indoors. If you have a pond, call
your local Health Department for “mosquito
fish.” These fish will live in still water for
years, eating any mosquito eggs, and they’re
usually free.
8. DOWN SOME BENADRYL
For a preemptive strike against a bug bite,
take an over-the-counter allergy medication
like Benadryl or Claritan an hour before going
outdoors. “A mosquito bite causes an allergic
reaction,” says Dr. Fradin. “Antihistamines
reduce that reaction.”
9. READY, AIM, HAIRDRYER!
Ever use your hairdryer to relieve itching?
According to Dr. Fradin, the hairdryer works
because it is a counter-irritant — you’re so
focused on the heat that you forget about the
itch. The same applies to the nail trick (where
P A G E 24
The Benefits Of Om
Meditation reduces stress and increases lucidity
B Y J ENNY S TAMOS K OVACS
I
n your frantic daily life, taking time to meditate
is like trying to cram another pair of shoes into
an already stuffed closet. However, if you learn
to unwind, meditation can help improve the health
of your mind — and your body.
Before you begin, lose all your inhibitions — all
your preconceived ideas about what it means to
meditate. First, meditation doesn't have to involve
sitting in contorted positions for hours on end,
while somehow emptying your mind and chanting
words that mean nothing to you. "There are many,
many schools of thought on meditation," says Mike
Wohl, president of Bodywisdom Media, and pro-
ducer and co-creator of Yoga for Stress Relief DVD
(2006)."We’re no longer bound by tradition, so you
can choose whichever method work best for you."
Keep reading for more than one way to meditate,
and choose whichever most resonates with you.
Then check out our sidebar to learn how meditating
regularly can be good for your heart, your waistline,
and so much more.
FIND YOUR OWN PRIVATE PLACE
The first step of meditation involves setting up
a space just for you that evokes a mood of calm-
ness and relaxation. Health psychologist Steven
Gurgevich, Ph.D., director of the Mind-Body Clinic
in Dr. Andrew Weil’s Program in Integrative
Medicine at the University of Arizona College of
Medicine, and co-author of The Self-Hypnosis Diet:
Use The Power Of Your Mind to Reach Your Perfect
Weight (Sounds True, 2007) suggests creating a cozy,
welcoming space for yoga and meditation, stocked
with inspiring magazines, books and pictures that
make you smile. Motivate yourself to reach the right
mindset by filling the walls with inspiring quotes or
mantras and pictures that bring you to a place of
relaxation and joy. Include pillows for lounging or
Fill the walls with
inspiring quotes and
pictures that bring
you to a place of
relaxation and joy
J U N2009E
sitting in the traditional meditation position, cross-
legged on the floor. You can also light candles or
incense. Experiment with various scents at local
stores, and find one or two that encourage you to
slow down, soothe your harried mind and relax.
Begin building a library of DVDs on yoga, breath-
ing, meditation and flexibility, says Gregory Florez,
founder and CEO of FitAdvisor.com, and a spokes-
person for the American Council on Exercise. The
shorter the workout, the better (around 20 minutes
is perfect), he says, so that they'll be ready for each
small pocket of available time.
"Traditionalists meditate first thing in the morn-
ing and last thing at night," says Wohl, who
recommends keeping your meditation space near
the window you sleep beside, so as not to disturb
your still half-snoozing mind by having to set up
and move things around in preparation. There’s
a lull between sleep and waking that you can use
to your advantage for probing and understanding
your mind during the transition between sleep and
wakefulness, he says.
Some people like to set a certain time and stick
to it, says Wohl. This develops discipline, as you
must stop whatever you're doing and become
aware of your present mental state. Others prefer
not to tie themselves down. They meditate when
they feel like meditating–when there's a brief lull
in their day or when need the centering meditation
provides.
If your life is bombarded with work, you'll
likely choose to meditate whenever you can catch a
moment, and for as long as you’re able. As busy as
our lives are, you still have plenty of opportunities
to center yourself and to engage in brief medita-
tions. For example, take 10 to 20 fully relaxed
breaths from deep within your belly as many times
during the day as you can. "The benefits of this cannot
be overestimated both physiologically and mentally,"
Wohl says.
