new medicare cards starting in april -...

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The

Senior NewsApril 2018

Focus for People Aged 50 and Better!Focus for People Aged 50 and Better!VOLUME 32 • ISSUE 4

New Medicare Cards Starting In April

Alaskan Eye Doctor

Found To Be An Optical

Aleutian

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The Senior News April 2018

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Simple Video Calling

Devices for Tech-Challenged Seniors

What to Know About the

New Medicare Cards

savvy senior

by Jim Miller


Dear Savvy Senior,What can you tell me about

the new Medicare cards? I’ve heard there are a lot of scams associated with these new cards and I want to make sure I protect myself.

Leery Senior

Dear Leery,The government will soon be

sending out brand new Medicare cards to 59 million Medicare beneficiaries. Here’s what you should know about your new card along with some tips to help you guard against potential scams.

New Medicare CardsStarting this month (April

2018), Medicare will be removing Social Security numbers from their new Medicare cards, and begin mailing them out to everyone who gets Medicare benefits. The reason for this change is to help protect your identity and reduce medical and financial fraud. The new cards will have a randomly generated 11-character Medicare Number. This will happen automatically. You don’t need to do anything or pay anyone to get your new card.

Medicare will mail your card, at no cost, to the address you have on file with the Social Security Administration. If you need to update your official mailing address, visit your online Social Security account at SSA.gov/myaccount, or call 800-772-1213. When you get your new card, your Medicare coverage and benefits will stay the same.

If you have a relative or friend who lives in another state and gets their card before you, don’t fret. The cards will be mailed in waves, to various parts of the country over a 12-month period starting in April 2018, and ending next April 2019. Medicare beneficiaries in Alaska, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia will be the first to receive the mailings, between April and June.

The last wave of states will

be Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee, along with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

When you get your new Medicare card, don’t throw your old one in the trash. Instead, put it through a shredder or cut it up with a pair of scissors and make sure the part showing your Social Security number is destroyed.

If you have a separate Medicare Advantage card, keep it because you’ll still need it for treatment.

Watch Out For ScamsAs the new Medicare cards start

being mailed, be on the lookout for Medicare scams. Here are some tips:

• Don’t pay for your new card. It’s yours for free. If anyone calls and says you need to pay for it, that’s a scam.

• D o n ’ t g i v e p e r s o n a l information to get your card. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare, asking for your Social Security number or bank information, that’s a scam. Hang up. Medicare will never ask you to give personal information to get your new number and card.

• Guard your card. When you get your new card, safeguard it like you would any other health insurance or credit card. While removing the Social Security number cuts down on many types of identity theft, you’ll still want to protect your new card because identity thieves could use it to get medical services.

For more information about changes to your Medicare card go to Go.medicare.gov/newcard. And if you suspect fraud, report it to the FTC (FTCcomplaintassistant.gov), AARP’s fraud help line, 877-908-3360, or your local Senior Medicare Patrol program. Go to SMPresource.org for contact information.

Dear Savvy Senior,Are there any senior-friendly

devices that you can recommend for video calling? I live about a day’s drive from my 83-year-old father and would like to see him more often but he doesn’t use a computer, tablet or a smartphone.

Searching Susan

Dear Susan,Video chatting is a great way to

stay connected and keep tabs on an elder parent when you can’t be there. To help you and your dad achieve

this, there are various products on the market today that offer simple video calling for seniors who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with technology. Here are three unique devices to consider.

ViewClixIf you’re interested in a device

that requires no input from your dad, check out the ViewClix Smart Frame. This is a 15-inch digital picture frame with video calling capabilities designed specifically for seniors.

Ready to use right out of the box, this device lets family and friends make video calls and send photos (displayed as a slideshow) directly to your dad’s ViewClix Smart Frame anytime from their smartphone, tablet or computer. To do this, you simply download the free ViewClix app to your devices.

All photos sent and video calls made to your dad’s ViewClix are received automatically. But, it is worth noting that this is a receiving device only. Your dad cannot initiate video calls from his ViewClix.

This device is available at ViewClix.com or 800-304-4281 for $299 (Wi-Fi is required), or you can purchase their 4G Broadband model that works with T-Mobile if Wi-Fi is not available for $299, plus a $20 monthly broadband fee.

GrandPadAnother nifty product that

offers simple video calling, and much more, is the grandPad. This is an 8-inch touchscreen custom tablet designed for seniors, ages 75 and older. It comes with a stylus, charging stand and Verizon 4G LTE built-in so it works anywhere within the Verizon network – home Wi-Fi is not necessary.

This unique tablet provides a simplified menu of big colorful icons and large text to only essential features, giving your dad clutter-free, one-touch access to make and

receive video calls and phone calls, send voice emails, view photos and videos, listen to personalized music, check the weather, play games and more. But, to simplify usage and avoid confusion, it does not offer Web browsing.

GrandPad also has a “Help” button that offers 24/7 phone/tablet remote assistance to help your dad with any facet of his tablet, and it provides damage and theft insurance so if your dad breaks or loses his tablet it will be replaced at no additional cost. Available at grandPad.net or call 800-704-9412, a grandPad leases for $66 per month, or $49/month if you pay one year in advance.

Echo ShowIf you don’t think your dad

would mind talking to a machine, the voice activated Amazon Echo Show is another senior-friendly device for video chatting (Wi-Fi is required).

Available at Amazon.com for $230, the Echo Show has a 7-inch color touchscreen that would let your dad make and receive video calls to those who have their own device, or who have the free Amazon Alexa app installed on their smartphone or tablet.

Once you set up his contacts, to make a call your dad would simply say, “Alexa, call Susan.” And when a call comes in, he would ask Alexa to answer or ignore the call. There’s also a feature called “drop-in,” which could allow you and other preselected relatives or friends to video in to your dad’s device at any time without his input.

