VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 12
DECEMBER 1 , 2011
RiverWalk & Talk
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Edith—Reporter
Meet Our Residents… By Edith Fiebach & Robyn DeLasho Resident Spotlights 1
RW Happenings 2-3
Monthly Calendar 4-5
For Your Information 6
Shep Naches 6
Resident Submissions 6-7
From The Director 8
Jack
Meet Jack Charnet—he truly is a
Jack of all trades.
Jack was born in New York City
and grew up in Boro Park, Brooklyn.
He attended Brooklyn College in the
evening and worked in the dress mak-
ing business during the day.
During World War II, he was
drafted by Uncle Sam and he served
in the Army’s tank destroying divi-
sion. Once his superior shooting
skills caught the attention of his supe-
rior officers, he entered a specialized
training corp. After training, Jack
served in the Signal Corp and made
his way across the Pacific Ocean to
Japan. He remembers flying over the
USS Missouri as Japan was signing
the surrender documents. When Jack
was discharged he returned to Alice,
whom he married during the war, and
the dress making business. The cou-
ple soon welcomed two daughters,
Judy and Barbara, to their family.
After deciding to change careers,
Jack opened a 5 & 10 Store with his
brother. Ten years later, the store was
sold and Jack opened a carwash in
Rockland. He sold the business sev-
eral years later and went into the
vending machine business—mostly
juke boxes. When Jack was in his mid
50’s, he took and passed the civil ser-
vants exam. When he retired, he was
the Purchasing Manager for NYC.
Jack and Alice socialized with her
friend Nettie and her husband. The
couples enjoyed doing things to-
gether. When Alice passed away in
1978 and Nettie lost her husband in
1979, the two became close friends.
They traveled the world extensively
and remain close today. We are thrill
Jack has chosen RiverWalk as his
home and we wish him many happy
and healthy years with us.
Muriel Bilger, Nikki to her
friends, grew up three subway stops
from Coney Island. On hot days she
would go to the beach with her
friends and younger sister.
Nikki studied Library Science at
Brooklyn College. Unfortunately,
she did not attend her graduation
ceremony. She had a good reason –
she married her love, Nathan, a fu-
ture in account. Nikki worked in an
office before she became a Librarian
in a Junior High School. The couple
lived in Forest Hills for several years
before moving to Bellmore, NY.
Nikki, Nathan and their three chil-
dren, two daughters and one son,
often went to Vermont for family ski
vacations. Nikki was not a big trav-
eler but she has visited her son in
California and her daughters in Chi-
cago and New York.
Sadly, Nikki lost Nathan two years
ago. Several months ago she relo-
cated to RiverWalk where she has
been putting her Librarian skills to
good use by helping organize our
library.
We are thrilled she has joined our
community and hope she has many
happy years with us.
Nikki
VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 12 PAGE 2
Escape in Progress Sara In Jungle World
We can’t get enough animal
interaction. Representatives
from the Alley Pond Envi-
ronmental Center visited
RiverWalk with a collection
of animals for us to enjoy. We
learned a lot about the animals
from John and Harriet. We are
looking forward to their next
visit.
Esther & Anna
Elaine, Sylvia, Bertha
Abby & Sara On
the Monorail
Mrs. Pordy, Sara, & Abby
Regina, Caroline & Ruth with Pepper the Ferret
Betty with the
Snake
Roz with the snake wile Margot looks on
Rae with
Angie the
Dove Doris, Ben & Edith with Pepper the Ferret
Sylvia and the
gang on the
monorail
We are so lucky to live close the best zoo in the country. We had a wonderful time at The Bronx
Zoo, visiting Jungle World and riding the Monorail and seeing the elephants, deer, horses, red panda,
monkeys and jaguars.
RiverWalk Happenings...
R IVERWALK & TALK PAGE 3
We had a wonderful time at the Hebrew
Home’s 94th Anniversary Dinner held in New
York’s famed landmark hotel, The Wal-
dorf=Astoria. The Waldorf=Astoria is an impres-
sive location for a party. During the cocktail hour
we were served lamb chops, brisket, salmon, po-
tato croquets, tuna, red snapper and salmon cevi-
che, mini sliders, sushi, spring rolls and so much
more. Dinner started with asparagus skewered
Norwegian salmon over salad, followed by Cha-
teaubriand with the most wonderful truffled puree
of Yukon
gold pota-
toes and
vegetable
mélange.
