Keeping CALE going and seniors busy amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Five days a week in what was the carriage house on the former Hewlett Estate is a hive of activity as the small building on the Hewlett High School campus is home to the Center for Adult Life Enrichment.

Known as CALE to its nearly 300 members, what was once the Five Towns Seniors Center, caters to an active group of older adults from the Five Towns and surrounding South Shore communities. Offering an assortment of activities, programs and services, CALE provides what it calls “a home away from home” for its members.

Like nearly every other entity, CALE has closed during the coronavirus health crisis because of the social distancing mandates. However, that does not translate into not doing anything. Executive Director Lee Gerardi said that she has been at the center doing what needs to be done and it is sad that there is no one else there with her.

“I am keeping up with my member and vendor community,” she said. “I check on them by a call or a social distance visit, email and when feasible I drop off something helpful. My heart is for them, especially at this unimaginable moment.”

Two of the more active CALE members are Lawrence resident Claire Ganzfried and Stanley Brill, who lives in North Woodmere. Ganzfried, 86, led programs on exercise and crossword puzzles before the center shutdown because of the virus.

“I’ve been doing my exercise program that I’m accustomed to and led two times a week,” she said. “I do crossword puzzles two, three, four times a day. I have a lot of crossword books. It’s a lot of fun, I watch reruns of TV shows I never watched. I keep up on CALE members and make sure they are OK. My family is very good to me they leave things on the porch.”

Brill, 91, said he was “fine staying in the house,” as initially he had plenty of food stored in his home for a “winter that never came.” His family leaves food outside in brown paper bags and he retrieves the items.

“I’m not scared, I’m cautious, listening to what the instructions are, I do have a mask and wear gloves,” he said. I’m on the computer and on the piano I’m not that good at it, I fool around. Crossword puzzles pretty much keeps me busy and the computer work for the center. Let’s hope it’s a temporary situation.”

Gerardi has Brill doing the center’s May and June calendars, along with its Centerpiece newsletter. “My days are either busy or still or fixated on the news and journaling all for future reference,” she said. “Praying and worshiping with my friends and spiritual community. Very grateful for technology. Not enjoying food shopping these days, yet appreciative for the senior hours now that I turned 60,” adding laughter to what continues to be a sobering situation.

For more information on the Center for Adult Life Enrichment, go to hw-cale.com or call (516) 374-4747.