Senior
Spotlight
By John Toscano

Smiling Seniors Brighten Travelers’ Day At LaGuardia

You can spot them by the bright red sweaters they wear. They’re usually the ones listening patiently to a harried traveler passing through LaGuardia Airport.

They’re the Apple Aides, a group of 100 Queens seniors who have been aiding passengers at the bustling western Queens airport for the past 15 years and are still going strong.

Among them are Ann Modifia a 90-year-old Astoria resident who serves as the group’s supervisor, Hedy Von Thaden, 84, also of Astoria, whose fluency in her native German makes her very helpful to many passengers, Mildred Ciangiola, 86, a third Astorian and 10-year Aides veteran who goes her colleague Hedy one better by being fluent in two foreign languages, Italian and Spanish, and Jean Le Clair, also 86, of Jackson Heights, who speaks French, Italian and Greek.

Since 1986, retirees from senior centers near the airport have been volunteering their time to extend a helping hand to some of the 25 million people who use the facility every year. Mondays through Saturdays, the Port Authority, which operates the airport, sends a bus to pick them up at their various centers and take them to the two Aides’ centers in the Central Terminal Building, where they work two four-hour shifts. Typically, an Apple Aide works twice a month at the airport.

Besides translating, their chores include giving directions, distributing maps of the city and state and tourist attraction pamphlets, and having a warm, friendly smile ready to welcome one and all.

Says Warren Kroeppel, general manager at LaGuardia: "They help travelers find their way around the airport and make them aware of the services the airport has to offer. They also help to enhance the images of the airport, New York City and the state."

Rx AID FOR VETS: With so many seniors forced to pay outrageously high prices for prescription drugs, we’re happy to pass along a reminder we received from Russell Sumberaz, Chaplain, Long Island City Post No. 2348 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Sumberaz writes: "All VFW members can receive free or low cost prescription drugs from the VA (Veterans Administration). Prescriptions filled by the VA are only $2 for a 30-day supply (disabled or low income vets can receive medications for free)."

A veteran must enroll with the VA and see a VA doctor. Once enrolled, vets can receive prescription drugs at VA hospitals, clinics or through the VA mail order pharmacy. Call VA Health Benefits Center at 1-877-222-8387 for further information.

PROUD ABOUT VETS’ MEDALS: The Middle Village Adult Center is feeling pretty proud these days—three of its members were awarded New York State service medals in a recent ceremony at the St. Albans V.A. Extended Care Center in St. Albans.

The three recipients were Edward J. Caffray, New York States Medal for Merit, Norman A. Harder, New York States Conspicuous Service Cross, and Victor A. La Magna, New York States Medal for Merit.

All served during the Korean War. Harder is a member of American Legion Post number 104 and La Magna belongs to St. Margaret’s Catholic War Vets Post number 1172.

The medal presentation program was sponsored by state Senator Serphin Maltese (R–C, Middle Village), himself a Korean War vet.

FLAG DAY: The Woodside Senior Center, 49-11 Broadway, Woodside, is holding a Flag Day celebration along with the swearing in of officers on Thursday, June 14, at Riccardo’s, 21-01 24th Ave., Astoria from noon to 4 p.m. Admission for members is $10, for guests $25. R.S.V.P. to Antoinette Maggiore at (718) 932-6916 by June 1.

AARP MEETING: Ron Fatulah will discuss wills and other legal topics at the Wednesday, June 6, meeting of AARP Jackson Heights Chapter number 991 at Community United Methodist Church, 81-10 35th Ave., Jackson Heights at 12:45 p.m.