The Echo Show also offers a bevy of other features your dad might enjoy like voice-activated access to news, weather, his favorite music and more.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.


By Julia Price

Learning is a lifelong gift that we are able to unwrap a little more every single day.

The mind is like a muscle, and keeping it active can lead to increased longevity and happiness.

To find opportunities to engage with others and keep your mind sharp, look no further than your home and your community.

Brain-training apps have the benefit of being accessible anywhere, anytime. All you need is a smartphone or tablet.

Peak, Elevate and Lumosity, three of the most popular that are available for Android and iOS, are all worth a try.

Peak offers a collection of 30 games that cover memory, mental agility, language and attention, a variety that could keep your daily sessions from becoming a chore.

Elevate offers more than 30 games; additionally, it tracks your daily use in a calendar and increases

difficulty as you improve. Lumosity's games are mixed and

matched for each daily program, and the app tracks your speed, memory, problem-solving abilities and more over time to show improvement.

These apps can be at your fingertips no matter where your errands or activities might take you, which might make it easier to form a daily habit and hold yourself accountable.

Learning a new language can be a fun, energizing way to improve cognitive and problem-solving ability. The Eton Institute, which offers language-learning services for all levels, says: "Learning a new language means your brain has to cope with complexity as it makes

YOUR BEST SELF

Learning opportunities for

seniors

sense of and absorbs new patterns. As our brains work out meaning, endeavoring to communicate, we develop key learning skills." Challenging the mind to learn and recall new knowledge is a great brain workout.

Sign up for a group language class at your local community college. Or if you prefer an individual endeavor, invest in a language software like Rosetta Stone or a language app like Duolingo so you can practice every day from the comfort of your own home. No matter which language you choose, you are sure to enjoy being able to communicate in new ways with people from other cultural backgrounds.

If you have a knack for electronics or want to become more tech-savvy, the Apple store often offers free classes on basic computer knowledge, music, movie and photo programs, and more. Class size tends to be small, and each class is taught by an Apple professional. You may benefit from the interactive nature of this learning environment and enjoy the social aspect of meeting new people. If friends or family members are eager to learn as well, you could gather together and make it a fun outing. However you make it happen, you will come away more comfortable and confident in your technological abilities.

Getting involved in senior activities in your local community can be a fun and enjoyable way to stay active. Check your local recreation center for a list of senior programs and classes, from jewelry making, to gardening, to cooking.

Alternatively, the Meetup online social networking service allows you to organize or join a group of individuals who share your interests. Visit the website to get a look at what's happening with seniors near you. If you are lucky, your town may have a senior citizen performing arts center. Why not learn some new harmonies and perform to a crowd of your closest friends and family?

With so many options, it can be challenging to know what's best for you. Think back to the best teachers and classes you had in school. What inspired you? What subjects did you look forward to each day? What teaching style worked most effectively? This is an opportunity to play as much as it is to learn, so find an opportunity that gets you excited and let the smiling begin.


By Teresa Iqbal

Making the decision to move into a senior living community may prove difficult, as it is a major life change. People who choose to do so must give up living a more individual lifestyle, which many are accustomed to at this point in life. However, there are several advantages to choosing this lifestyle that should be weighed carefully by seniors, including financial, health and social benefits.

Even though the expense of a senior home may be off-putting, finances can become much more simplified for those who choose to move into a senior living community. This is because most living expenses -- including rent, utility bills and food -- are typically covered under one total fee that is paid to the community. This means that community members can avoid having to juggle a multitude of bills and their due dates and write just one check for everything.

Moving into a senior home or retirement center also means that home repairs and maintenance are no longer a concern. Both the physical labor of trying to keep up a home

and the financial strain that costly repairs put on seniors, especially those on a fixed income, are typical causes for concern as individuals get older. Without needing to perform maintenance, residents can use the extra time relaxing, benefiting from less daily stress.

Transportation, which can prove to be a difficult or stressful task for some seniors, may also become less of a concern in a senior living community. In addition to no longer needing to go shopping for groceries and household supplies, many services are located on-site for easy access and less worry. For example, access to medications, nursing staff, doctors and fitness and entertainment classes means that residents no longer need to worry about getting behind the wheel, and they may even enjoy financial benefits from not requiring daily transportation.

The social benefits of living in a senior home are numerous and should not be overlooked, In a senior home, residents can benefit from the daily enjoyment of such activities as exercise classes, games and field trips, which allow them to live full lives and keep busy while establishing friendships and relationships with fellow residents. Possibly even more beneficial is the manner in which living in a senior home gives residents a chance to connect with those who are dealing with the same emotional changes as they are. For example, groups may gather for those individuals who

have lost loved ones and are having a difficult time grieving and would benefit from shared time with those who understand how difficult this time of life can be and how one's life is changed afterward.

One of the most difficult tasks for seniors living at home alone is getting proper nutrition. The physical act of cooking and grocery shopping may become difficult or overwhelming, especially when seniors must cook for one, with nutrition falling by the wayside as a result. Senior homes provide meals to their residents and should strive to provide healthful food. In fact, many senior homes advertise that their food is prepared by successful chefs, meaning that food could not only be nutritious but also taste delicious.

Perhaps most importantly, safety may become questionable as seniors begin to have trouble performing daily tasks, such as showering, using the restroom and going up and down stairs on their own. This is especially worrisome if seniors live alone and there is no one nearby who is available for help should an accident occur. Modifications, such as shower rails, can help make daily life easier but can be costly. Senior homes are designed for the easiest mobility for seniors and also provide the comfort of staff members who are nearby to help should a resident require it, which can provide a great sense of relief and lessen fears and anxieties.

* The unknown soul who made the following sage observation must have been a keen observer of events: "A politician can appear to have his nose to the grindstone while straddling a fence and keeping both ears to the ground."

* Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel, famed inventor of dynamite and originator of the Nobel Prizes, could speak five languages fluently by the time he was 17 years old.