As for a soundtrack to your meditation practice,
Wohl suggests complete silence, or, if absolutely
necessary, something non-intrusive, such as Zen
Dreams: Music for Harmonious Living, George
Nasciemento, or anything by Montgomery Smith.
 nyc
P A G E 25
GET INTO THE ZONE
Entering the zone of meditation isn't as difficult
as you might think, says Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.,
co-founder and former director of the Mind/Body
Clinic at Boston’s Deaconess Hospital, and co-
author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind
(Da Capo Lifelong Books; Revised edition, 2007)
and Saying Yes to Change (Hay House, 2005),
which comes packaged with its own meditation
CD. It doesn't evolve any trance or out-of-body
experience. In essence, meditation trains you to
be in the present, she says, to catch the negative
thoughts swirling around you before they damage
your body and mind. Mediation has a much broad-
er definition than many people think, Borysenko
says. “All it truly means is any activity that keeps
your attention pleasantly anchored in the present
moment." This means that meditation may be very
different for different people. It may mean getting
lost in music; in jogging; in picking up shells along
the beach–any activity that keeps your attention
fully in the present moment.

JUST BREATHE
If you often succumb to wandering thoughts,
you may want to start with a more traditional type
of meditation, returning to the less structured type
when you feel able. The most basic meditation
involves focusing on your breath, Wohl says. This
is the entranceway, as it were, to focus on the body.
There are many types of traditional meditation. In
the hatha, or body-based tradition, meditation is
the more advanced level on the spectrum of prac-
tice. First, you need to prepare your body with an
asana, or yoga pose; next, you move on to regulat-
ing your breath. Physiologically, your breath begins
to focus the mind and to enter a state of relaxation,
slowing your heart, breathing and thoughts.
One of the best ways to stay focused in the
meditation zone is with a mantra, Borysenko says,
which is simply a device to keep you mind focused
on your thoughts, instead of wandering off to nega-
tive thoughts and feelings. The best part of mantras
is that you can choose whatever is meaningful for
you. Several examples, depending on your situa-
tion, include:
- "I am healed, whole and healthy."
- "Right now, at this very moment, I am exactly
where I want to be. I feel hopeful and at peace."
- “I am grateful for the things, and the people,
that bring me joy each day."
- "At this moment, I am filled love and joy."
- "Everything is going to be okay."

BODY BENEFITS
Whether your goal is inner peace or outer heal-
ing, meditation may be the secret to allover health.
Here's how saying "om" can benefit your body.
• Your heart. Meditation may protect your heart
by decreasing your risk of metabolic syndrome, a
study in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports.
Researchers assessed the effects of meditation on
103 people who had been diagnosed with heart
disease. Over a four month period, subjects who
meditated twice daily for 20-minutes at a time
saw a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in
heart rate variability. Subjects who didn’t medi-
tate, on the other hand, experienced an increase.
Meditators began to respond better to insulin,
too—a result that would otherwise only be expect-
ed from intense exercise or significant weight loss,
researchers say.
• Your waistline. Reaching or maintaining a
healthy weight is easier when your body is able
to use insulin efficiently. Plus, meditation helps
keep stress levels from peaking, making it easier
for you to avoid foods high in fat, simple carbs
and sugar.
• Your brain. Studies show that, during medita-
tion, there is reduced activity in the stress centers
of the brain and increases in brain wave coher-
ence, says Robert Schneider, M.D., director of the
Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at the
Maharishi University of Management in Maharishi
Vedic City, Iowa, and lead author of several studies
on the health benefits of meditation.
• Your skin, muscles and digestive system.
Repeating a mantra, a common part of meditation,
can play a huge part in helping your body cope with
stress, researchers from the Veterans Administration
San Diego Healthcare System report. Subjects
chose a personal mantra, and practiced repeating it
when they weren’t stressed out–the idea being that
their brains would learn to associate the phrase with
calmness. Six months later, 83 percent of subjects
had used their mantras to help them stay calm,
while 75 percent felt they'd helped to reduce stress,
frustration and tension. Lower stress leads to better
skin, more relaxed muscles, better sleep and more
efficient digestion—all-around positive results.
• Your pain response. Transcendental medita-
tion (TM) may lessen the brain's response to pain,
research from the University of California, Irvine
shows. Individuals who'd been practicing TM for
30 years had a 40 to 50 percent lower brain reac-
tion to pain than those who didn't practice it, but
after learning the meditation style and practicing
it for just five months, non-meditators' brain scans
showed a similar resilience to pain.
• Your mood. In a review of 20 different stud-
ies, researchers concluded that meditation can help
improve symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders
and PMS. Meditating encourages you to see your
negative thoughts as something separate from your-
self, say researchers.
