News From The Bright Side

Bright Side Manor
Winter, 2015
Written by and about Residents, for
Everyone!
NEWS FROM THE BRIGHT SIDE
Bright Side Manor, a not-for-profit licensed Comprehensive Personal Care Home (CPCH) in
Teaneck, NJ, governed by Senior Housing Services, provides affordable housing, basic health care
and social services to older adults of all income levels, and is one of the few facilities in Northern
New Jersey to provide essential care to residents with Medicaid.
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step: New
Bergen Ave. Senior Housing Breaks Ground, November 12th
From left: Joe Alpert, Elizabeth Davis & Anthony Marchetta; NJ State Senator Loretta Weinberg
Groundbreakings are nice, but cake cuttings
taste better! Bright Side residents and staff
congratulate Elizabeth with a sweet surprise.
“Elizabeth is a good person. I’ve known her all these
years, she always helps me out. I think it’s a nice thing
she’s doing for senior citizens, a great thing. I wish
her the best of luck with the new building.”
--Claude
Neil Lenok, Tracy Snyder- Lenok & Amy Lifson enjoy the rhythms of Ed Laub and Gene
Bertoncini at Cocktails and Jazz at Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn on November 20th. Thank you to
everyone who made this night so special
Ladies & Gentlemen, Peter Di Maio
By Alice
Every month, all of us at Bright Side are treated to an hour-long performance by Peter De Maio,
who sings songs by artists from the Andrews Sisters to the Beatles while accompanying himself on
an acoustic guitar.
Peter began playing at senior residences at his wife’s suggestion after enduring a series of layoffs
from factory jobs where he worked in quality control. He spent six months trying to get his first
job; it wasn’t until he offered to play a free show and activities directors saw his performance that
he was hired – now he has as many clients as he can handle. (Because Bright Side is a non-profit,
Peter donates his services here.)
He started playing in rock and roll bands forty years ago, but never played solo until this second
career in music – at his first performance, he says, “I was scared to death.” But he soon adjusted
and now, he says, “I’ve never felt so fulfilled in my life.”
Donations, by the case, of Ensure and Glucerna are always welcomed by the nursing department –
many of our residents, especially those who are diabetic, cannot afford the supplements they need.
If you have any questions, please contact Bright Side’s Director of Nursing Jane Galligan at
janegalligan@brightsidemanor.org And don’t forget, your donation is tax-deductible.
Walt Musciano, Author, Model Plane Designer, Bright Side Resident
Warbirds of the Sea and Corsair Aces: The Bent
Wing Bird over the Pacific are just two of Walt
Musciano’s books that are currently available on
Amazon. His model airplanes are sold through
Black Hawk Models, including, in order as
pictured above, the Stits Playboy, Mini Stunt
Rocket and Golden Hawk. Control line flying
clubs in both the United States and Canada hold
Walt Musciano Contests annually. “Over the
years, Walt designed an array of model aircraft
that were published in various modeling
magazines,” wrote Jay Smith, Editor-in-Chief of
Model Aviation Magazine in Muncie, IN, in an email to News from the Bright Side. “Walt’s
designs and construction articles have inspired countless kids and adults alike, and his creations
continue to be enjoyed and flown at events throughout the world.”
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If you order one of Walt’s books, or anything else on Amazon, make sure you do it through
Amazon Smile, and that you’ve chosen Geriatric Services, Inc. as your charity; Amazon will donate
a percentage of your purchase to Bright Side Manor.
Bright Side’s Holly Jolly Holiday Party!
The residents ushered in the holiday season with a party that brought everything from a special
lunch courtesy of the Food Service Staff to a performance of songs and readings from the Bright
Side Family, headed up by Lucille and her son-in-law Josh, daughter Liza, grandson Aiden and
granddaughter Eva. Clockwise from above: George with Liza & Eva; Harry Friedland with the
Story of Chanukkah, Carol Romano sings following her reading of A Visit From St. Nicholas,
Carmela with friend Chica; below, entertainment organizer Lucille gets the people in the cheap
seats singing; Elizabeth tells Meli the cupcakes in the dining room are not for her…
Experienced trouper Alice gives advice to
future star Aiden; Carmela’s daughter Mary
reminds us, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa
Claus; singer Carol Bevacqua awaits her
cue.
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Bright Side Resident Protected The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Marsha Mackey, Harold’s daughter,
Harold M. Townes (today, and with Dr. King and members of the NYPD and Mt. Vernon PD)
joined the New York City Police Department in 1946 after having served his country in World War
II. During his twenty year career with the department, Harold encountered many notable
celebrities, politicians and community leaders. His most outstanding encounter was in 1958 with
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King had come to Harlem as part of a book signing tour.
During the event a women in the crowd lunged toward him and stabbed him with a letter opener.
Harold, who was now a detective, was assigned to the case. During the course of the investigation,
he made several trips to Harlem Hospital to meet with Dr. King. As a result of those meetings, Dr.
King requested Harold’s services to coordinate a team of bodyguards for him whenever he came to
New York. Harold agreed and selected a group of colleagues who also served on the New York and
Mt. Vernon Police Departments. This arrangement and friendly relationship between the two men
continued for the next several years.
It Was A Mitzvah; The Areyvut Clowns Brighten A Dark Sunday
“I enjoyed them – they gave me a (balloon)
flower.” – Elizabeth.
“We never saw anyone as good as these kids.”
– Mary
“We love to see them here. It’s a lot of fun,
makes you feel young again.” -- Catherine
Donations of Bingo prizes are always welcomed at Bright Side Manor – boxes of facial tissues,
toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, mouthwash, shaving cream, disposable razors, soap, hand
and body lotion, costume jewelery, even dollar bills (for the soda and candy machines!) Don’t
forget that Bright Side is a 501 (c) 3 corporation, so the cost of your donation is tax-deductible. If
you have any questions, please call Marge Mazzo at 201-692-1000
The Bright Side Muse – The Art & Literary
Supplement to News FromThe Bright Side – Winter,
2015
Bright Side resident Clarissa has generously shared
with us some of her beautiful pastel and charcoal
work. “I always used to draw,” said Clarissa, who has
recently picked up pencil and paper again. “School
got me started, and I went right into it. It’s been a
lifelong passion.”
*****
A Few of Our Favorite Things!
What are some of your favorite musicals, plays, operas? Bright Side residents shared a few of their
favorites with us – are you familiar with them? Bergen County residents can access a lot of these works
through the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), which will send materials from any
member library right to the library of your choice. Go to www.bccls.org for more information. If you’d
rather buy than borrow, there’s always Amazon, and make sure you order through Amazon Smile and
choose Geriatric Services Group as your charity…
FILM
OPERA
The Godfather -- Antonio
La Boheme -- Gloria
The Man in the White Suit -- Bob
La Traviata -- Antonio
Laura -- Gloria
The Ring Cycle -- Bob
It Happened One Night -- Walt
ACTOR
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -- Marion
Robert Mitchum , Elizabeth Taylor -- Marion
Guys & Dolls -- Alice
Wallace Beery, Claudette Colbert-- Walt
Dr. Zhivago -- Don
Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn -- Bob
MUSICAL
Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni -- Antonio
Sound of Music -- Don
Charlie Chaplin -- Carmella
West Side Story -- Bob
Dana Andrews & Gene Tierney -- Gloria
Mame -- Gloria
The Music Man -- Alice
BOOK
The Hornblower Novels by C.S. Forester – Bob
Bob & Antonio