Senior
Spotlight
By John Toscano

Q.V. Senior Donates Contest Prize To SNAP Center

(L. to r.): Elaine Fleischman, SNAP Center program director, Robert Cardozo, essay contest winner, Della Gittler, All Metro Health Care marketing director.

By John Toscano

An essay on coping with loneliness which urged seniors to stay active and join organizations to meet their contemporaries, won a contest for a Queens Village senior who is donating the $200 prize to his senior center.

Winner Robert Cardozo, with his wife, Trudy, a member of SNAP of Eastern Queens, earned the prize with his 300-word essay on the subject, "Coping With Loneliness—How to Stay Connected During the Golden Years."

Along with essay, Cardozo submitted several pictures to support the message of the essay—"that staying active and joining organizations where you can meet others and participate in various activities is the fountain of youth and happiness.

"By going to senior centers and finding companionship, you will stay connected to people so love and hope will fill your life," Cardozo said.

The 53-years-wed senior is a health and sports advocate. He belongs to two gyms and exercises between two and four hours a day. Several years ago he won a Presidential Award for Sports and Fitness and he attributes his excellent health to his athletic activities. He is a graduate of the School of Art and Design and was a designer of military insignia for over 50 years before retiring.

"We are thrilled that Robert won All Metro’s essay contest and appreciate his generous donation," Elaine Flischman, program director at SNAP in eastern Queens, said. "Our center needs some equipment and Robert will help us decide what to purchase."

The contest was sponsored by All Metro Health Care, a private home health care provider.

BILL RAISES BLIND VETERANS’ BENEFITS: A bill to increase annually the blinded veterans annuity to keep up with inflation was approved by the state Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee and is ready for consideration by the Ways and Means Committee, Assemblymember Catherine Nolan (D–Ridgewood) reports.

Nolan, a member of the committee, said that if enacted the legislation will prevent the erosion of the blind veterans’ benefit due to inflation. "This annuity had remained at the same level since 1913, for 88 years until last year," Nolan explained. The annuity is presently set at $1,000 a year. Anyone wishing to apply for the benefit should contact the N.Y.S. Division of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-VETS NYS or (212) 417-4823.

HONOR VOLS: Volunteers at the Selfhelp Senior Program in Fresh Meadows were joined at their recent first annual luncheon celebration by Assemblymember Mark Weprin (D–Bayside) and state Senator Daniel Hevesi (D–Central Queens). The lawmakers presented citations of honor to the volunteers.

SPECIAL BREAKFAST: A special breakfast for seniors and volunteers from the HANAC senior centers sponsored by the Chian Federation Cultural Center will be held this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the federation’s facility at 44-01 Broadway in Astoria. "The purpose of the event is to show these special individuals that HANAC and the Chian Federation appreciate their work in volunteering their services to make each and every day special," a federation statement said.

AARP MEETINGS: The annual installation luncheon of AARP Jackson Heights Chapter number 991 is on tap for Wednesday, June 20, at noon at the Community United Methodist Church, 81-10 35th Ave., Jackson Heights.

On Tuesday, June 12, AARP Richmond Hill Chapter number 1762 will hold its President’s Luncheon at Durow’s Restaurant in Glendale at noon. Tickets are $25 per person.

At the chapter’s next meeting Thursday, June 14, at the Church of the Resurrection, 85-09 118th St., Kew Gardens, a Police Department representative will give a talk on "Senior Safety—Crime Prevention." The meeting starts at 1 p.m.