Our visit to the Literacy Center in New Haven taught us a few things

Some people who need and could be helped by this column won’t be reading it because they can’t.

In the United States, an estimated 30 million people older than 16 are not able to read any better than an average elementary school child.

Thirty-five years ago, at a church in Hamden, Betsy Gumbart started Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. Recently, I paid a visit to the Literacy Resource Center at Science Park, which is the home of four important nonprofit agencies:

-Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven

-New Haven Reads Community Book Bank

-The Greater New Haven Literacy Coalition

-Concepts for Adaptive Learning

Their mutual goal is to promote improved literacy levels in Greater New Haven, something that is urgently needed since 30 percent of the adult population in New Haven County is at the lowest level of literacy.

Activities at the Resource Center include the recruiting and training of volunteer tutors, free tutoring for children and adults, computer training classes for adults, as well as computer literacy training for adults and children.

Free books are provided to all families who come to the Resource Center. When I visited the center, I was warmly greeted and shown around by Doss Venema, executive director, and Betty Brumberg, program manager, and then I sat in on two classes; one at a very beginning level, where adults with the help of their patient volunteer tutor were learning the basic sounds for each letter.

One man in this class confided to me that he was good with his hands and could fix anything, but was unable to find work because although born in this country, his English skills were so poor he could not fill out a job application.

In the second class, at a more advanced level, two tutors were helping students break down sentences into phrases and to figure out the meaning of more complex words.

One student said he was here so that he could help his children with their homework; another wanted to get her high school equivalency diploma. Imagine the courage it must take for adults in their 30s and 40s to admit to inadequacies in their reading abilities and to come for help.

Watching them struggle to learn and encourage one another, and to observe the skill and patience of their volunteer instructors, was touching and inspirational. Is there a greater gift you can give to anyone than to open up the world of books to them?

A separate, but equally important program, English as a Second Language for the foreign born, is offered through the Literacy Volunteer program and through the adult education programs in most communities.

Although this has to be one of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities open to men and women of any age, literacy volunteers are still very needed. Training only requires a total of 12 hours, and a tutor can choose to teach for a few hours each week at one of more than 39 local tutoring locations.

No skill is more crucial to help people support themselves and their families, to give children a good start and to help in fostering engaged citizens and creating stronger, healthier communities.

There is a close correlation between adult illiteracy and crime. Literacy is essential to eradicate poverty at home and abroad and address gender inequality. (Two-thirds of the 800 million adults illiterate in their native language are women.) The ability to read and write is the basis for all other education.

To donate books to New Haven Reads, go to www.newhavenreads.org or call 203-752-1923.

To inquire about becoming a tutor or a student in the literacy classes, go to www.lvagnh.org or call 203-776-5899.

If you can READ, you can HELP!

- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

I'm reading: Our visit to the Literacy Center in New Haven taught us a few things

We're taking a page from David Letterman for this one

Lately, I’ve been hearing and reading a great deal about “living in the moment,” appreciating what life has to offer and remembering to find something to be grateful for, every day. And yet, we are constantly reminded that reaching senior-hood in this youth-oriented society is a state to be avoided at all possible costs.

Many famous movie stars and other personalities so dislike the old sound of the word “grandmother” they have devised other, younger-sounding names for their grandchildren to call them. Since I have three grown children, none of whom have had children, the sweet sound of the word “grandma” is one I may never hear.

Flipping through a recent issue of O magazine, titled “Living Life to the Fullest,” I felt down-trodden and uninspired by the first 20 pages ... every one an advertisement for a rejuvenating cream, serum or some device to banish wrinkles and signs of age. How can I live life to the fullest if I’m constantly worried about a sagging chin and crow’s feet?

I decided to fight back on behalf of everyone trying to savor their seniority by creating a Top 10 Reasons to be Grateful I’m a Senior.

1. I no longer need to worry that if I do something a little foolish I will get banned from the senior prom.

2. Nobody ever says, “You’re not old enough to do that, yet.”

3. Betty White is enjoying a big comeback, and she’s even older than I am.

4. Television producers are finally beginning to realize that there is an over-55 market, and programs scheduled for fall harken back to some that were popular in the ’60s. Featured will be Playboy bunnies and airline stewardesses in perky uniforms. While not very intellectual, it should please the older males and hopefully will be better than “Jersey Shore” and “The Real Housewives of Little Bend.”

5. I get a big, self-satisfied smirk on this wrinkled countenance whenever I can say, “senior discount, please” at McDonald’s, buying my railroad ticket, going to a museum or movie or shopping at Kohl’s on “senior days.” I live in hope for senior discount days to arrive at the food check out and the gas pump. Wouldn’t that be something?

6. My kids finally appreciate me.

7. I can wear comfortable shoes. Current styles of footwear resemble instruments of torture. The only thing higher than their platforms and heels are their ridiculous prices.

8. People who I envied when I was a young girl, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamaar, Rita Hayworth, even Elizabeth Taylor, all have grown old and passed away, but I’m still here.

9. My spouse is well past the age when he can: (a) fly to Argentina to have an affair, and (b) sneak up on our cleaning lady and distract her while she dusts.

10. Finally, nobody any longer asks, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’ve grown up and I am doing what I love, constantly challenged by this very special third act of life.

Cheers for those of us who have reached the top rung of life from your grateful to be growing older, friend and columnist.

- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

I'm reading: We're taking a page from David Letterman for this one

The Glasers jump in when we’re knee-deep in water

Although entrepreneurship runs deep in the American psyche, it takes a special kind of person to leave the relative safety and structure of a large company and strike out on his or her own ... into the unknown.