For des-
sert we
had a re-
f r e s h i n g
sorbet ex-
travaganza ac-
cented with tart
& sweet winter
berries, cookies
and chocolate
covered straw-
berries. The ta-
bles in the
Grand Ballroom
were beautifully
decorated with
fresh flowers
and elegant
place settings. The event
planners worked very hard to
make the evening a success.
It is always fun to get
dressed up and go out for a
night on the town and a great
time was had by all
Beth’s Women’s Group
has been faithfully meeting
once a week for the last two
years to discuss topics important to the ladies.
In October they celebrated their second anni-
versary with a light lunch before a recent ses-
sion. The group meets at 2:00 on Tuesdays in
the Country Kitchen.
Jack & his beautiful granddaughters, Amy and Gail
Roz, Estelle & Betty
Ruth & Morris
Miriam
Thelma
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
4 10:00 Beading w/ Robyn
11:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:00 Bingo w/ Robyn
2:30 Movie
2:30 Concert at HHAR
4:00 Trivia w/ Robyn
8:15 Cabaret Night—Devorah Segal
& David Lahm
5 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
10:45 RW University w/ Val
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:15 Music, Music, Music w/
Len
3:00 Brainstorming w/ Doug
4:15 Trip Meeting w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
6 9:30 Knitting w/ Alice
10:30 News Currents w/ Robyn
11:45 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 New York Times w/ Beth
2:00 Women’s Group w/ Beth
3:30 Writing Workshop w/ Beth G
8:15 Evening Film
7 10:00 Movement w/ Inge
10:45 Shopping at LL Bean
11:00 Bible Study w/ Alisa
11:00 Fundamentals of Jazz w/ Rob
12:00 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 Canasta Gamers
3:00 Happy Hour w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
11 10:00 Card Making w/ Robyn
11:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:00 Bingo w/ Robyn
2:30 Movie
2:30 Concert at HHAR
4:00 Trivia w/ Robyn
8:15 Cabaret Night— Glen Miller
Presents
12 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
10:45 RW University w/ Val
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:00 Birthday Party w/ Jacque
3:00 Brainstorming w/ Doug
4:15 Afternoon Chat w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
13 9:30 Knitting w/ Alice
10:30 Train Show at NYBG
11:45 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 New York Times w/ Beth
2:00 Women’s Group w/ Beth
3:30 Writing Workshop w/ Beth G
8:15 Evening Film
14 10:00 Movement w/ Inge
10:00 SAR High School Visit
11:00 Bible Study w/ Alisa
11:00 Fundamentals of Jazz w/ Rob
12:00 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 Canasta Gamers
1:15 Hollywood Lectures w/ Mike
“The Best of Dean Martin”
3:30 News Currents w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
18 10:00 Beading w/ Robyn
11:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:00 Bingo w/ Robyn
2:30 Movie
2:30 Concert at HHAR
4:00 Trivia w/ Robyn
8:15 Cabaret Night—David Lahm
19 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
10:45 RW University w/ Val
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:15 The Bronx Zoo A Visual
Tour w/ Robyn
3:00 Brainstorming w/ Doug
4:15 Afternoon Chat w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
20 9:30 Knitting w/ Alice
10:30 News Currents w/ Robyn
11:45 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 New York Times w/ Beth
2:00 Women’s Group w/ Beth
3:30 Writing Workshop w/ Beth G
8:15 Evening Film
Erev Hanukkah
21 10:00 Movement w/ Inge
11:00 Bible Study w/ Alisa
11:00 Fundamentals of Jazz w/ Rob
11:15 Chanukah Lunch at the
Riverdale Y
12:00 Exercise w/ Elena
3:00 Happy Hour w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
First Day of Hanukkah
25 11:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
12:00 Trivia w/ Beth
1:00 Bingo w/ Beth
2:30 Movie
2:30 Concert at HHAR
8:15 Cabaret Night— Lee Perry
Gross Presents the Klezmer Group
26 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
10:45 RW University w/ Val
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
12:00 Lunch at Ginger Grill
1:00 Memoir and Poetry Work-
shop w/ Maxine Silverman
3:00 Brainstorming w/ Doug
4:15 Afternoon Chat w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
27 9:30 Knitting w/ Alice
10:30 News Currents w/ Robyn
11:45 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 New York Times w/ Beth
2:00 Women’s Group w/ Beth
3:30 Writing Workshop w/ Beth G
8:15 Holiday Concert w/ Mark
Levy
28 10:00 Movement w/ Inge
11:00 Bible Study w/ Alisa
11:00 Fundamentals of Jazz w/ Rob
12:00 Exercise w/ Elena
1:00 Canasta Gamers