• Your reproductive organs. Meditation reduces
the production of stress hormones while also indi-
rectly boosting levels of reproductive hormones such
as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen and
progesterone by increasing serotonin and melatonin
production. (Serotonin and melatonin stimulate the
pituitary gland, where these reproductive hormones
are produced.) Another benefit? Better sex–you
can't orgasm unless you're relaxed.
P A G E 26
A Savings Plan For
School Abroad
How to fund future international study – for your grandchildren or yourself
B Y M ICHAEL J. J APPELL ,
F INANCIAL A DVISOR
W
hen Kelly Davidson, a
retiree, decided she was
going to help fund her
grandson’s college education, she
knew she’d have to go about it in a
tax-efficient manner, one that would
also benefit her. She also knew that
pursuing this venture would potentially
impact her estate limitations, so she
met with her Smith financial advisor
to develop a strategy that would help
enable her to assist her grandson.
He suggested that a 529 College
Savings Plan—named after the section
of the IRS code that authorized their
creation—would be the best way to
meet Kelly’s education-funding goals.
Kelly set up a 529 plan for her grandson
and launched a systematic investment
plan to help her potentially maximize
the account’s value. Kelly’s Five Year
Plan was well under way, but there was
one thing she hadn’t planned for: right
before she was slated to pay the school,
Kelly’s grandson, received admission to
another institution—in London.
Luckily, Kelly had saved for her
grandson’s graduate degree in a 529
account, so she could use the funds at
any accredited university in the world.
Kelly’s grandson is now pursuing his
MBA at the London Business School—
one of the top three MBA programs in
the world—and using Kelly’s 529 plan
assets to pay for his tuition and related
expenses.
In today’s rapidly globalizing econo-
my, Kelly’s situation is not unique. Each
year, thousands of American students
either participate in study abroad pro-
grams, or enroll full-time in colleges
and universities outside of the United
States. In fact, according to a recent
poll of college-bound students, 55 per-
cent indicated that they are certain or
fairly certain they will participate in
a study abroad program, and another
26 percent indicated a strong desire to
study abroad.
In response to the high demand,
many higher education institutions now
offer a number of international learn-
ing programs, ranging from semes-
ters at sea to cultural immersion and
multi-city programs. However, despite
the many international programs avail-
able, students (38 percent) still cite
high costs as the top reason for lack
of participation in study abroad pro-
grams. In addition, using financial aid
for international studies presents its
own challenges: additional eligibility
requirements—residency, grades, credit
55-percent of
college-bound
students say they
plan to study
abroad
hours, and age, to name a few—must
be met, and foreign and US semester
schedules differ which can delay loans
and other federal aid.
Still, there are options for those who
want to finance an education abroad,
including 529 College Savings Plans.
The plans allow tax-free accumulation
of assets and federal tax-free with-
drawals for qualified higher education
expenses, and the features (flexibil-
ity, control, and multiple investment
options) which make 529 plans attrac-
tive for funding stateside education are
also available when the plans are used
with accredited foreign institutions.
HOW IT WORKS
More than 400 foreign higher edu-
cation institutions are eligible under
the rules permitting federal tax-free
withdrawals from a 529 plan. A
list of eligible foreign institutions
is available in the Federal School
Code Lookup database on the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) website.
“The test for any particular
school's inclusion is its eligibil-
ity to participate in Title IV federal
financial aid programs,” says Joseph
Hurley, founder of SavingforCollege.
com. “Most degree-granting four-
year schools, junior and community
colleges, and graduate schools will
qualify, as will many proprietary and
vocational schools.”
IS A 529 PLAN RIGHT FOR
YOU?
A 529 savings plan is one of the best
tax-advantaged ways to save for higher
education—whether you plan to study
in the US or abroad. Most plans offer
several asset allocation options, and
also allow you to contribute via lump
sum or through a systematic investment
plan such as a payroll deduction. You
should consider investing in a 529 plan
if you are:
• A parent concerned about the
rising costs of college,
• A grandparent who wants to
help save for your grandchildren’s
future education expenses
• A retiree who would like to devel-
op an existing hobby into a serious,
J U N2009E
full-time interest
• An “Empty Nester” who is still
active in the workforce, but needs to
return to school to remain competitive
• A professional who is consider-
ing going back to school to pursue a
second degree, change careers, or to
enhance your professional skills
• An adult who wants to help a
child in your life— a niece, nephew,
or godchild—save for future college
expenses
As more higher education institu-
tions implement international pro-
grams to address the growing demand,
opportunities to study abroad are
more available than they were twenty
years ago. If you already have an edu-
cation plan, consider whether study-
ing abroad is an option you’d like
to pursue in the future. If you need
help developing an education plan,
a Financial Advisor can help you get
started, and can even customize a
proposal based on projected costs at
the schools you’re considering.
