Last Thursday the annual senior breakfast was held at the Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park. Supervisor Dave Plavchak said this is the third senior breakfast in a row after it was suspended for two years during the pandemic, “and they had four or five before covid.” He noted that last year 250 seniors attended, “and this year 220 signed up and more showed up.”

 

“It’s my favorite event, it’s down here at the park and we lucked out with the weather.” He noted that a representative of the Ulster County Office of the Aging was on hand to help seniors with any of their issues and to make them aware of services that are available to them.

 

Supervisor Plavchak took a moment to thank all of the sponsors for the breakfast: The Reis Insurance Group, The Villages of the Hudson Valley; Barton & Loguidice; Marshall & Sterling; Williams Re-Craft Architecture & Design; Autos by Joseph; Hannaford; Empire Tag & Title and the Gateway Restaurant Diner.

 

Democratic candidate for Supervisor Stu Weiss said, “I think the turnout was fantastic and I was glad to see so many seniors coming down to have a good time.”

 

Though not yet a senior himself, Weiss at 58, said, “time stops for no man.”

 

NYS Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson said he attends many senior gatherings like the one last week.

 

“I come to this one every year; it a great event at a beautiful location,” he said. “It gives me a chance to talk to people and they tell me about their problems and what they’re dealing with and what is happening on the ground. So I know what their needs are; sometimes it’s Central Hudson and sometimes it’s rents. So I’m very happy to be here.”

 

Ulster County Legislator Gina Hansut said these breakfasts were started by her late husband, Paul Hansut, in 2012 when he served as the Lloyd Supervisor, pointing out that this was one of his favorite events.

 

“He loved senior citizens, and I tell you that has been passed on to me; that passion to serve and acknowledging and honoring senior citizens is big for me,” she said. “Initially it was held at the Tony Williams Field for a couple of years, but as this park progressed we moved it down here.”

 

Hansut said there are programs specifically aimed at assisting seniors with heating and housing issues. She will be hosting a “Pop Up” event for Community Action at 10 a.m. on September 21 at the Biancardi parking lot, 11 Milton Avenue. This event is aimed at assisting seniors with such issues as food insecurity and home repairs. She is hoping to continue this into the winter months at a local church and will be trying to bring back in some form the Highland Community Action office that closed.