* M o s t l a n g u a g e s c h a n g e dramatically over time. If we in modern America were to try to read, say, "Beowulf" (which was written in Old English), only those who have spent time studying the language would be able to make out more than a word or two here and there. If you're from Iceland, however, this isn't the case; the written language there has remained virtually unchanged for more than 1,000 years. Modern Icelanders have no trouble reading sagas that were written in the 10th century.

* Those who study such things say that fully one-third of all your brainpower is used for vision.

* At some point in your life you've probably gotten your hands gooey with papier-mache, whether you were making crafts yourself or helping your kids. You may not have realized, though, that the term "papier-mache" means "chewed-up paper" in French.

* You might be surprised to learn that there are people who study how air quality, humidity, the hardness of the water and pollution affect people's hair. According to these researchers, the worst American cities for your tresses are Corpus Christi, Texas; Olympia, Washington; and Pittsburgh.

By Samantha Weaver

Thought for the Day:

"Jobs are like going to church: It's nice once or twice a year to sing along and eat something and all that, but unless you really believe there's something holy going on,

it gets to be a drag going in every single week."

-- Thomas Michael Disch

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By Phillippe Sebastion

Social Security Service Representative Youngstown Ohio

By Phillippe Sebastion - Social Security Service Representative in Youngstown, Ohio

Keeping your address up to date with a my Social Security account helps us mail your important documents to the correct place. If you receive benefits, you can use my Social Security to update your address. If you’ve moved recently,updating your information sooner rather than later will help us deliver important documents to you, including:

l Your Social Security Benefit Statement (SSA-1099);

l Important notices; andl Your Medicare card when

you first enroll or if you need a replacement.

Even if you get your benefits by direct deposit, Social Security must have your correct address so we can send letters and other important information to you.

Another important reason to make sure your address is up to date is because new Medicare cards are coming. Medicare is mailing new cards starting April 2018. Your new card will have a new Medicare Number that’s unique to you, instead of your Social Security number. This will help protect your identity. For more information about the new Medicare card, visit go.medicare.gov/newcard.

If you don’t have a my Social Security account already, you can open one at www.socialsecurity .gov/myaccount. This is the easiest way for you to keep your information up to date. Within minutes you’ll have access to your personal information as well as control over important documents like your Benefit Statement (SSA- 1099), which can be replaced if you lose it.

While you’re there, you can also check to see if your earnings record is correct. Social Security keeps a record of how much you’ve made so that you get the benefits you deserve. We can only pay you

your correct benefit if your records are correct.

Putting you in control of your future is a key part of securing today and tomorrow, and having your correct mailing address helps us get important documents and payments to you. With my Social Security, we help you receive the information you need, when you need it. Open or access your safe and secure account today at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

What kind of questions do you and your friends ask about Social Security? When do my benefits arrive? What are Social Security work credits, and do they have anything to do with the way my benefits are figured? Will I be automatically enrolled in Medicare? Read on to find the answers to these questions.

1. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due.

When you mee t a l l the requirements for eligibility, the benefit check you receive is payment for the prior month’s benefits. For information on the payment of benefits, you can read our pamphlet, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10077.pdf.

To know when checks will be paid, you can save the Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments to your “Favorites” or print it by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/calendar.htm.

2. We don’t pay benefits for the month of death.

Social Securi ty uses the same throughout-the-monthrule to determine eligibility for the benefit that is due for the month of death. You must live through the full month to be eligible for the payment. See the pamphlet above in the section titled If a beneficiary dies at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10077.pdf for more information about when a check is due.

3. Survivors benefits can replace a percentage of the worker’s

earnings for family members.The eligible family members of

a retired or disabled beneficiary may receive a monthly payment of up to 50 percent of beneficiary’s amount. Survivors benefits usually range from about 75 percent to 100 percent of the deceased worker’s amount. Visit our Understanding the Benefits publication for an explanation of the amounts family members receive at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10024.pdf.

4. Work credits determine eligibility for benefits, but your lifetime earnings are used to calculate your monthly benefit amount.

Retired workers need 40 work credits to be eligible for benefits, but your work credits alone do not determine how much you will receive each month. When we figure your retirement benefit, we use the average of your highest 35 years of earnings. See Your Retirement Benefit: How It Is Figured at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf.

5. If you receive retirement benefits before you reach age 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare.

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay. It also pays for some home health care and hospice care. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventative services.

When you’re already receiving retirement benefits, we automatically sign you up for Medicare Parts A and B when you turn age 65. You can then decline Part B if you choose, since it requires a monthly premium. If you are not receiving retirement benefits as you approach age 65, you should contact Social Security three months before age 65 to sign up for Medicare Part A and B. Even if you don’t want to retire at 65, you should sign up for Medicare only. For more details, check out our Medicare page at www.socialsecurity.gov/ medicare.

RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS? Keep your address

up-to-date with My Social Security

5 More Facts You Might Not Know About Social Security


By Kristen Castillo

After a lifetime of collecting things, many seniors decide to streamline their lifestyles and downsize their homes. Luggage sets, holiday dishes and decorations, piles of photo albums and even gardening equipment can all stack up in a large home. So when moving to a smaller place, what should you do with all your extra stuff?

Rightsizing"Changing space isn't a bad

thing," says Claudia McLaughlin founder of CMF Transitional Organization LLC, a company that specializes in helping seniors transition between homes.

Instead of using the term downsizing, she calls it "rightsizing."

"When rightsizing seniors, we create a floor plan for the new home using existing furniture," she says, suggesting offering family members the furniture and accessories the senior no longer wants or needs. "The remainder of furniture and

accessories can then be evaluated for value -- should they be sold, auctioned or donated."