Whether you plan to study state-
side or beyond the country’s borders,
one thing is certain: college costs are
on the rise, so it’s important to start
early. The world is your oyster; take
advantage of all it has to offer.
Michael Jappell, CRPC® is a
Smith Barney Financial Advisor
and Chartered Retirement Planning
CounselorSM located in Garden City,
N.Y. and may be reached at 1-800-645-
8600 ext.2808 or www.fa.smithbarney.
com/CoyleHubbardJappell
SEARCHING FOR ELIGIBLE
FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS
Anyone can conduct a search
for a particular school, or view a
list of all eligible foreign institu-
tions by querying the Federal
School Lookup database:
• Visit http://www.fafsa.
e d . g o v / F O T W We b A p p /
FSLookupServlet
• Select the school year from
the drop down box, and select
“Search” from the options
available
• In the state drop-down box,
select "Foreign Country" to view
all eligible schools in other coun-
tries, or if the school is located
in Canada, Mexico or any U.S.
territory, you can narrow your
search by selecting the appropri-
ate country
 nyc
New Nursing Homes
Rating System
A new on-line tool ranks quality of nursing homes by their stars
B Y B ETH B AKER
T
he delicate task of choosing a nursing home
for a family member may have become a
little easier. People can now check out nurs-
ing homes with an online tool that rates the overall
quality of a facility’s care with anywhere from one
to five stars.
But consumer advocacy groups, while welcoming
the new system as a helpful way to identify poorly
performing homes, also warn families not to rely
wholly on the star ratings when it comes to making
a wise choice among the 15,800 nursing homes that
participate in Medicare or Medicaid. People should
visit nursing homes, talk to doctors and trusted friends
and colleagues, and check state assessments based on
nursing home inspections before making a final pick,
experts say.
To arrive at the star ratings, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses three cat-
egories of data already on its Nursing Home Compare
website: www.medicare.gov/NHCompare. The stars
are intended to make the site more user-friendly. They
focus on three critical areas:
• Health inspections, which summarize deficiencies
the home received in the three most recent inspec-
tions.
• Staffing, which shows the average time nurses and
aides spend with each resident daily.
• Quality measures, a report on the prevalence of
pressure ulcers (bedsores), physical restraints, pain
and seven other measures affecting residents’ well-
being.
Nursing homes are awarded stars in each category,
then given an overall rating based on a CMS calcula-
tion. Twelve percent of nursing homes nationwide
received the top overall rating of five stars (“much
above average”), while 22 percent received just one
star (“much below average”). Overall, 35 percent
were rated above the three-star average and 43 percent
below that average. According to CMS, nonprofits and
Nonprofits and smaller
homes tend to have
higher ratings
smaller homes tend to have higher ratings, as well as
homes in states with higher Medicaid reimbursement
rates.
“We think [the system] is a good thing because it is
helping people do some comparisons between nursing
homes,” says Janet Wells, director of public policy for
the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term
Care (formerly the National Citizens’ Coalition for
Nursing Home Reform), in Washington. “The issues
that it ranks nursing homes on are really important,
particularly nurse staffing.” Studies have found higher-
quality care in homes that provide nurse staffing of at
least 4.08 hours on average per resident each day.
In the CMS ratings, though, homes providing fewer
hours can still receive a high number of stars, accord-
ing to the formula CMS uses in its assessments. For
example, each of two nursing homes provides 3.5
hours of care per resident, yet home A is awarded three
stars for staffing whereas home B gets just one. Why?
The system is weighted to reflect the needs of resi-
dents in each home, CMS officials say. The sicker the
residents, the higher levels of care the home should
be providing. So in this example, home B had a case
mix that required more hours of care than home A.
Thus it received only one star. (See “How ratings are
calculated” below to learn how CMS arrives at the
overall rating).
The staffing and quality measures used in the rat-
P A G E 27
HOW RATINGS ARE CALCULATED
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
uses a three-step formula to decide how many
stars a nursing home should receive as an overall
rating of its quality of care.
Step 1: A nursing home is first assigned a
number of stars (1 through 5) according to infor-
mation from health inspections of the home over
three years. This number is the base rating.
