Livable Communities at ALOFT

Advocacy and Education Training Sessions coming up: See Calendar

See Archives for past events.

Background

ALOFT received designation in 2007 as The Livable Communities Connection at ALOFT.  One of 9 Livable Communities regions in Westchester County, LCC at ALOFT serves the 7 towns and communities of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mt Kisco, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers.

Program funding comes from the Westchester County of Senior Programs and Services , the Public Private Partnership on Aging, and AARP.

A Livable Communities Council brings together professionals and residents to examine best practices and strategies to make our communities liveable and elder-friendly.

Livable Communities at ALOFT has launched several task forces which sponsor education and advocacy training sessions across the region.

The Smart Growth/Land Use/Housing Task Force is working to encourage town boards and executives to explore strategies that ensure housing diversity and sustainability of our population base and includes consideration of such issues as land use, taxation, zoning.  Task Force participants include:

  • Neil Alexander, Esq.  Cuddy & Feder, LLC (land use attorneys)
  • Joan Arnold, Executive Director A-Home Housing
  • Donna Camadeco, Realtor
  • Sabrina Charney Hull, Somers Town Planner
  • Cynthia Curtis, North Salem Planning Department
  • Tony Hoeltzel, Executive Director, Community Housing Resource Center
  • Tom McGrath, Blue Mountain
  • Ralph Gregory, ALOFT Board
  • Rosemarie Noonan, Executive Director, Housing Action Council
  • Irene Sandford, Esq., At Home in Somers
  • Barry Singer, Esq., At Home in Somers and ALOFT Board
  • Laura Tivoli, Katonah
  • Diane Tully, Pound Ridge
  • Josina van der Maas, Chair Pound Ridge Housing Board
  • Catherine Wynkoop, Livable Communities at ALOFT Coordinator

Healthcare Access Task Force In 2008 this group conducted a 5 part seminar series called “The Sandwich Generation:  How to Maximize Opportunities and Avoid a Crisis.”  Sessions included Optimizing Your Visit with the Doctor, Cliff Notes for Caregivers, 10 Caregiver Tips, Where Do We Begin?, and Services Available and How to Access Them. Task Force participants include:

  • Grace Cognetta, RN – Geriatric Care Manager, Elder Care Connection
  • Beverly Golisano – North Salem Seniors
  • Sharon Krieger, MD – Internal Medicine, Mount Kisco Medical Group
  • James Luciano, MD – Geriatrician and Chief Medical Officer Wellspring Healthcare
  • Karen Marousek, RN – Geriatric Care Manager, Elder Care Connection
  • Jo Voege – Geriatric Care Manager AGING
  • Catherine Wynkoop – Livable Communities at ALOFT Coordinator
  • Linda Yurus – Lewisboro Seniors

Transportation Task Force: This group researched elder-friendly transportation best practices, which it presented in 2008 to the County Transportation Commissioner’s Advisory Council for Aging and Disabilities. In the summer of 2009, the County Department of Transportation selected an implementation planner to develop a sustainable demand responsive transportation system for Northeast Westchester.  In 2009 ALOFT received mobility management grant funding from the US Department of Transportation and local match funding from the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs & Services.  The purpose of this funding was to develop coalitions of public, private and voluntary ride providers willing to work together to improve access for older residents, people with disabilities and low income workers across the region.

  • Virginia Johnson — Westchester County Department of Transportation
  • Bea Rieser — Bedford Village resident and FISH volunteer
  • Sadie Candela — Mt Kisco
  • Diane Fulves — Pound Ridge
  • Barry Singer — At Home in Somers
  • Irene Sandford, Esq. — At Home in Somers, FISH volunteer
  • Catherine Wynkoop — Livable Communities at ALOFT Coordinator

Intergenerational Task Force: This task force presented a seminar called “Communities for All Ages – Intergenerational Issues and Strategies.”  Taskforce participants include:

  • Rina Bellamy — Executive Director, My Second Home
  • J. Sullivan — Geriatric Care Manager, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Services
  • Ernie Osborne – At Home in Somers and Livable Communities Council at ALOFT

Shared Services Task Force: This group is exploring ways that the towns can collaborate around programming for older adults, while raising the quality of overall programming and lowering the costs.  Participants include:

  • Jean Arra — Mt Kisco Nutrition
  • Liz Dieter — Mt Kisco Seniors
  • Beverly Golisano – North Salem Seniors
  • Louise Paolicelli — Pound Ridge
  • Barbara Taberer — Somers Nutrition
  • Pam Veith — Bedford & Lewisboro Seniors
  • Jim Whiting — Bedford Recreation
  • Linda Yurus – Lewisboro Seniors

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