Meals on Wheels- Programs and Services of Rockland, Inc.

Thorpe Senior Activity Center

Newsletter

November/December 2018

Our Forty-third Anniversary Year

October 1975 - 2018Thorpe Senior Center

“Where everybody knows your name”

Dominican Convent

175 Route 340

Sparkill, New York 10976

Calling all seniors …

We are looking for you

We invite you and those you know to be part of Thorpe Center. Invite a friend, tell a neighbor that they

will find a warm welcome.

Like to play cards, scrabble, take part in history, literature, exercise, yoga, art or ceramic classes?

Then we are the place for you.

Like company when you dine? Then we are the place for you. Delicious fare, transportation too. Come

join the fun. Call 359-5801 or 359-4058. We’re waiting for you!Sister Maureen

Meals on Wheels- Programs and Services of R.C. Inc.

Published by Thorpe Senior Center, Sparkill Meals on Wheels – Programs and Services

Dominican Convent , 175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976 845-624-6325(845) 359-5801 OR (845) 359-4058 www.mowrockland.orgTransportation provided

Vol. 8 – November 2018

Birthstone ~ Turquoise

Flower ~ Chrysanthemum

December 2018

Birthstone – Topaz

Flower - Narcissus

“Life is not measured by

the number of breathes we

take, but by the moments

that take our breathe away”

Thorpe Senior Activity Center NewsletterWhere people come together …

My “Romance” with Nature Sister Jude Miriam

Over the years I’ve had a “romance” with nature. I find for me, nature sees me

through difficult times and continually makes me aware of the beauty all around

me. I marvel at the sky and watch the different phases of the moon, each one

speaking to me of the vastness of the heavens. Recently, I saw the most

breathtaking sunset. It was a day that started overcast and chilly and as evening

time came the sun began to make its presence known. In a few short minutes, the

sky went from gray to magnificent hues of pink, lavender and yellow. The sunset

was so brilliant that the trees took on an orange glow. People stopped to look at the

magnificence of the sky. I was so taken by the scene that I stood still and simply

inhaled it. There was a reminder to me that although things do not always look as I

think they should look, eventually there will be an opportunity to see brightness I

was not aware there was.

Have you ever looked at a tree and seen its beauty? The oak tree’s leaves seem

to wrap themselves around the branches attempting to protect next spring’s buds.

Snow seems to be a blanket over the tree, keeping life alive but hidden. The words

of William Carlos Williams come to mind. “Thus having prepared their buds

against a sure winter, the wise trees stand sleeping in the cold.”

Page 2

ACTIVITIES AT THORPE

In these uncertain times …When you’d like to dine out …

HISTORY WITH SISTER MAUREEN -

Mondays at 10:00

LITERATURE GROUPWednesdays at 10:15

CERAMICS – Mondays 12:45

EXERCISE – Fridays 10:00

CARDS - SCRABBLE – BINGO –WALKING CLUB

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING(Check calendar for dates and times)

SHOPPING - Shop Rite Northvale

Mondays 1 PM

Orangeburg -Fridays 1 PM

- check calendar

Thorpe Senior Activity

Center is waiting for you !

Lunch every day …Great food …

Warm conversation … New Friends

For a menu and to make a reservationCall 359-4058 or 359-5801

Transportation provided

Come to the place where everybody knows your name!

Roselle White Thanks

Program Coordinator

Three Cheers go out to Francine,

our activities coordinator and Neil

our transporter for a beautiful day at

the Brownstone, in Patterson, New

Jersey. It is a beautiful Mansion

decorated in Holiday fashion. For our

pleasure they had a boutique table of

various items to purchase. We were

given two tickets to receive drinks of

our choice and a home style meal

with plenty to eat. The musicians

kept us up on the dance floor and the

comedian kept you laughing. Those

of us who missed this treat, hopefully

will be able to go next year. Sister

Maureen was needed to critique the

comedian for the extra treat.

MOW presents Giddy

Pat O’Donnell

About every month Giddy pays

Thorpe Center a visit. She is so

much fun. As she teaches us about

food and nutrition, she creates

games for us to participate in. You

learn and have fun at the same

time. I’m a “game addict”, so I

look forward to Giddy’s visits.

She’s extremely good at her job

and that makes for a job well done!

Page 3

TRADITIONS By Albert Piscitelli

Struffoli

My family doesn’t have many traditions.

We make baskets for Easter, dressed the

children in costumes and give out candy for

Halloween, and raise the flag on national

holidays but these were more social events

than anything else. All our traditions centered

around Christmas.