Step 2: Stars are added or deducted according
to the home’s staff rating, which is based on the
average number of hours of care per day resi-
dents receive. If the home’s staff rating is 4 or 5
stars, one star is added to the base rating. If staff
rating is only one star, then one star is subtracted
from the base rating. If staff rating is 2 or 3 stars,
the base rating remains the same.
Step 3: Stars are added or subtracted accord-
ing to how well or poorly the home scores on 10
key quality measures (QM). If its QM rating is
5 stars, one star is added to the rating derived
from steps 1 and 2. If the QM rating is only one
star, then one star is subtracted from this rating.
If the QM measure is 2, 3 or 4 stars, the rating
remains the same.
ings are self-reported by nursing homes, not payroll
data. CMS does not confirm the reported staffing by
comparing it with payroll records, as some advocates
for seniors recommend.
In addition, the ratings don’t “take into account
[temporary] agency staffing, known across the nursing
home field to decrease quality,” says Lauren Shaham,
vice president of communications for the American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging,
which is critical of the new system. The ratings count
NURSING HOMES, continued on page 28 
P A G E 28
 NURSING HOMES, continued from page 27
permanent and temporary staff members equally, she
says, although the quality they deliver is unequal.
Experts also say, it’s possible that a nursing home
could pad the schedule with temporary workers before
its annual survey and receive a higher rating.
Unlike a five-star restaurant or hotel, a five-star
nursing home is not the Ritz and may have serious
problems, others caution. “We do think [the system]
is useful in helping consumers quickly identify low-
rated nursing homes that they should avoid,” says
Michael Connors, advocate for California Advocates
for Nursing Home Reform. “But high ratings aren’t
a guarantee of quality.”
For example, in 2007-08 California issued cita-
tions to 38 nursing homes for the most serious viola-
tion — neglect leading to the death of a resident —
which carries fines of up to $100,000. Yet of the 35
of these homes that CMS rated, two were awarded
five stars and six got four stars under the CMS rating
system, according to an AARP Bulletin analysis.
In general, when nursing homes receive citations,
they “must file a plan of correction that must be
approved by us,” CMS spokeswoman Mary M. Kahn
explains. “Once that is approved, we will re-inspect
to assure the corrective action was indeed taken.”
If a home continually shows a pattern of poor per-
formance, she adds, “it is put on our Special Focus
Facility list,” meaning that “it is inspected twice as
often as other homes.”
But homes placed on the Special Focus Facility
list may still receive as many as three stars (meaning
“average”) in the quality ratings on the CMS web-
site, according to Rhonda Richards, a senior legisla-
tive representative at AARP. In these circumstances,
she adds, AARP recommends a one-star (“much
below average”) rating. CMS, however, gives Special
Focus Facilities credit for improvement, and all
facilities get credit for scoring high on staffing or
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J U N2009E
quality measures.
Mitzi E. McFatrich, executive director of Kansas FIVE STARS IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS
Advocates for Better Care, says her group spot-
checked 10 homes and found the star ratings did The Nursing Home Compare website
not accurately reflect the experience of residents. awarded the following facilities five stars:
“[Since] we started digging on this site, I have
to say we have a lot of concerns,” she says. One Manhattan:
well-regarded Kansas home that received two stars ST MARYS CENTER INC
(below average), for example, received a PEAK 516 West 126TH Street
(Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas) award NY, NY 10027
in 2008 from the Kansas Department of Aging. (212) 662-1826
Homes that provide consistent, well-trained staff, http://www.stmarysharlem.com/jsp/
a homey environment, freedom to choose when to
wake up and what to eat, and regular engagement Staten Island:
with the outside world are not identified through VERRAZANO NURSING HOME
this system, McFatrich notes. 100 Castleton Avenue
“We emphasize that the star rating does not sub- Staten Island, NY 10301
stitute for the consumers’ judgment about which (718) 273-1300
aspects and measures are most important to them,”
says Thomas Hamilton, CMS director of the Survey Brooklyn:
and Certification Group. “The star rating is intended HAYM SALOMON HOME FOR THE AGED
to stimulate thinking but not replace thinking. We 2340 Cropsey Avenue
encourage consumers to print out the information Brooklyn, NY 11214
and take it with them and visit the nursing homes (718) 373-1700
and get direct answers from nursing home staff.”