Decisions, DecisionsOnce you 've chosen t o

downsize, the biggest challenge is making decisions on what to keep. Professional organizer Ellia Harris of The Potential Center says downsizing decision-making is tough for two reasons:

"The items we have the most difficulty making decisions about are the ones to which we have the most emotional attachment," she says.

The second reason: "We make hundreds of decisions every day but we rarely make choices about what to keep and what to discard," says Harris, concluding, "Change is difficult anyway, but when there are so many memories in our surroundings it feels like we are leaving part of our life behind when we move."

How Much Has To Go?Do inventory around your

home to evaluate what stays and what goes. While there isn't a rule on how much to purge, it's wise to compare the size your new space with your old one. For example, if

your new home's square footage is cut in half, keep about half your stuff.

Managing EmotionsDownsizing isn't just about

stuff around the home, so give yourself room to handle the emotions of the move.

"Just like losing a friend or family member, there is a grieving process to go through when we leave a long-time home," says Harris, who suggests acknowledging emotions and facing them head on with a silent thank you or blessing. You can even have an awards ceremony to bring family and friends together one last time in the home.

Meaningful MoveWhen de-cluttering, only

keep what makes you happy or has significant meaning. Everything else can go. For organizing important keepsakes like family photos, Harris suggests doing an online search for a photo-scanning company to turn those prints into digital files, which can be displayed in digital frames.

It can be a bit trickier managing collectibles and other keepsakes. For example, place childhood art projects into a portfolio book or scan them.

For bigger things that you won't have room for in your new home, Harris advises asking family or friends to keep the items "on loan," like museums do with art pieces.

Tips for Easing the Transition--Start small. Walk around your

home and pulling out things you know right away you don't need or want. Decide whether the item will go in the trash, get recycled or be donated to charity. Paperwork, such as old credit card statements, can be shredded.

--Work with a pro. If needed, hire a professional organizer to help you sort through clutter and simplify your life.

--Sort room by room. Clean a closet, cabinet or drawer at first. Anything you don't want can be sorted on the spot. Doing one area at a time will keep you focused. When you finish a task -- even a small one, like a storage box -- you'll feel accomplished.

DOWNSIZING

What to do with all your extra stuff


2018

By Tawny Maya McCray

Grandma and grandpa don't typically come to mind when we think of addiction. But prescription drug and alcohol abuse among people older than 50 is a rapidly growing epidemic in our country.

According to a Unity Rehab article, the rate of accidental overdoses among this generation is higher than that of people between ages 25 and 44 for the first time in history.

The article explains that baby boomers had the highest substance abuse rates as teens and young

adults among any of the other living generations, due to the hippie Woodstock era of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Widespread substance use and intoxication were part of the social norm, says Brenda Iliff, executive director of Hazelden in Naples, a facility that is part of the Hazelden Bet ty Ford Foundation.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a leading nonprofit provider of addiction treatment and recovery resources, with 17 sites across the country. Iliff says they are seeing more and more patients from the Baby Boom and even earlier generations.

"For example, at Hazelden in Naples, Florida, almost half of our patients are now 50 years and older, including many who are older than 60," she says.

Some reasons for this new

crop of addiction, Iliff says, stems from the fact that as we age, we all become more vulnerable to pain and other health-related conditions that may prompt pharmaceutical interventions.

Lifestyle changes as we age can also contribute to substance abuse. Risk factors for older adults may include loss of structure or relationships, acute loneliness, surgery, chronic pain, depression or anxiety.

"More older adults may also be using prescription drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism for today's heightened stress levels, with increased work hours, political unrest, a widening income gap and a never-ending flow of online information to worry about," Iliff says.

When dealing with the older population, there are also things like cognitive impairment and memory loss that can affect people's ability to take their medications as prescribed. And, Iliff points out, while most physicians avoid prescribing medications that are dangerous in combination, some older adults have multiple physicians and can end up with medications that should not be taken concurrently.

As we age, we also metabolize medications or substances differently, and it can take the body longer to rid itself of toxins. That can, in turn, increase the risk of overuse and even overdose.

According to an article on Addiction Center's website, there are challenges to identifying addiction in the elderly. Alcohol or drug abuse may actually mimic symptoms of other medical or mental health disorders, such as diabetes, dementia or depression. This makes it easy

for doctors who encounter an older patient to chalk up declining mental or physical health simply to "old age."

The article states that some signs of elderly drug abuse to look for include memory problems, changes in sleeping habits, unexplained bruises, irritability, sadness, depression, unexplained chronic pain, changes in eating habits, wanting to be alone often, failing to bathe or keep clean, losing touch with loved ones and lack of interest in usual activities.

Once addiction is identified, it is critical to seek out a treatment center that has specific experience working with seniors facing addiction. The program should also offer case management services, as individuals older than 65 typically lack the social support required throughout recovery. These case management services will provide the elderly with access to medical, psychiatric and social resources to allow for a healthy lifestyle to continue after treatment.

Iliff says that unfortunately, only 1 in 10 people with a substance use disorder receive professional help.

"We need more older Americans in recovery to stand up and speak out and provide hope to those who are still struggling," she says. "Betty Ford was 60 when she went to treatment and began her recovery from addiction to prescription opioids and alcohol. She remains a shining example for other older Americans."

Iliff is right when she says more needs to be done to educate people on safer alternatives for preserving their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

GETTING

HELP Prescription drug misuse

and abuse


By Randal C. Hill

The Grinch Who Stole McDonald’s

It was the “coolest” hangout in 1940s San Bernardino, with teenage cruisers filling the vast parking lot at McDonald’s drive-in on E Street every night. But such customers (usually adolescent boys with revving engines and blaring car radios) tended to loiter, spend little money and flirt with the cute carhops. The McDonald brothers—

Richard and Mac—sought families rather than rowdy kids, so they temporarily closed their lucrative southern California business and worked on a new approach.