My wife was a great cook but an even

better baker. On the Saturday before

Christmas we would make “struffoli.” These

are small fried dough balls covered in honey.

My Catherine would sift 6 cups of flour, mix

with12 eggs, 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla

extract and salt to taste, roll into a loaf until

silky smooth and let it rest for about an hour.

At about 1 o’clock whoever was around

would come over to make the honey balls.

Some would roll out a piece of the dough

into string about one half inch in diameter,

others would cut the strings into one half

inch balls, while I fried them in hot oil. All

the time everyone was gabbing, joking and

having a good time. The fried balls were then

put in a paper bag to soak up the excess oil.

Sugar was dissolved in honey and mixed

with sliced almonds and candied fruit and the

dough balls. The struffoli were placed in pie

plates and distributed to all. When we were

about 3/4 of the way done cutting and frying,

my son-in-law filled up brandy glasses of

Harvey’s crème sherry for all, young and

old.

This became a tradition within a tradition.

I can’t imagine how a British practice

became part of an Italian tradition but it

is good Globalization at its best.

Christmas Eve Dinner

The greatest tradition in our family is the

Christmas Eve fish dinner. I know people

talk about the seven fish’s tradition but

the Piscitelli family just like fish. (Well!

maybe most of us) As long as I can

remember we had a large dinner on

Christmas Eve that contained fish and no

meat and plenty of wine. Even during the

depression when we had no money we

would go to my well- to -do aunt for this

feast. Now I make 40 to 50 pounds of

different species of fish. Four salads—

Baccala (Dried cod fish that is softened),

Scungili (conch), Pulpa (octopus) and

whiting. We make a tomato sauce with

stuffed squid that is poured over pasta.

We make shrimp three different

ways—Scampi, breaded and fried, and

the large shrimp are stuffed and baked.

We also bread and fry scallops and the

sweetest of all fish, smelts. We also have

stuffed clams and stuffed mussels. This

year we will be about 25 people around

the table, three of whom are Jewish. For

them, we make a white fish such as

flounder. Naturally the wine really flows.

After stuffing ourselves we all happily

sing the “Twelve Days of Christmas”

song and I being the patriarch and have

the best voice (that gives you an idea

how bad we sound) gets to sing “And a

partridge in a pear tree.” Wine makes

everything enjoyable.

Page 4

We remember those who are ill

and in need of cheery thoughts....

Carmen Abreu, Marion O’Leary,

Jimmy Grennan, Judy Peaks, Diane

McCarthy, Cecilia Harlan, Kevin

Lixfield, Timothy Lixfield, Rabbi Paula

Mack-Drill, Doris Blauvelt, Lilliana

Lopez, Ellie Robertson, Mary Bradshaw,

Christopher Bradshaw, Patricia Lawler,

Anne Lenzinger,, Gerry Hershkob,

James Buckley, Mary Hastings, Lisa

Stevens, Harold Schulman,, Jeannette

Celli, Susan Celli, Billy Keenan, Mary

Stella, Ray Smith, Dot Morris, Nicole &

Darren Beamon, Anita Sonia Perez,

Jeanette Vasquez, Ann Wilhelm Seeger,

Cathy Nachman, and Sisters of St.

Dominic (Blauvelt) and Sparkill

Dominican Sisters in need of healing.

We extend our sympathy to the family

and friends of Sylvia Friedman who

died this past month. Sylvia was a long

time member, whose quiet, patient ways

touched everyone she met. She is

missed.

Happy November Birthdays

11-2 – Sister Jude Miriam

11-2 – Robert Burr

11-12 Jimmy Grennan

Christmas DayAl Piscitelli

Our traditions continue beyond Christmas Eve. On Christmas day most of my family gathers for a big dinner and the sharing and opening of gifts. Everyone gets in the holiday spirit. Wine and beer and other libations flow generously and there is joy in the Piscitelli family.

“New Year’s EveNew Year’s is a sedate holiday for

most of my family. The only tradition is the custom of making Zeppoli. My Catherine would make yeast dough that is enriched with eggs beaten into the dough. This makes the batter semi loose. A handful of dough is picked up with the thumb and the three larger fingers and dropped in hot oil left over from making the struffoli the week before. The browned zeppoli are placed in a bowl and drizzled with honey or powdered sugar. No wine is drunk with them (as far as I know) but none the less they are absolutely delicious.