CMS officials say they will continue to improve Queens:
the website and hope to add new information over FLUSHING MANOR NURSING HOME
time, such as resident and family satisfaction rates. 35 15 Parsons Boulevard
Toward that end, the Pioneer Network, based in Flushing, NY 11354
Rochester, N.Y., which advocates changing the cul- (718) 961-3500
ture of eldercare, is working with CMS to find ways http://www.flushingmanors.com
to measure quality of life concerns that are so impor-
tant to nursing home residents and families. “One has METHODIST CHURCH HOME
to see the five-star rating as part of a broader initiative FOR THE AGED
to encourage consumers to ask the right questions,” 4499 Manhattan College Parkway
says Bonnie Kantor, executive director of the Pioneer Bronx, NY 10471
Network. “This is but one measure. Nothing can (718) 548-5100
replace being your own fact-finder.” http://www.methodisthome4aged.com/
— First appeared in AARP Bulletin
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 nyc
Marci’s
Medicare
Answers
June 2009
Dear Marci,
Does the Medicare drug benefit
(Part D) cover drugs for erectile dys-
function?
— Noah
Dear Noah,
No. There are drugs excluded
from Medicare Part D coverage by
law. These include drugs for: erectile
dysfunction, anorexia, weight loss or
weight gain (except to treat physical
wasting caused by AIDS, cancer or
other diseases), fertility, cosmetic pur-
poses or hair growth and relief of the
symptoms of colds (like a cough and
stuffy nose). Prescription vitamins and
minerals (except prenatal vitamins and
fluoride preparations), non-prescrip-
tion drugs (over-the-counter drugs)
and certain anti-anxiety drugs (barbi-
turates and benzodiazepines) are also
excluded from Medicare coverage.
— Marci
“Does
Medicare pay
for ambulance
services?”
Dear Marci,
One of the Medicare-certified hos-
pice agencies in town is not willing
to take my mother as a patient, even
though she has Medicare. Is this
allowed?
— Callie
Dear Callie,
Medicare-certified hospice agencies
are not required to take your mother
as a patient simply because she quali-
fies for Medicare-covered hospice care.
Agencies may select which patients
they take, provided that they don’t
violate discrimination laws. Whether
your mother is in Original Medicare
or a Medicare private health plan, you
should call other agencies. If she is
terminally ill and her doctor certifies
that she has fewer than six months to
live, another agency may take her as a
hospice patient.
— Marci
Dear Marci,
Does Medicare pay for ambulance
services?
— Gena
Dear Gena,
If it is an emergency Medicare will
generally cover ambulance services,
as long as:
• An ambulance is the only safe
way to transport you (medically
necessary); and
• You are transported to and
from certain locations.
An emergency is when your
health is in serious danger and
every second counts to prevent your
health from getting worse. If the trip
is scheduled as a way to transport
you from one location to another
when your health is not in immedi-
ate danger, it is not considered an
emergency.
If it is not an emergency, Medicare
coverage of ambulance services is
very limited. Medicare will gen-
erally only cover non-emergency
ambulance transport if it is the only
safe way to transport you. Transport
by all other means, including ambu-
lettes, must be unsafe given your
condition. For example, Medicare
may cover non-emergency ambu-
lance services if you need vital
medical services during your trip
that are only available in an ambu-
lance, such as administration of
medications or monitoring of vital
functions.
If covered, Medicare will pay for
80-percent of its approved amount
for the ambulance service. You or
your supplemental insurance policy
will be responsible for the remain-
ing 20-percent. All ambulance pro-
viders must accept Medicare assign-
ment, meaning they must accept
the Medicare-approved amount as
payment in full.
— Marci
Medicare Rights Center (www.
medicarerights.org), the nation’s larg-
est independent source of informa-
tion and assistance for people with
Medicare. To speak with a counselor,
call (800) 333-4114. To learn more
about the services that Medicare will
cover and how to change plans, log
on to Medicare Interactive Counselor
at the Medicare Rights Center’s web-
site at www.medicareinteractive.org.
Medicare At Home
What qualifies, what doesn’t if you
need medical care at home
Sometimes, people with
Medicare need medical care at
home. You may have just been
discharged from the hospital;
or perhaps you’re dealing with
a flare-up of a chronic ailment.
Medicare covers care and treat-
ment in your home if you meet
specific criteria:
• First, your doctor must certify
that you are homebound, and that
home care is medically necessary.
Homebound means that it requires
considerable and taxing effort for
you to leave your home. For exam-
ple, you are homebound if you need
crutches, a walker, a wheelchair or
help from another person to leave
your home.
