TENAFLY, N.J.—On Sept. 27, there was no safer place for a senior to be.
Every year, the Tenafly Police Benevolent Association hosts a picnic for the borough’s senior citizens at the Tenafly Senior Center on South Summit Street. This year’s 34th annual event was organized by Sgt. William Barnes and was filled with fun and great food.
“This event is great because we get to meet new seniors in Tenafly that we have never met before,” said Michele Hausch, the center’s director.
To attend the picnic you have to be a Tenafly senior, but not necessarily a member of the senior center. Therefore, the event brings in a lot of new faces. Many of them have such a great time at the picnic that they decide to join the center.
Hausch was delighted with the large turnout of 50 seniors and the large group of police officers that included Capt. Michael deMoncada, Sgt. Donato Monte, Officer Brandon Moriarty, Officer Jacob Chadwick, Officer Tom Casper and Detective Michael Vecchiarelli.
“The Tenafly Police Department is always doing outreach and looking for ways to connect to the community,” said Sgt. Monte.
The police grilled and served dozens of burgers and hot dogs and gave the seniors extra to take home. There were also salads and a large cake for dessert.
Former Mayor Ann Moskovitz came to the picnic and Mayor Peter Rustin also dropped in to welcome everyone. They both said that they attribute the wonderful spirit of the center’s members to the excellent staff.
Rustin spoke to the group, thanking the Tenafly PBA for the picnic and also for the recent Community Night Out that they hosted.
“We should all thank the PBA for the wonderful job that they do,” he said.
The seniors loved chatting with the friendly officers, and Vecchiarelli also gave an important presentation on how to recognize and avoid scams that specifically target older people, such as the IRS scam, the Social Security scam and the “grandson who is in jail and needs your help” scam.
“You may even get a call from a phone number disguised as your local utility provider and a person will tell you that you have to remedy an unpaid bill, but it is probably coming from overseas,” said Vecchiarelli. “If you hang up and call back that number, you may get the legitimate customer service number of that company, but they will verify that they did not call you.”
In another widespread scam, he said, “Someone calls to say that they’re from Apple and your iPhone has been hacked. Then they ask you to verify your security information.
“These scammers are all very good and they are looking to steal your information and/or your money. They may direct you to go to Walmart, CVS, or another local store and pick up gift cards in $500 increments that you then read to them over the phone. As soon as you do that, your money is gone!” he said.
“Many of these crimes are not traceable and scammers steal thousands of dollars from people. So, instead of reacting to them, we try to prevent them. The best tip I can give you is to never give gift cards to a solicitor over the phone. If you have questions or concerns, call us,” Vecchiarelli concluded.
The seniors said that they appreciated these educational lectures along with the fun and wellness activities the center offers.
The members of the Tenafly Senior Center are always upbeat and engaged. They participate in activities all day, and there is such a demand that the center is now offering evening classes. On Thursday evenings there are classes in Spanish and weight training from 7–8:00 p.m., and art class from 6:30–8 p.m.
Joyce Kalman, a former advertising and public relations executive, has been a member of the Tenafly Senior Center for many years.
“We have the reputation as the best senior center in all of Bergen County. Our staff is wonderful, and our programs and trips are fantastic,” said Kalman.
The trips are, indeed, a highlight of the center. Besides day excursions to historic and cultural sites as well as hit Broadway shows (such as “Beautiful” this past year and “Dear Evan Hansen” coming up next summer), the center recently took 40 people on an overnight trip to Wildwood and Cape May.
The center hosts memorable and festive meals, such as a New Orleans Mardi Gras party, a Mexican-themed fiesta, and an Italian feast.
Hausch has worked at the Tenafly Senior Center for three years, and began serving as director this year.
“I had a job in the corporate field and then at the middle school in Hillsdale, so I always liked working with people,” said Hausch. “So, when my mother happened to see a small advertisement for an available position in this center, I immediately came in for an interview and got the job. It’s the best thing I ever did!”
Trish Ramella, Hausch’s assistant, a Hillsdale resident who came on board in June, also loves her job.
Like Hausch, she relates, “I left the highly stressful corporate environment. Now I wake up so confident and look forward to driving to work at the Tenafly Senior Center every day. It’s such a very easygoing and joyful place to work!”