Poughkeepsie, NY

A caregiver is an everyday hero, they take on many roles. Every single day can oresent new challenges. And, there are many tasks. A caregiver wears many hats - nurse, activities director, cook, housekeeper, chauffer, pharmacist - just to name a few.

For caregivers in the mid-Hudson Valley, a FREE conference will be sponsored by the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and cooperative organizations, including the Saint Francis Hospital, Dutchess County Office for the Aging, the Manor at Woodside. Premier Home Health Care, and Wingate Healthcare.

Workshops will be offered at the conference to help cargivers find available resources and understand issues related to a caregiver's needs.

Some of the topics covered will be home care services, elder law and financial matters and pharmaceutical issues. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Albert Riddle, medical director at Wingate Healthcare.

The event is titled "Lean on Me Conference on Caregiving" - and will take place at the Best Western Inn and Conference Center on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie on November 8th from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The conference is FREE but registration is required by November 1st. For more information call 845-471-2655.

Nobody who's ever ventured north of NY City or Westchester County would ever imagine this! Only 70 miles away from the Big Apple is a beautiful and peaceful landscape. Manhattanites who come up here for a weekend drive usually fall in love with the Upstate NY countryside. Often I've heard it said - "I feel like I've died and gone to heaven". No wonder one Hudson Valley town was named Pleasant Valley!

Many stay long enough to check out the local real estate market - and eventually they become residents who commute to work in The City. The smart thing, for those who have jobs that are conducive enough is to figure out a way to telecommute. Some people transition to a 4 day work week. until they can eventually retire here. One of these people is novelist and New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda (former editor-in-chief for Simon and Schuster) - he and his wife gave up city life about 25 years ago and moved to Pleasant Valley. http://www.answers.com/topic/michael-korda

Korda writes about his experiences of becoming a country folk in his book titled: Country Matters - The Pleasures and Tribulations of Moving from a Big City to an Old Country Farmhouse. Entertaining, canny, and moving, Country Matters does for Dutchess County, New York, what Under the Tuscan Sun did for Tuscany. With his inimitable sense of humor and storytelling talent, New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda brings us this charming, hilarious, self-deprecating memoir of a city couple's new life in the country.

Although I have never met Michael Korda personally, after reading his book I feel like I know him.

I'm sure our paths have even probably crossed many times because we share the same Pleasant Valley zip-code. Maybe I've bumped into him at the Pleasant Valley post office, The A&P, or our local Dunkin Donuts!

I also moved here from a bigger city where traffic jams were the norm and smog alerts were reported daily. I fell in love with the Hudson Valley for probably the same reasons Michael Korda did. Fall is one of the obvious times to appreciate the Hudson Valley. As I drove to my office today, I was 1 1/2 miles from my Pleasant Valley home (just about 2 miles to the Town of Poughkeepsie border) when it occurred to me that I should stop and take some photos. I felt the need to share! This is what I see on my daily drives - and this is what others see when they come here and fall in love!

How about a taste of soup to help out local families? Mark your calendars for Soup-a-Bowl, the 1st Annual Poughkeepsie Celebration of Food and Art. This soup luncheon, served in handmade pottery bowls, will promote local restaurants and culinary talent while showcasing the work of local pottery artists. Fresh, homemade soup & hand-crafted pottery!

Following the model of a nationwide fundraiser, one local nonprofit will host Poughkepsie's first "Soup-A-Bowl" featuring a variety of soups concocted by local restaurants.

Some of the local restaurants cooking the soup for this event are Twisted Soul, The Artist's Palate, Soul Dog, Silver Spoon.

This inaugural event will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2008, 12:00 - 2:30 at the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum Pavilion on the banks of the Hudson River, north of Poughkeepsie's Waterfront near Waryas Park.

An event ticket includes a Bowl and 2 Soups.

Proceeds of the event will support Food Share, a program of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, providing low-income families with food each year through the City of Poughkeepsie Main Street Farmers' Market. Benefitting from this event will be local agencies like Grace Smith House, Dutchess Outreach and Hudson River Housing which run soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters.

For more information, call (845) 473-1415 or visit www.farmproject.org.

I was glad to be able to make it to the 2008 Italian Festival at the Poughkeepsie Italian Center on Friday night. The event ends on Sunday but with the threat of Hurricane Hanna I wanted to make certain to get there early in the weekend. For more information visit my previous post:

"Mangiamo" - Poughkeepsie Italian Festival

It was another well planned Italian Festival. To the planners and organizers- Gracia!

Here are some photos:

Italians cooking up some fun in the food tent!

Yummy!

The band was wonderful!

And the crowd was dancing!

My son is a college grad now, but I remain the "Hockey Mom" - because he can still take advantage of the opportunity to play on an adult league right here in the Hudson Valley. And, I hesitate to say - he still spends alot of time in that penalty box! But, I remember relocating to the area almost 10 years ago and appreciating the fact that youth hockey was alive and well here - and it still is!

Hudson Valley Residents - How would you like to have a FREE pair of skates?

Does your child have an interest in playing hockey or figure skating?

Are you a beginner adult hockey player looking for a league that will get you out on the ice and into the game?

Just want to skate for the fun of it???

....I've got just the place for you! As a Hockey Mom, I thought I'd provide some helpful community information about local ice-time opportunities! For more info call Call 845-454-5800 or visit online: www.midhudsonciviccenter.com

LEAGUES ARE FORMING!

The McCann Ice Arena in Poughkeepsie at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center features an indoor NHL-sized ice sheet and the facility will accommodate seating for over 600 spectators. This is also the home ice for Marist College. Be sure to visit the game schedule at:

http://www.marist.goalline.ca/team_schedule.php?team_id=13091

From open public skating to hockey leagues....

....For kids and adults - ice time is available at The McCann Ice Arena!

Open Skating:

12-2pm Mon., Tue., Fri. 7:15-9pm Fri. 2-4pm Sat. & Sun.

Rates:

Ice and inline hockey activities for are available for both youth and adult players too.

A low cost instruction to youth ice hockey for boys and girls ages 4-12. This program teaches the basic skills and fundamentals of hockey with the emphasis on FUN! Enrollment is continuous.

McCann Ice Arena also offers a recreation hockey program for both adults and teens that includes a combination of skill development and game time.

Freeskate Promotion
A program for skaters ages 3 through adult who have limited or no skating experience. Instructional period is a 25 minute group session. Program also includes four free passes to practice during a public session. At registration, you will be professionally fitted by McCann Ice Arena Staff for your FREE pair of figure or hockey skates. Skater must be present for the skate fitting. Class sizes will be limited.

The Advanced Freeskating Program curriculum includes the study of jumps, spins, moves in the field, technical turns, introduction of patch, creative and interpretive movements.

for more info call Call 845-454-5800 or visit online: www.midhudsonciviccenter.com