Medicare's
home health
benefit pays in
full for skilled
nursing services
• Second, you must need skilled
nursing care on a part-time (less
than eight hours a day) or inter-
mittent basis (as little as once
every 60 days to as much as daily,
for three week periods, if there
is a predictable end to your need
for care) and/or you need skilled
therapy services (physical, speech,
occupational therapy). Skilled
nursing services are those services
that can only be performed safely
and effectively by a licensed nurse.
Tube feedings, catheter changes,
management and evaluation of a
patient’s care plan are examples
of skilled nursing. If you need
only occupational therapy, you
will not qualify for the Medicare
home health benefit. However, if
you qualify for Medicare coverage
of home health care on another
basis, you can also get occupa-
tional therapy.
• Third, you must have a plan
of care approved by a doctor.
• Fourth, you receive your care
from a Medicare-certified home
health agency (HHA).
Medicare’s home health benefit
pays in full for skilled nursing ser-
vices. Medicare will cover the full
cost of physical, speech and occu-
pational therapy in your home to
maintain your condition and pre-
P A G E 29
vent you from getting worse (you
do not need to have the potential
to improve to receive these ser-
vices).
The costs of a home health aide
are covered in full only if you are
also receiving skilled nursing ser-
vices in your home. A home health
aide provides personal care ser-
vices, such as help with bathing,
dressing and using the toilet. If you
require only personal care, you do
not qualify for the Medicare home
health care benefit.
Medicare will also cover in full
the cost of medical social services
(such as counseling) that help
you with social and emotional
concerns related to your illness;
certain medical supplies (wound
dressings, for example) used
by the Medicare-certified home
health agency; and evaluations by
a skilled nurse or therapist. The
Medicare home health care ben-
efit covers 80% of the Medicare-
approved amount for some “dura-
ble medical equipment,” such as a
wheelchair or walker.
There are some home care ser-
vices that are not covered by
Medicare’s home health care ben-
efit. These include 24-hour care
at home, homemaker or custodial
care services (housekeeping ser-
vices such as cooking, shopping
and doing laundry) unless they
are part of other home health aide
personal care services you receive
if you need skilled nursing and/or
skilled therapy, or meals delivered
to your home. To get most pre-
scription drugs covered, you need
to join a Medicare private drug
plan (Part D).
If you are eligible for home
health care benefits, a Medicare-
certifi ed home health agency
will draw up a plan of care that
describes the types of services
that will be provided, how often
you need those services, and for
how long. A doctor must then
approve the plan, which covers
up to 60 days of care. At the end
of the 60 days, the HHA, with
approval from your doctor, can
draw up a new plan of care as
long as you continue to qualify
for the Medicare home health
benefit.
To learn more about what is
covered under Medicare’s home
health care benefit, go to Medicare
Interactive Counselor at www.
medicareinteractive.org. Medicare
Interactive Counselor is a resource
provided by the Medicare Rights
Center.
P A G E 30 J U N2009E

You Don’t Know

Jack – Really!
A travel writer ponders life “On The Road”
B Y R OLF P OTTS

O
f all the throwaway lines I've fed into my
travel-writing biography over the years,
there's one that creates the most fascination
with readers: I am, according to a major American
newspaper, "Jack Kerouac for the Internet Age."
This little quip, which appeared in USA Today
when my book “Vagabonding” was first published
in 2003 (and has since been referenced in a num-
ber of other venues), has long been a source of
both flattery and bewilderment for me.
I'm flattered, of course, because Kerouac was an
innovative literary superstar, and On the Road was
an iconic twentieth-century road book; I'm bewil-
dered because Kerouac lived a conflicted, unhappy
life -- and because, 50 years after its initial publica-
tion, On the Road stands out as a startlingly bad
blueprint for travel.
I first read “On the Road” when I was 21 years
old and preparing for my first vagabonding journey
-- an 8-month sojourn across North America. Like
many young people dreaming of travel, I shared
the giddy impulse at the heart of Kerouac's book
-- the intoxicating compulsion to leave, to move,
to go. At a practical level, however, I discovered
that the novel's Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarity to balance Sal, his own, more subdued alter ego.
characters weren't the best role models for mind- This mythic "On the Road" pairing proved so effec-
ful, life-enlarging travel. tive that Kerouac spent the rest of his life trying to
Sure, spontaneity is good and holy, but there
is something unhinged and aimless about Sal “On the Road” has convince young fans that he wasn't the charismatic
figure of freedom and rebelliousness they'd ideal-
and Dean's Benzedrine-addled wanderings. Dean ized in his book.