While McDonald’s offered over two dozen menu items—including tamales, chili and PBJ sandwiches—about 80% of their sales came from burgers, fries and drinks. When the brothers restarted their restaurant, they offered only the items that most customers wanted.

In December 1948 McDonald’s reopened to an initially befuddled clientele. Paper cups and plastic utensils had replaced familiar silverware and plates. With no place to sit, customers now had to stand in lines. Polite young men (not comely young women) quickly dispensed food items and handled cash. In the kitchen each worker repeatedly performed one specific task.

McDonald’s new prices were low, low, low. Burgers cost 15 cents (4 cents more for a cheeseburger), milkshakes ran 20 cents, fries and sodas were a dime each, coffee a nickel.

Soon North E Street often

became gridlocked, and McDonald’s service-window lines sometimes numbered 200 customers at once. Money flowed in as if a cash dam had burst. By 1953 the McDonalds’ were netting $100,000 a year when the minimum hourly wage was 75 cents. Richard, his wife and the still-single Mac shared a 25-room San Bernardino mansion complete with a tennis court. Each year they bought three new Cadillacs.

Then, one day in 1954 an aggressive restaurant-supply salesman in Chicago named Ray Kroc noticed an unusual order on his desk. A California burger joint had ordered eight of his Multimixers—capable of whipping up 48 milkshakes at once—for just one location.

One location? Huh?The curious Kroc, always

looking for the Big Payoff in

the business world, journeyed to San Bernardino and sat in his car for hours in the McDonald’s parking lot as a tide of customers ebbed and flowed. Kroc later told Time magazine, “I said to myself, ‘These guys have got something. How about if I opened some of these places?’”

Seeing a golden opportunity, Kroc envisioned McDonald’s as a global fast food giant. He strong-armed the brothers into a deal, offering to pay them a rock-bottom rate of 0.5% of all future sales. In April 1955 Kroc opened his first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois. Over the next five years he created a chain of 228 franchised restaurants. In 1961 he bought out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million in cash.

His golden opportunity had arrived in the form of the Golden Arches.

Ray Kroc, always determined that nothing—absolutely nothing—would stand in his way of amassing wealth, once proclaimed, “If any of my competitors were drowning, I’d stick a hose in their mouth and turn on the water.”

• Were you a caregiver to a parent who was diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body, or another dementia) by a medical provider?

• Were you the primary caregiver (provided the majority of care) for a minimum of 1 year?

If you answered yes to these questions, you may be eligible to participate in a research project that is designed to explore the experiences of adult children who were primary caregivers to a parent with dementia. This is a research project being conducted by Penny Minor, a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Kent State University.

You will be asked to complete 2 face-to-face interviews with the researcher and check the researcher’s findings based on your interviews to ensure that your caregiving experiences were captured. Each interview will be approximately 60 minutes long and you will know the interview questions before the interviews. The second interview will take place in approximately two weeks after your first interview. You can receive up to $30 for your participation ($15 Visa gift card at the completion of each interview).

Wanted: Sons, Daughters, Son-in-Laws

or Daughter-in-Laws Who Were Caregivers to a Parent with Dementia

to Participate in a Research Study

If you would like additional information,

contact Penny Minor at [email protected] or (330-383-8556) and please leave a message.

This study has been approved by the Kent State

University Institutional Review Board (IRB-18-039).


By Edward Grinnan

This is a story about how my dog, Millie, never ceases to amaze me.

I hadn't planned to but last weekend Julee had back-to-back rehearsals for a concert so Millie and I ventured upstate to check out our place in the Berkshires about 130 miles from the city as the crow flies (we drove). Actually I was anxious to see how the house had fared over this rude winter.

Thank God it was still standing with its roof intact but there was a ton of snow in the yard. Millie bulldozed a few paths but it wasn't the same as being able to run all over the place, and I could tell she was a little disappointed.

Likewise all our favorite mountain trails were impassable without snowshoes. Millie might have giant paws but they would be no match for the drifts.

Instead I took her down the road to a woodsy little development on

Steven's Lake. Most of the houses were closed down for the season but I knew they had a plowed road that went around the lake. We could get some exercise there. Mostly what we got was muddy.

My Devon Cream Golden Retriever suddenly looked more like hot chocolate. I would have much explaining to do when I got home. And Goldens, sweet as they are, can smell pretty sour when wet.

We turned around eventually. On the way back up the road, Millie would run off from time to time to check out one house or another, sniffing around for signs of life but always coming back at my whistle.

Except for one house, set up on a hillside way back off the road. I could barely see it through the naked trees. Millie strode purposefully up the driveway. I whistled. She trotted ahead. Finally I followed.

Millie disappeared around back. I was slipping and sliding at this point and calling her name, shocked she could be so oblivious…or willful. Then I thought, Not a deer carcass! and began running.

Actually it was the main entrance to the house. Millie was sitting patiently on the little porch giving me a very grave look.

"Millie, come on!"She stayed."Now!"Wouldn't budge. Suddenly a

man opened the door. As soon as I recovered from the surprise of seeing that someone besides us was populating the area, I apologized

profusely for my dog's behavior."That's all right. I have one too.

He's pretty sick right now or I'd ask you in."

So we got to talking. He was a New Yorker too, and like all New Yorkers we immediately traded neighborhood info. He lived in the Village, and I told him I lived in Chelsea.

"I have my practice in Chelsea, at Penn South. I'm the podiatrist."

I'd seen his sign a million times. Of course.

"Maybe your dog knows mine. I used to bring him to work with me all the time when he was young. Buzz. A Mastiff mix."

Buzz? Really? Buzz and Millie had the same walker when Millie was a puppy, and they would often walk together for hours. I hadn't seen Buzz in ages.

"He's real sick," the man said, "and frail." I peeked through the door and saw Buzz, ancient now, sleeping on a pile of blankets. "I'd have Millie come in but I'm afraid she might want to play and Buzz's hips are shot. I thought he might like it up here with the fireplace and all."