Page 5

A Trip to Habitat for Humanity Store

Pat O’Donnell

Thanks to Carolyn for telling me about

the store, It was a blessing. Livingston St

was closed where we needed to go,

Carolyn asked me to show her another

way to go to Habitat in Westwood, N.J.

So, we decided we’d go on our 2nd trip

before Thanksgiving to check out

Christmas decorations. Previously, I

passed up 2 Oak Rocking Chairs priced at

only $20 each.

Today’s visit on Nov 14th brought quite

a better surprise. I found a White Glider

Rocker with multicolor pastel cushions at

an unbelievable price of $10. I made sure

I was leaving with that chair. And I have

Carolyn to thank for telling me about this

wonderful and enjoyable store. It’s filled

to capacity with a lot of furniture lots of

kitchen items, chandeliers and tile. Items

are priced along with the day it arrived at

the store. Week by week, the price is

reduced. I even found a small black round

table and 4 wrought iron chairs for

…..only $30. I hope to go back and I

hope it is still there. As a brand new

grandma, I will put my new rocker-glider

to the joy of rocking my grandson,

Matthew!

December Birthdays

12 –1 - Nora Buckley

12 – 4 – Sheila Lilly

12 - 8 Dianne Cozzi

12 – 8 Francine Fevola

12 – 9 Lottie Crawford

12 – 13 Helen Schwarzler

12 -16 Lucille Hanlon

12 – 24 Rosemarie Mills

12 – 25 Donna Stephens

12 – 28 Teofila Ponsades

12 – 30 Carmen Abreu

December Activities

Donna Stephens

The month of December was

very busy It started off with our

Holiday Boutique. Three days

of Christmas shopping, Raffles

and fun. We had our Chanukah

party. Food was delicious.

We celebrated the December

birthdays and it was the most

members 11 people. Fun Time

had by all. We ended the month

with our New Year luncheon.

Happy and Healthy New Year to

all!!

Holiday Boutique – 2018

The annual holiday boutique

was Dec. 5,6,7. A special thanks

goes to those seniors who

volunteered to bake delicious hoe

cooked cookies, cupcakes, and loaf

cakes. We receive so many

compliments on the tasty fare

offered.

A great deal of work is done

behind the scene, the unnamed

workers, who continually pitch-in

to help are to be congratulated on a

job well done!.

SPECIAL THANKS go to

“our” sisters who support the fair

by taking raffle tickets and doing

their Holiday Shopping with us.

Winners of the Gift Cards/Stamps

raffle were 25 in number – Donna

Stephens, Eileen Fortis, Sister

Lorraine LaRocca, Mary Ryan,

Sister Stephen Gerard, Sister Anne

Foley, Sister Elizabeth David, Sister

Mary Brinn, Harriet Mezzasalma,

Sister Nancy Richter, Sister

Dorothy Farley, Shirley Swann,

Stella Molfetas, Mickie Parisi, Pat

Durando, Sister Annmarie Fischer,

Sister Mary Fleming, Jean

LaBosco, Bella Whalen, Sister

Maureen Bradshaw, and Sister

Patricia McLoughlin

The Baskets of Cheer were won by

Sister Elizabeth David, and Sister

Dorothy Farley.

the 50/50 winners were Sister

Annette Bate, Sister Mary Casey

and Sister Marie Peter.. Each

winner received $88.00.

As the saying goes, “You have

to be in it to win it”. We are

sincerely grateful for all “that were

in it” Thorpe Senior Activity

Center is the real winner, $1,120,.

supported by “Family and

Friends”.

Gratefully,

Sisters Maureen, Jude, Marie,

and Eileen and the staff at Thorpe

Senior Activity Center.

Christmas Party

Yvonne Beaman

In December Randy Accardi

came to our Christmas Party.

Randy sings, dances and twirls

with his cane. He enjoys coming

to the center and entertaining us.

He sings popular songs that we

all know and can sing along with

him. He is an entertainer “par

excellence”.

Page 6

History Lesson

Roselle White

God bless Sister Jude, for her

history lesson on celebration of

Hanukah.

Some of us concentrating only

on our own religion, neglect to take

into consideration that America

celebrates many religious holidays

at various times, or a few weeks

apart.

We have one Almighty

regardless of what we call him or

her. Happy Holiday to all, no

matter when you celebrate it, just

celebrate!

January Birthdays

1 -2 Bessie Anderson

1 - 3 Diane McCarthy

1 - 9 Dave Plump

1 -11 Ellen Bondulich

1- 12 Teresa Lynch

1-18 Roselle White

Special Thanks to the following who,

month after month help to make Thorpe “a

second home – where everybody knows

your name”.