1:15 Hollywood Lectures w/ Mike
“Great Patriotic Performers”
3:00 Happy Hour w/ Robyn
8:15 Evening Film
VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 12 PAGE 4
Pool Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 9:00—10:30 am
Water Fitness: Tues. & Thurs. 1:30 pm
Music Concerts, Wednesday, 2:30—HHAR
HHAR Copper Enameling: Tues. Evenings
Salon Hours: Thurs. & Fri. 8:30—3:30
*Calendar Subject to Change*
Thursday Friday Saturday
1 10:00 Intergenerational Program w/
Jeannie & David
11:15 Shopping at Harmon’s
1:00 Horticulture w/ Cathy
2:30 Belly Dance 4 Fitness w/ Shania
3:45 Acting Class w/ Alison
4:00 Parsha of the Week
8:15 Evening Film
2 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
9:30 Conversations w/ Bobbi
11:00 Yiddish Songs & Stories w/
Edith
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
2:30 RW University w/ Prof. Peritz
4:30 Kabbalat Shabbat w/ Rabbi
Light Candle: 4:11
3 Shabbat Shalom
9:00 Morning Services
12:00 Koffee Klatch w/ Beth
12:45 Famous American Trials w/
Beth
1:45 Men’s Group
3:00 Bridge Players Meet
8:15 Evening Film
Ends: 5:14
8 10:00 Intergenerational Program w/
Jeannie & David
10:30 Museum of Moving Image
1:00 Horticulture w/ Cathy
3:00 Flamenco Fitness w/ Paco
4:00 Acting Class w/ Alison
4:00 Parsha of the Week
8:15 Evening Film
9 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
9:30 Conversations w/ Bobbi
11:00 Yiddish Songs & Stories w/
Edith
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
2:30 RW University w/ Prof. Peritz
4:30 Kabbalat Shabbat w/ Rabbi
Light Candle: 4:10
10 Shabbat Shalom
9:00 Morning Services
12:00 Koffee Klatch w/ Beth
12:45 Famous American Trials w/
Beth
1:45 Men’s Group
3:00 Bridge Players Meet
8:15 Evening Film
Ends: 5:13
15 10:00 Intergenerational Program
w/ Jeannie & David
11:30 Jumbo Cross Word w/ Robyn
1:00 Horticulture w/ Cathy
2:30 Belly Dance 4 Fitness w/ Shania
3:30
3:45 Acting Class w/ Alison
4:00 Parsha of the Week
8:15 Evening Film
16 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
9:30 Conversations w/ Bobbi
11:00 Greenacres Visit
11:00 Yiddish Songs & Stories
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
1:00 Violin Concert w/ Albert
2:30 RW University w/ Prof. Peritz
4:30 Kabbalat Shabbat w/ Rabbi
Light Candle: 4:11
17 Shabbat Shalom
9:00 Morning Services
12:00 Koffee Klatch w/ Beth
12:45 Famous American Trials w/
Beth
1:45 Men’s Group
3:00 Bridge Players Meet
8:15 Evening Film
Ends: 515
22 10:00 Intergenerational Program
w/ Jeannie & David
11:30 Trip to Hudson River
Museum
1:00 Horticulture w/ Cathy
3:00 Flamenco Fitness w/ Paco
4:00 Acting Class w/ Alison
4:00 Parsha of the Week
8:15 Evening Film
23 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
9:30 Conversations w/ Bobbi
11:00 Yiddish Songs & Stories w/
Edith
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
2:30 RW University w/ Prof. Peritz
4:30 Kabbalat Shabbat w/ Rabbi
Light Candle: 4:14
24 Shabbat Shalom
9:00 Morning Services
12:00 Koffee Klatch w/ Beth
12:45 Famous American Trials w/
Beth
1:45 Men’s Group
3:00 Bridge Players Meet
8:15 Evening Film
Ends: 5:18
29 10:00 Singing w/ Jeannie & David
1:00 Horticulture w/ Cathy
2:30 Belly Dance 4 Fitness w/ Shania
3:45 Acting Class w/ Alison
4:00 Parsha of the Week
5:00 New Year’s Dinner
8:15 Evening Film
30 9:30 Tai Chi w/ Domingo
9:30 Conversations w/ Bobbi
11:00 Yiddish Songs & Stories w/
Edith
12:00 Get Fit w/ Eva
2:30 RW University w/ Prof. Peritz
4:30 Kabbalat Shabbat w/ Rabbi
Light Candle: 4:19
31 Shabbat Shalom
9:00 Morning Services
12:00 Koffee Klatch w/ Beth
12:45 Famous American Trials 1:45
Men’s Group
3:00 Bridge Players Meet
8:15 Evening Film
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Ends: 5:23
R IVERWALK & TALK PAGE 5
5961 Palisade Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
718.581.1298 (Concierge)
718.581.1003 (Fax)
718.581.1694 (Activities)
718.581.1548 (Hair Salon)
Happy Birthday:
Frances Weisgrau - 12/2
Jerome Levine - 12/6
Ruth Broad - 12/8
Ruth Deckelbaum - 12/9
Frieda Kuflik - 12/11
Yetta Colin - 12/14
Selma Lerner - 12/14
Catherine O'Sullivan -
12/18
Kathleen Smart - 12/24
Laura Caress - 12/27
Abe Kalkstein - 12/29
"All that we are is the
result of what we have
thought." ~ Buddha
VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 12 PAGE 6
Information about the Month of December
December is the month to
bring awareness to colorectal
cancer, safe toys and gifts and
universal human rights. It is the
month to celebrate BINGO,
calendars and American made
products. December is also the
month to learn a foreign lan-
December’s birthstone is tur-
quoise and the flower is The
Narcissus.