is a compulsive hustler with serious attention-
deficit issues; Sal is a boozy brooder who rarely
proven less of a Just as potent as the myth of his characters is the
legend of how Kerouac typed “On the Road” onto
exudes any lasting satisfaction with his experi-
ences. Granted, Sal's solo adventures early on in
template for my own a 30-foot sheet of butcher paper in one frenzied,
three-week burst in April of 1951. Though this tale
the book vividly portray the joys and challenges of
hitchhiking -- and one can feel the ecstatic energy U.S.A. travels than is only partially true (the typing session followed
years of fragmentary, journal-based drafts, and
of his house party with Ray Rawlins and Tim Gray later went through meticulous rewrites), it under-
in the mountains above Denver -- but once Dean
fully enters the story, the pair's travels turn sloppy.
the work of frumpier, scores the ethos of spontaneity that surrounds
“On the Road”. Add to this Kerouac's photogenic
Indeed, Sal and Dean cover a lot of road-miles
between San Francisco and New York, but their middle-aged fellows like good looks -- as well as the 1960's counterculture
revival that his Beat cohorts inspired -- and “On the
adventures along the way are rarely more remark- Road” becomes more than the content in its pages:
able than what one might encounter in the fresh-
man-pledge wing of a fraternity house: booze is
Walt Whitman or John it becomes a symbol for impulse, for restlessness,
for youth.
swilled and dope is smoked; money is borrowed and
hoarded, then frittered away on dumb indulgences;
Steinbeck I suppose it was because of my own relative
youth, then, that I merited a Kerouac comparison
women are longed for, seduced, and abandoned. In when my own travel-themed book came out four
the third section of the book (which starts off with years ago. And while I certainly pay tribute to
Dean leaving his pregnant wife in California), Sal Kerouac in the pages of “Vagabonding”, “On the
and Dean repeatedly fantasize about running off to Road” has proven less of a template for my own
Italy, strangely oblivious to the American surround- U.S.A. travels than the work of frumpier, middle-
ings racing past outside the car window. When the than with the myth that surrounds it. aged fellows like Walt Whitman or John Steinbeck
pair later travels down to Mexico, their sojourn Read Kerouac's daily journals from the time he -- writers who knew how to slow down, to linger,
ends up less a quest for beauty and discovery than was experiencing what would later become “On to listen.
dope and hookers. Along the way, the Sal and Dean the Road”, and its clear that this myth was no acci- In the end, of course, it doesn't really matter
experience occasional moments of jubilation, but dent. As scholar Douglas Brinkley points out in the that “Leaves of Grass” or “Travels With Charley”
(as journalist John Leland points out in his recent introduction to “Windblown World: The Journals hold more useful day-to-day travel cues than
book Why Kerouac Matters), “On the Road” is at of Jack Kerouac, 1947-1954”, Kerouac intention- “On the Road”. Through their very compulsion
heart a morose book, laced with refrains of disap- ally embraced "the autobiographical impulse to to ditch home -- to go anywhere, to do anything
pointment and sadness. create fiction out of one's own myth." Enamored -- Kerouac's Sal and Dean do us one important
Why, then, does “On the Road” remain such a with cowboy movies, hobo tales, and the notion service: they remind us that the most important
potent romantic metaphor for the joys of travel? of the American West, he cast the madcap Dean step in the life of any traveler is that initial desire
I'd reckon this has less to do with its actual content (based on the real-life Neal Cassady) as a folk hero to be someplace else.
nyc
P A G E 31

Lived there? Worked there?

You deserve care.
On 9/11
I was working on Wall Street
and ran as fast as I could
to get home. Afterward,
I had trouble breathing,
but I thought it was just
anxiety. But now when
I play with my kids I can’t
keep up with them.

My symptoms:

Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Sinus congestion
Stomach problems
Depression
Anxiety
Other symptoms

The World Trade Center Call toll free 1-877-WTC-0107

Environmental Health Center (1-877-982-0107)
provides free health care to residents, students, or dial 311 for more information.
workers and passersby who may still be sick from 9/11. Call us even if you don’t have insurance.

Most people who were exposed to the World Trade

Center attack did not get sick but some did. WTC
health issues are still being studied. This message
is not intended to express or imply any scientific
conclusions on the part of the New York City Health
and Hospitals Corporation or the City of New York.
P A G E 32 J U N2009E