I knew he was telling me his dog was dying. I felt terrible for him. It's as bad as losing a person you love, worse sometimes, since some people refuse to understand how very deep the sorrow can be at losing a beloved animal. Millie nudged the door open a little wider and stared in at Buzz. She was very still. Very quiet.

"How 'bout I put her on her leash and let her say hello," I said softly, knowing hello would really be goodbye because dogs know these things in a way we mere humans never will. The man nodded and I leashed Millie up.

She padded over to Buzz, leaned in and nuzzled his ear. Buzz's tail flopped against the old blankets. It was all he could manage…and all I could do to keep the tears from my eyes.

She turned and gave me a look that said, "That's what this is all about. We can go now."

And so we went, just like that. I thanked the man and wished him luck and said a silent prayer for Buzz's peaceful passing. Millie was already quite a few paces ahead of me. I caught up and dropped to one knee, hugging her and not minding the wet and the mud and the Golden aroma.

Someday all of this will be explained to me, hopefully in heaven.

Until then I am content to be amazed.

Millie's Mysterious Ways


By Pastor G. Coleman LillyRestoration Church

Notes from the

Lilly Pad

I can’t remember what I wanted to write about for this month’s article so I think I will write about forgetting! It’s one of the few things that I am good at and it sometimes leads to laughter, sometimes to frustration, and I’m sure to other things I can’t remember.

Over the last year or so, I have for the first time given serious thought to the fact that I am getting older. It seems like only yesterday I was making fun of one of my best friends because he had started using a senior discount card at our favorite restaurant. Now, not only have I been getting senior discounts for nearly twenty years; but many acquaintances and those close to me are inquiring as to when I am going to retire. Even though I know the world would get along perfectly fine if I did so; I know in my heart that I am not quite ready to take that step.

My problems with short-term memory loss, and with sometimes feeling inadequate were accelerated and exacerbated by my fourth and most serious concussion nearly six years ago. Though I still experience symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome; I manage to function rather well and feel that I still have many productive years left.

To be perfectly honest – my purpose in writing this article is to share the following story. I have to believe that there are others who have experienced what I went through; and perhaps the account of my struggles and eventual overcoming will be an encouragement to some.

About mid-way through last year I began to feel as if I was becoming ineffective in nearly every

area of my life. After hearing several doctors remind me of the potential for problems due to my age – after using wire-cutters to cut nose and ear hair – after buying Prevagen and forgetting where I put it – after being allowed to use the senior-tees in a few golf tournaments – after thinking some aging politicians were too old to lead effectively only to find out that I was older – and after having so many people hold open doors for me – I began to think maybe it was time to buy a rocking chair and snooze my way to my eternal reward!

During a particularly rough period of this crisis in confidence; I found myself at my desk early one morning praying and reading the Bible. As I have learned to do, I came right out and asked the Lord if I was too incompetent to continue my ministry and if I should lay it all down. Looking into God’s Word for direction and comfort, my eyes fell on the following words in Psalm 92:14 which are in reference to God’s children: “They shall still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and VERY GREEN.” Suddenly joy

and confidence flooded my soul and I immediately claimed this promise for my life. In that precious moment of a one-man revival; I knew that my life and ministry would still bear fruit and that God wasn’t finished with me.

I wanted so much to share this good news with seniors that I ordered a special license plate with the words “VERY GREEN”. Since placing it on the front of my car I have had the opportunity to tell others about God’s amazing grace and the fresh hope and renewed zeal that is alive in my heart. Most people think it has something to do with environmental awareness; but after talking with me

they walk away with a huge smile and I often sense that they related to my story.

If any senior reading this article has experienced the same kind of doubts and feelings of inadequacy that I had to fight through; I encourage you with the truth that while our outward man may be perishing, our inner man can be renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16) It’s not how old we are that matters – it’s whether or not we are still “full of sap and very green” in our heart and spirit.

Now I encourage you – before you forget – read Psalm 92:12-15 and become VERY GREEN!

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By Sharon Naylor

Cliques are not just found in high school. The dynamics of an "in" group and the outsiders are very much in play at senior living communities, and when a resident doesn't fit in with the A-list, it can be a very stressful living situation. The allure of a senior living community was supposed to be social interaction and making friends, or so thought the senior and his or her family when making plans for the senior's new home. When the clique doesn't welcome a new member, he or she can feel very much out in the cold, lonely and increasingly depressed.

Terri Glimcher, life enrichment director of Emeritus at Oak Park and author of "G is for Golden Years: A Life Enrichment Guide for Senior Living," says the stress of clique

nonacceptance sounds like this: "I've saved this seat for my friend, so you can't sit here." "You can't play; there are already four of us." The message is, "You are not welcome."

The "in" crowd in high school is often the circle of happy, attractive high achievers, but that's not always the case in senior living communities. "Oftentimes people who are unhappy about being moved from their homes tend to form a clique with those who seem to be experiencing the same feelings," Glimcher says. "They tend not to be accepting of other residents who are joyful and happy most of the time." Amazingly, the members of this circle do not welcome those who could lift their spirits. They're bonding over their misery.

Some groups form solid barriers based on interests. "Other cliques may be the bingo group or the group of women who are looking for a good man," Glimcher says.

When a senior first feels the sting of social rejection, especially after living as the patriarch or

matriarch of his or her family -- enjoyed, valued and respected -- the most common reaction is self-questioning. "What did I do to offend them?" At this point, the senior might feel as if a campaign of kindness is needed -- going out of his or her way to compliment members of the group, give them little gifts, etc., all with a smile, which is the last thing the misery club wants. A new resident of the community doesn't know what makes each clique tick, so these first missteps often make the hole deeper.

If you're a resident facing unwelcoming clique activity, speak with a member of the community's staff -- not to whine about being shunned, but to ask for clues and tips on how to befriend residents. Don't be afraid to ask for help fitting in. An insider is your best resource for learning what would eliminate the clique's bad behavior or that it's a futile effort to try to fit in.