December means “tenth”
from the Latin decem. It was
the tenth month in the Roman
calendar.
guage and read a new book.
But most im-
portantly it is
the month that
reminds us to
have stress free
holidays.
Resident Submissions & Shep Naches
Written by Shel Silverstein,
Submitted by Betty Joblove
Every Thing On It
I asked for a hot dog
With everything on it,
And that was my big mistake,
‘Cause it came with a parrot,
A bee in a bonnet,
A wristwatch, a wrench, and a
rake.
It came with a goldfish,
A flag, and a fiddle,
A frog, and a front porch
swing,
And a mouse in a mask –
That’s the last time I ask
For a hot dog with everything.
Submitted by Anne Leftoff
Among the place I worked
in during my working career
was public school IS 148
where the student population
was 99.44% black. It was in
the southeast Bronx.
One of the students had a
crush on the principal’s secre-
tary and he found every possi-
ble excuse to go to the general
office and she did nothing to
discourage him. She told him
that he had beautiful diction
and that he couldn’t have
been born in the neighbor-
hood. He said he wasn’t and
that he was born in Jamaica.
“I knew it.” the secretary said,
“What part of Jamaica?”
“165th Street and Hillside
Avenue,” he answered.
Submitted by Edith Fiebach
Trick or Treat
Thanks to Dru Epps we
were treated to a dip into her
pumpkin for our treats. Hope
you all had a happy Hallow-
een. Thanks again to a gra-
cious, fun-loving lady.
I was four years old living
with my mother and father in
a small apartment in Flatbush.
My baby brother arrived and
we needed more space. My
parents found a lovely two
family house on a quiet street
nearby. One afternoon my
mother and I walked to it,
wheeling the carriage. As we
got closer to our new apart-
ment we passed a small group of
little girls, about my age, sitting
on a near by stoop. We stopped,
mother introduced us and the
girls told me their names. There
were two other Edies!!! Imagine
three Edies in a small neighbor-
hood group!!! Edie S, Edie T
and me! And guess what? Here
at RiverWalk there are 3
Ediths—Edith Tint, Edith San-
chis and me.
Shep Naches
Estelle Cohen’s granddaughter,
Sara Rubin, took a leave of ab-
sence from her job as Director of
Communication for Assembly-
woman Giffen to do an intern-
ship with the Westchester Dis-
trict Attorney.
Roz Schwartz’s grandson,
Jason Hochman, has joined a
New Yok Think Tank.
Elaine Weintraub’s grandson
Eric Weintraub, will be studying
online at Southern New Hamp-
shire University’s MBA pro-
gram in Social Media.
Sara Dolsky’s, grandson Ste-
ven Dolsky, celebrated his Bar
Mitzvah in November.
R IVERWALK & TALK PAGE 7
Submitted by Margot Safirstein
As I’ve aged, I’ve become
kinder to myself, and less criti-
cal of myself. I’ve become my
own friend.
I have seen too many dear
friends leave this world too
soon; before they understood
the great freedom that comes
with aging.
Whose business is it if I
choose to read or play on the
computer until 4 AM or sleep
until noon? I will dance with
myself to those wonderful tunes
of the 60’s & 70’s and if I, at
the same time, wish to weep
over a lost love… I will.