Herman and Catalina Glaser of Branford did just that.

Catalina, an energetic whirlwind who thinks and speaks in fast forward with a Romanian accent, arrived in America from Bucharest in 1986. She had been a hotel manager in her native country, but when she moved to Connecticut from California, she studied business management at the University of New Haven. She met Herman, who was to become her future husband, when she went to work for Nuclear Systems Inc., a company which Herman, a technical engineer, owned.

Four partners had formed the company, which specialized in installing nuclear medicine equipment such as special cameras used to diagnose cancer and heart problems. In 1983, Herman bought out the other partners and still operates that business as a sideline, but now acts only as a broker for exporting the equipment.

The Glasers became interested in what now occupies them seven days a week when their former medical equipment company’s offices happened to be next door to one of the founders of the Northeast division of Servpro, a nationwide company and the leaders in cleaning and restoration services.

Herman, who has always had an entrepreneurial personality, recognized a unique business opportunity, and he and Catalina took the plunge and bought the franchise licenses enabling them to serve the New Haven area and the Shoreline, all the way to the Rhode Island line.

I first became familiar with the work of Servpro when, during a torrential rain, my basement flooded. Seeing the water rising and worried about important papers and stored clothing, I was slightly panicked, to put it mildly.

The Servpro crew responded immediately, vacuumed away the water (twice), moved other objects to safety and disposed of hopelessly damaged and water-logged items, all with efficiency and care.

Because they work with insurance companies to nullify progression of damage, the equipment and chemicals they employ must be superior to industry standards and of the highest quality.

From the more mundane tasks such as carpet cleaning to complex restorations from fire, smoke and soot or mold mitigation, Servpro is equipped to respond quickly.

A good example of their work occurred when the Blackstone Library suffered major water damage while the roof was being replaced. In this case, there were important documents that had to be saved, often the case as well with legal or medical firms when a catastrophe occurs.

The company is expert in a freeze-dry method that can restore and preserve important documents. They are also trained to handle criminal blood bio-hazard instances, cleaning up after murders or suicides.

The long hours and hard work have paid off for the Glasers. Starting 12 years ago with 3,000 square feet of space on Route 139, then moving to Branford Business Park, where they occupied 10,000 square feet, the Glasers recently built their own spacious 24,000-square-foot headquarters at 2 Sycamore Way in Branford.

Offering 24-hour emergency service, Servpro is a good name to remember. Call 203-488-8881 or 1-800-846-4466.

- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

I'm reading: The Glasers jump in when we’re knee-deep in water

Herb Pearce - a gift for life with no regrets

I hardly knew Herb Pearce, who died last month on April 18, yet I knew he lived a remarkable life.

By the time I became affiliated with the Pearce Co. as a co-founder, with Maureen Campbell, of a separate senior services program, Herb was almost 90.

I would, however, see him bustling into his office when he was in town, or hear him address company meetings, speaking without any notes, his vigor and sense of humor, an inspiration to all who heard him.

Most of all, I came to know and appreciate Herb through the many stories and recollections of others whenever I mentioned his name. It seemed everyone who knew this charismatic, but fiercely independent individual had a unique “Herb” story to relate.

No surprise then, that every pew of the huge Trinity Church in New Haven was filled at his memorial service with people from all walks of life, from former employees to public officials. His family and his daughter Barbara, in her remarkable eulogy, reflected on his ways and wit. Barbara Pearce recounted how Herb, always in a hurry, skipped over letters in his speeches at Realtor dinners around the state.

Beginning with “R” for resilience and going on to “E” for enthusiasm and “A” for attitude, it was supposed to spell out “REALTOR,” but Herb would race to the end, leaving out a different letter each time; much to the annoyance of his wife who would say, “Herb, I’m not going to drive around the state to listen to you misspell Realtor.”

Despite the fact that his wife was an Army nurse with two graduate degrees and he only graduated high school, Herb, who had risen through the ranks at the A.C. Gilbert Co., was always supremely self-confident. He believed in the power of positive thinking and felt there wasn’t much that couldn’t be changed with a change in attitude. That exuberance drew people to him and he had friends of all ages for whom he would often plan parties, presents and pranks.

Herb applied his enthusiasm to his community work as well. He loved to raise money for nonprofit causes and planned and executed ambitious campaigns and was proud of the good that they did. Herb used to say that some people had MBAs, but he had RLC — rat-like cunning. His cunning was, I think, comprised of hard work and an ability to see opportunities everywhere. He had a big impact on the town of North Haven and was a driving force behind a bridge to Universal Drive, which helped to transform it into today’s retail center. The bridge is named the Herbert H. Pearce & Donald B. Lippincott Commemorative Bridge in honor of Pearce and his partner.

Herb Pearce was forward looking about change of all kinds. He was proud of being the first in the real estate industry to run billboards, full-page ads, radio and TV commercials.

He had a car phone in 1968 when you had to go through a marine operator to place your call, and at the end of his life when he was just a few days short of his 95th year, he had a Facebook page and an iPod.

He had friends who were professors and friends who were laborers, friends in their 20s and friends in their 90s, and he treated them all the same way. Barbara Pearce said, “Something about the almost magical combination of personality, character and presence allowed him to leave an indelible imprint on more lives than almost anyone I’ve ever known.”

The many organizations he supported and the scholarships he established remain as tributes to a man whose life exemplified his favorite Winston Churchill saying, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotckiss Grove, Branford, Ct. 06405.

I'm reading: Herb Pearce - a gift for life with no regrets