Plan to name 161st Street for Jeter after Cooperstown nod
The Benefits of Art
for Older New Yorkers
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR JANUARY 17-23, 2020 43
This month not only marks the start
of a new decade but also International
Creativity Month. For older adults,
the benefits of engaging in art are
essential to healthy aging. Through
free and stimulating programming,
the New York City Department for
the Aging (DFTA) strives to make art
accessible to older New Yorkers.
Art programs offered at hundreds
of senior centers throughout the
five boroughs include classes
on painting, pottery, poetry and
writing workshops, and more.
Many older New Yorkers find that
art becomes a celebrated passion in
their silver years.
Researchers from the National
Institute on Aging believe that flexing
the creative muscles as we age can
lead to overall improved health and
well-being. Through participating
in group art classes, senior center
members can avoid social isolation
and increase their quality-of-life.
SU-CASA is a community arts
engagement program that pairs artists
with senior centers and naturally
occurring retirement communities,
often called NORCS. Last year,
through a partnership with the New
York City Department of Cultural
Affairs, over 7,000 older adults
participated in SU-CASA programs
at 229 different locations. SU-CASA
artists are selected each year and
bring unique and individual artistic
expression to their programs.
Art can also be essential to older
adults with Alzheimer’s disease or
other dementias. Through Social
Adult Day Services (SADS) that
serve functionally impaired older
adults, group art classes are often built
into programming, which engages
participants to help maintain and
enhance their socialization skills.
As we continue to explore the
connection between healthy
aging and art, we encourage older
New Yorkers to let their creative
juices flow, especially during
International Creativity Month.
There is no better place to celebrate
creativity than in New York City, a
mecca of art and culture.
To find free art classes offered at
your local senior center, visit our
website at www.nyc.gov/aging or call
311 and ask for “senior centers.”
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
is Commissioner of the New York
City Department for the Aging.
Prior to joining the de Blasio
administration, she served in
executive leadership roles with
AARP, EmblemHealth and
other organizations. She also
served as New York’s first Latina
Secretary of State.
BY ALEX MITCHELL
ANNY
Derek Jeter — where fantasy
becomes reality.
As the shortstop of a generation
awaits a great honor
known only to few ballplayers,
there is another in the works
for Derek Jeter — this one next
to his old workplace in the
south Bronx.
Ahead of his anticipated
Hall of Fame induction, two
Bronx councilwomen are introducing
legislation to rename
East 161st Street, located
right outside of Yankee Stadium
and then some eastbound
blocks, as ‘Jeter Street.’
Jeter Street will also intersect
with River Avenue,
which was renamed to ‘Rivera
Avenue’ upon the unanimous
Cooperstown induction
of fellow colleague, Mariano
Rivera.
Depending on the fi nal vote
tallies next week on Tuesday,
January 21, it is possible for
that intersection to become
the world’s only to feature two
unanimous MLB Hall of Fame
baseball players.
At the time, Rivera’s milestone
went less than appreciated
in the Bronx, according
to the 161st Street BID director,
Cary Goodman.
“When Rivera Avenue happened
we did a toast to Mo
with apple juice underneath
the street sign and that was
the only thing to really happen
in the Bronx for him,” Goodman
explained.
Learning from that isolated
celebration, Goodman wants
to use Jeter Street to bring the
old captain back into his old
stomping ground and interact
with the Bronx community.
He threw around the ideas
of having Mr. 3,000 visit nearby
Lou Gehrig Academy or some
senior centers in Concourse
Village around the time of the
street’s unveiling — which
does not have a determined
date as of yet.
“We want Jeter to celebrate
the honor here in the Bronx,
where he spent his entire playing
career,” Goodman said.
“It’s pretty impossible to
hate ‘Derek Jeter,’ he continued,
calling this news additional
‘bad karma’ to Red Sox
and Astros fans.
While on the topic of news
and facts, here’s a friendly reminder
that Jeter singlehandedly,
fairly won four times the
amount of World Series titles
than the Houston Astros ever
have.
Political sources say that
after the bill is introduced by
‘home team Councilwoman
Vanessa Gibson and neighboring
bill co-sponsor Councilwoman
Diana Ayala then the
Jeter Street vote will essentially
be a formality.
Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter. Photo courtesy of amNY
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