"I'm glad I asked, because the director told me that those three ladies have never welcomed anyone new into the group," says senior Nina Everness. "She then told me who was approachable, which ladies shared my hobbies, and who was worth developing a friendship with."

"There is a type of caste system among residents," says Gina Kaurich, executive director of client care services at FirstLight HomeCare. "Even fun activities, such as singing, aren't immune from bully behavior." Here are her tips on ways to combat senior bullies:

1)Take care of yourself first and

foremost.2) Recognize the behavior for

what it is, abuse.3) Call it out to the bullies that

what they are doing is abuse.4) Make certain to tell someone

you trust about the situation.5) If possible, get a witness

and then write down the incidents of bullying, including dates, times and descriptions.

6) Ignore the bullies.7) Avoid them.8) Do not reinforce their

behavior with positive or negative attention.

9) Be assertive and demand the bullying stop.

10) Get professional help involved as a resource.

K e e p i n m i n d t h a t t h e community managers and staff are always on the lookout for bad behavior by residents. Glimcher has asked cliques' leaders to head up welcoming committees, which has been successful in opening the cliques' doors. Her community also hosts a monthly auction of donated prizes, and residents earn $20 in "fun money" each time they are seen being helpful or kind to other residents. She says that residents' drive to have more "money" to spend motivates positive, welcoming actions.

Of course, a new resident can start a special interest club to attract new friends, creating a brand-new group that welcomes others warmly. The cliques soon become less important, and better quality of life ensues.

HANDLING CLIQUES

It's not just for teenagers

The Senior News April 2018SNICKERSBREAK The Lion Sleeps

Tonight

A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night...It was her turn. She rolled the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her question was, 'If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?'

She thought for a time and then asked, 'Is it on or off?'

Ethel and Gert were living in Oklahoma and sitting on a bench talking one evening. Ethel looks to her friend and says, 'Which do you think is farther away...Florida or the moon?'

Gert turns to Ethel and says 'Helloooooooooo, you can’t even see Florida from here!!!!'

Two guys walk into a bar, the third one ducks.

Officer: "Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?"

Soldier: "Sure, buddy."Officer: "That's no way to

address an officer! Let's try it again. Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?"

Soldier: "No, sir!"

A bus on a busy street struck a Catholic man. He was lying near death on the sidewalk as a crowd gathered.

"A priest. Somebody get me a priest!" the man gasped.

Long seconds dragged on but no one stepped out of the crowd.

A policeman checked the crowd and finally yelled, "A PRIEST, PLEASE! Isn't there a priest in this crowd to give this man his last rites?"

Finally, out of the crowd stepped a little old Jewish man in his 80s.

"Mr. Policeman," said the man, "I'm not a priest. I'm not even a Catholic. But for 50 years now, I'm living behind the Catholic Church on Second Avenue , and every night I'm overhearing their services. I can recall a lot of it, and maybe I can be of some comfort to this poor man."

The policeman agreed, and cleared the crowd so the man could get through to where the injured man lay.

The old Jewish man knelt down, leaned over the man and said in a solemn voice:

“B-5 .... I-19 ... N-38 ... G-54 .... O-72 ...”

Two new hunting club members are taking a tour of the lodge. The man showing them around says, “See that old man asleep in the chair by the fireplace? He is our oldest member and can tell you some hunting stories you’ll never forget.” They awaken the old man and ask him to tell them a hunting story.

“Well, I remember back in 1944, we went on a lion hunting ex-pedition in Africa. We were on foot and hunted for three days without seeing a thing. On the fourth day, I was so tired I had to rest my feet. I found a fallen tree, so I laid my gun down, propped my head on the tree, and fell asleep. I don’t know how long I was asleep when I was awakened by a noise in the bushes. I was reaching for my gun when the biggest damn lion I ever seen jumped out of the bushes at me like this: ROOOAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!! I tell you, I just dirtied my pants.”

The young men looked astonished and one of them said, “I don’t blame you, I would have dirtied my pants too if a lion jumped out at me.”

The old man shook his head and said, “No, no, not then, just now when I said ROOOAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!”

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Johnny was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning son."

"Good morning pastor" replied the young man, focused on the plaque. "Sir, what is this?" Johnny asked.

"Well son, these are all the people who have died in the service," replied the pastor.

Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque.

Little Johnny's voice barely broke the silence when he asked quietly, "Which one sir, the 8:30 or the 10:30 service?"

Just Sayin’

Some people just need a sympathetic pat...

On the head...With a hammer

Raising the Bar

Rank and File

Bless Me Father

Blondage

Moondance

Sunday Morning

Trish

My wife, Trish, says I have only two faults.

I don’t listen and something or other she was rattling on about.

MarkI told Trish I wanted to be

cremated.She made me an appointment

for next Tuesday. Trish & MarkTrish just stopped and said,

“You weren’t even listening were you?”

I thought...“That’s a pretty weird way to

start a conversation?”

Mark Goes to the Bar

Me: What’s the wifi password?Bartender: You need to buy a

drink first.Me: Okay, I’ll have a Coke.Bartender: Is Pepsi okay?Me: Sure, how much is that?Bartender: $3Me: There you go. So what’s

the wifi password?Bartender: You need to buy a

drink first.No spaces, all lowercase.

Did You Know?Scuba divers roll backwards

off the boats because if they rolled forward they would just fall into the boat.

Moon Over Canfield

After almost two hours watching the “super moon”, I sobered up and realized it was my neighbor’s satellite dish!

What The...


by Lisa M. Petsche

Taking Care

Falls are the primary cause of injury and hospitalization for older adults, and half of those injured do not regain their former level of independence. Even more sobering, falls are the seventh leading cause of death in people aged 65 and over.