The Decorating Committee, Carolyn

McErlean, Pat O’Donnell, and all the

members that decorated the center for each

celebration in such colorful, good taste.

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New

Year’s were outstanding.

The Keeping in Touch Committee,

with Sister Eileen Richard and Yvonne

Beamon for sending get well cards, and

thinking of you to missing members.

The Serving committee, Mickie Parisi,

Bessie Anderson, Stella Molfetas, Lucy

Bosco, Marie Lucas, Sheila Lilly and

Harriet Mezzasalma, John Buckley who

helps out without having to be asked as does

Neil, our dependable van driver.

The Newsletter Committee Typist –

Nora Buckley for pulling it all together.

To the Officers- Mickie Parisi, Marion

O’Leary, Evelyn D’Angelo and Pat

O’Donnell for all their help.

Our very faithful volunteers Sister

Patricia McLoughlin, Sister Diane Kane,

Sister Eileen Richard, Sister Peggy

Scarano, Mark Litwak, and John

Buckley.

Very special thanks go to Sister Marie

Peter , who is an extraordinary

volunteer- nothing seems too much for

her, always with a smile and helping hand

– no task is too big or too small to do,

Sister just does it.

Page 7

Thorpe Senior Activity Center’s

Thanksgiving Party

Pat O’Donnell

Since Turkey day is early

this year we celebrated 1 week

before. It became special for

the main reason of Rabbi Paula

Drill joining us. That made it a

happy day to see her again. We

also had to have this wonderful

celebration without Sister

Maureen which made the day

not the same. We all send our

thoughts and prayers to her as

she begins to heal after surgery

and to tell her how much she is

missed.

Sister Jude was so special

and thoughtful to arrange with

Casa Mia Manor House to

prepare our Turkey Dinner!

Thank you, Ralph, the turkey

was delicious.

Thank you to Sister Jude,

Sister Marie, Sister Eileen,

Sister Pat and Francine for

working extra hard to help out

with all the work with Sister Maureen being out recovering. You all are so very much appreciated.

NEW MEMBERS

For information

PLEASE CALL

845-359-4058

Thorpe Senior

Activity Center

Page 8

Surprise!! Mickie Parisi

Well, for all of you who

decided to stay home New Year’s

Eve Day. You missed a great

treat!

We had Chinese food. Great

spare ribs and egg rolls. They

were outstanding!!

Many thanks to Sister

Maureen, Sister Marie, Sister

Jude and Sister Eileen. We had a

great lunch to send out 2018.

Happy and healthy New Year to

all of you.

Ceramics Etta Murphy

I wanted to write about our

ceramics class to say what a

wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

We all enjoy and look forward to

one another’s creativity as each piece

goes from start to finish.

When complete and the artist spots

their piece there are oohs and aahs

and smiles all around.

The best thing about our happy

group is the comraderies we share. A

great group of people who enjoy each

other’s company.

Sister Jude completes our group

and is a superb teacher. We always

look forward to Monday’s.

THORPE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

STAFF

Sr. Maureen Bradshaw, Manager

Francine Fevola, Program Coordinator

Sr. Jude Miriam,Community Service Coordinator

Michael Gorkowski, Custodian

Neil Di Lorenzo, our Driver

OFFICERS 2016 - 2018

Co-Presidents - Mickie Parisi and Marion O’Leary

Co - Secretaries - Patricia O'Donnell

Co-Treasurer -Evelyn D’Angelo

SPECIAL ADVISOR: , Nora Buckley This lovely lady

will work with the Officers and Staff

Page 9

Christmas Concert

Pat O’Donnell

Aquinas High.School. from the Bronx

came to Thorpe to put on their yearly

concert.

They have a string orchestra, a girl’s

chorus, a boy’s chorus, a dance group

and a play acting group.

Every year we enjoy the pleasure of

seeing and hearing these delightful and

talented young people who are truly

gifted. We are so grateful for that special

performance. We look forward to them

returning every year!Alert and Alive - Pat O’Donnell

Every now and then we have

the pleasure of enjoying a special

presentation by persons in various

areas of interest.

Teresa Grimm returned on

12/17, her 2nd visit to Thorpe

Center. Teresa is an excellent

chef. We get to sample whatever

she whips up….and let me tell

you it is wonderful. What a

treat. And as a bonus, we learn a

lot. We look forward to her

return visit. Well done, Teresa!