I will walk the beach in a
swim suit that is stretched over
a bulging body, and will dive
into the waves with abandon if I
choose to, despite the pitying
glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forget-
ful. But there again, some of
life is just as well forgotten.
And I eventually remember the
important things.
Sure, over the years my heart
has been broken. How can your
heart not break when you loose
a loved one, or when a child
suffers, or even when some-
body’s beloved pet gets hit by a
car? But broken hearts are what
give us strength and under-
standing and compassion. A
heart never broken is pristine
and sterile and will never know
the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived
long enough to have my hair
turning gray, and to have my
youthful laughs be forever
etched into deep grooves on
my face.
So many have never laughed,
and so many have died before
their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier
to be positive. You care less
about what other people think.
I don’t question myself any-
more… I’ve earned the right to
be wrong.
So, to answer your questions,
I like being old. It has set me
free. I like the person I have
become. I am not going to live
forever, but while I am still
here, I will not waste time la-
menting what could have been,
or worrying about what will
be. And I shall eat dessert
every single day (if I feel like
it).
Submitted by Elaine Weintraub
The Perks of Being over 40 –
1. Kidnappers are not very
interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you
are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run
into a burning building.
4. People call at 9 pm and
ask, “Did I wake you?”
5. People no longer view you
as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to
learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won’t
wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4
pm.
9. You can live without sex
but not without glasses.
10. You enjoy hearing about
other people’s operations.
11. You get into heated argu-
ments about pension plans
12. You have a party and the
neighbors don’t even realize
it.
13. You no longer think of
speed limits as a challenge.
14. You quit trying to hold
your stomach in, no matter
who walks into the room.
15. You sing along with eleva-
tor music.
16. Your eyes won’t get much
worse.
17. Your health plan is begin-
ning to pay off.
18. Your joints are more accu-
rate meteorologists than the
national weather service.
19. Your secrets are safe with
you friends because they can’t
remember then either.
20. Your supply of brain cells
is finally down to manageable
size.
Submitted by Mollie Super
Question: What kind of coat
does not have buttons, snaps,
zippers or pockets?
Answer: A coat of paint.
LL Garden Market
Sun—Fri. 9—3
Closed 11—12
and Holidays
If you would like an electronic copy of the Newsletter,
please email [email protected].
Created by Robyn DeLasho, Activity Supervisor—RiverWalk.
718.581.1694
Educational Programs:
Current Events, Book Club, RiverWalk University for
lifelong learning, Museum Art Lectures, Discussion
groups to share experiences, Horticulture classes, Fa-
mous American Trials, Judaic Museum Presentations
and Art Lectures, Acting and Computer Classes
Wellness Programs:
Fitness center, varied lively fitness workouts: cardio,
Tai Chi, Belly Dance, Flamenco Muscle Memory, etc.
Cultural Programs:
Kabbalat Shabbat to welcome the Sabbath, Parsha of
the Week, Bible Study, Yiddish Songs and Stories,
Cabaret Series: Live music concerts
Just for the Fun:
Bingo, Trivia, Word Games, Scrabble, Bocce, Lawn
Darts, Lawn Dice, Shuffle Board, Monthly Birthday
Parties, Trips to various events, Arts & Crafts: tile
work, beads, copper enameling, knitting, crocheting,
painting and card making
RiverWalk Program Offerings
A Note From The Director Dear Residents,
As I turn my calendar to the last page, I can’t
help wonder where 2011 went!!! Time does fly
when you are having fun. We had a busy year
filled with trips, lectures and special events.
We hope next year is even busier. Remember
to check our monthly trip schedule and sign up
as our trips fill up quickly.
I am sure you will have a great time at The
Winter Train show at the Botanical Garden.
They out do themselves each year setting up
the trains and floral display.
On behalf of the entire staff of RiverWalk, I
wish you and your family a very Happy Cha-
nukah and a healthy New Year!
Regina Wallace Director
Coming Soon Below are just a few items RiverWalk will be offer-
ing you:
• Shopping trips to Ridge Hill
• Afternoon movie trips
• RiverWalk University with Michael Gaskin and
Edith Glass
• Lunch at Long Yard
• Monthly birthday parties
• And much more—weather permitting
Word Search—Caribbean Islands
The following words can be found below:
puertorico stthomas trinidad nevis stbarts
jamaica stjohn josvandyke antiguq cuba
grandcayman tobago dominica tortola stlucia
anguilla stcroix montserrat barbados anegada