By DIANE VALDEN
ANCRAM—Programs for old and young residents of Ancram were highlighted in reports to the Town Board at its March 20 meeting.
New Kids Camp Director Taylor Price, a teacher for three and a half years, gave the board an outline of this year’s town Summer Camp Program for kids ages 5 to 12 years.
Applications for the camp, which runs for six weeks from Monday, July 7 through Friday, August 15, Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., are now being accepted until June 13.
Matt Damon is the camp’s assistant director and counselors will be “mostly returning staff,” Ms. Price said.
Camp will be limited to 60 youngsters with Ancram children given priority. After June 1, enrollment will be open to out-of-town youth. Only 10 campers total under the age of 6 years will be accepted. Camp is free for Ancram families and $75 per week per child for non-residents.
Camp activities will include sports, swimming lessons, games, crafts and field trips; thematic programs will feature nature, science and animals. Youngsters will not be permitted to use electronic devices at the camp or pool. Application/registration forms are available on the Town of Ancram website (www.ancramny.org) or can be picked up at the Ancram Town Hall, 1416 County Route 7. Applications and accompanying documents can be mailed to Town Hall or hand-delivered. The camp gratefully accepts monetary donations and asks anyone who has arts and craft supplies, games or other things the kids might enjoy to email Ms. Price at taylorprice126@gmail.com.
A handy camp information packet lets campers know what to bring to camp: a refillable water bottle, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray, a change of clothes, a swimsuit, towel and bag for wet items on swim/pool days.
What is still not nailed down is whether or not a pavilion will be built at Blass Memorial Field in time for campers to use this summer or whether the rental of a tent (as has been done in recent years) will be necessary. The town has received a $125,000 grant through the office of Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106th) for improvements to Blass Memorial Field and Park including, but not limited to, the construction of a pavilion for community use.
Up next at the meeting was new Columbia County Office for the Aging (OFA) Administrator Nina Benvenuto, who said it is a goal of her department to let people “know about us before they need us.”
Making an analogy between hamburgers and OFA offerings, she called her agency “the McDonald’s of aging services.” She said the agency does so much and if someone has a question they should “give us a call. If we don’t have the answer” they will connect the caller to someone who does.
Among the OFA programs/services mentioned were:
*Home delivered meals (often referred to as Meals on Wheels) to people 60 and older. She said the program provides 70,000 meals across Columbia County delivered by people who bring them right to the front door and hand them to the recipient “to make sure you’re okay.” The delivery people are volunteers and the meals are free to homebound people who live in Columbia County who need them
*Meals at seven senior sites around the county, are also available
*Caregiver support (Respite), an in-home program for caregivers who need a break. Light housekeeping, toileting, health aide services are provided
*Senior home repair fund will provide minor home repairs to seniors who have a low income and are low on resources
*HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program) provides help with filing Medicare forms, choosing an insurance carrier, appealing denials of claims and assistance with referrals
*Non-medical transportation provides rides to shopping facilities, banks, pharmacies and nursing homes for visits, county agencies and congregate meal site locations. Rides are provided to individuals who are 60 and over and reside in Columbia County. Rides are primarily provided to and from locations within Columbia County
*Animatronic pets (dogs and cats) that can detect motion; walker squawkers that can help people find their walkers
*Ellie Q, an Alexa-like device that reminds people to take their medications.
To find out more about these OFA programs and more visit https://sites.google.com/a/columbiacountyny.com/columbia-county-office-for-the-aging/services or call the OFA office at 518-828-4258, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