The majority of falls by seniors take place at home while they are carrying out everyday activities. Most often they occur in the bathroom, bedroom or a stairwell.

Heal th- and age- re la ted changes that contribute to falls include arthritis, decreased sensation in the feet (known as peripheral neuropathy), loss of strength, visual impairment, balance problems and the use of certain medications.

The other major cause of falls is hazardous conditions in the home environment. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce these hazards for yourself or a loved one. Many of them involve little or no cost.

In The KitchenKeep regularly used pots,

dishes, staple foods and other supplies within easy reach. Ensure the heaviest items are stored in the lower cupboards.

If you must reach high places, get a step stool that has a high handrail and rubber tips. Never use a chair.

In The BedroomSituate a lamp within easy reach

of your bed. Also keep a flashlight on hand in case there’s a power failure (don’t forget to regularly replace the batteries).

Keep a phone at your bedside. If your bedroom doesn’t have a phone jack, get a cordless phone and keep the receiver with you at night. (Don’t forget to place it back on the base in the morning, so it can recharge during the day.)

Ensure there’s a clear path from your bed to the bathroom.

In The BathroomHave grab bars installed by the

toilet and in the bathtub or shower area. Ensure they are placed in the proper location and well anchored to the wall.

Use a rubber mat (the kind with suction cups) in the tub or shower, and a non-skid bath mat on the floor.

Get a bathtub seat or a shower chair.

Obtain a raised toilet seat if you have trouble getting on and off the toilet.

Get a hand-held shower head so you can shower in a sitting position.

StairwellsSteps should be in good repair

and have a non-skid surface.Have solid handrails installed

on both sides of stairways – ideally these should project past both the top and bottom steps.

Keep steps free of clutter.Ensure stairwells are well lit. If

necessary, get battery-powered dome lights that easily attach to the wall.

General TipsWear slippers or shoes that fit

snugly, offer good support and have a non-skid sole (avoid a sticky sole like crepe, though).

Ensure throw rugs and scatter mats have a non-skid backing. Better yet, remove them, since they are one of the most common

causes

of falls.K e e p

walkways clear of electrical and telephone cords.

Avoid clutter in rooms and hallways.

Post emergency numbers by the telephone for easy access. If vision is a problem, get a phone with a large, lighted keypad.

Sign on with a personal emergency response service, whereby you wear a lightweight, waterproof pendant or bracelet that has a button to press if you run into a crisis and need help. (Studies have found that getting help quickly after a fall reduces the risk of hospitalization and death.)

Use night-lights in the bedroom, hallways and bathroom. Get the kind that have a built-in sensor that automatically turns the light on in

dim conditions. Also consider getting one or more plug-in, rechargeable flashlights that automatically come on when the power goes out.

Spend some time browsing in medical supply stores or perusing their catalogs to discover the many items available – for example, reachers and electric-lift armchairs – that can increase household safety and make everyday

activities easier.Consider a cane or walker if

balance is an ongoing problem. Make sure you are fitted with the appropriate type of aid and receive instruction on proper usage.

Arrange for a home assessment by an occupational therapist if you would like more information about identifying potential safety hazards and successfully addressing them. The therapist may point out areas of risk and make recommendations that would not have occurred to you or your family.

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal experience with elder care.

Simple Improvements Can

Make Home Safer


P h y s i c a l a n d c o g n i t i v e impairments of aging can rob people of the ability to manage their finances. It can also make them more susceptible to being robbed by others. Many instances of financial neglect and exploitation go unreported because of shame, guilt, fear that the victim may lose independence or concern that the perpetrator (who may be a close friend or family member) will retaliate.

You may notice signs of financial neglect or exploitation such as confusion or fearfulness, unpaid bills, lack of medical care, unnecessary services, goods or subscriptions, missing items or cash, large or frequent withdrawals from bank accounts, or suspicious changes in property titles or legal documents. Stepping in to help can be problematic. Overstepping can cause resentment and distrust, but stepping back could mean financial ruin for the victim. So what steps should you take?

Stepping Forward Without Stepping on Toes

Assuming that the victim recognizes that there is a problem, there are a number of ways you can help him to help himself.

Simplify – Reducing the number of transactions can make things much more manageable. Consolidate accounts, set up automatic payments of bills, limit purchases to one credit card.

Reduce – Get off of junk mail lists, sign up for the do not call registry, clear out and shred extraneous paperwork.

Organize – Sort and store important legal and financial papers and tax records, itemize and safeguard valuables and collectibles, set up a system to collect and review bills and monthly statements.

Monitor – Request and review credit reports annually, check references of caregivers and other service providers, work with an

accountant, attorney and financial advisor, etc.

Stepping It Up to Keep A Step Ahead

If your loved one’s impairments are too severe, you may need to step forward to handle things yourself. If you are named agent under a durable financial power of attorney, you are able to handle any matters listed in the document. With the “immediate” POA, either you or the principal can act. If yours is a “springing” POA, you cannot act until a certain event – usually that a doctor has certified that the principal is too ill to handle things himself.

You must present your POA to any bank or other financial institution that you deal with, have it registered or recorded and your signature accepted. Whenever you sign, be sure to write the principal’s name, sign your name and indicate that you are acting as agent under POA.

If property is in a trust, the trustee manages the assets rather than the agent under POA. Co-Trustees can both manage assets. A successor trustee can take over when the initial trustee resigns or becomes incapacitated.

Stepping InSince the POA is given by the

principal, he can also take it away. And he can continue to handle his own finances as well. If your loved one’s judgement is severely impaired and he is at risk of self-neglect or exploitation, it may be necessary to bring a guardianship action through the Probate Court. This is an adversarial action in which you would need to prove to the court that the principal is incompetent and that you are an appropriate person to manage his affairs. You would need to post a bond insuring your good management and account to the court annually for your transactions. In bringing a guardianship action, you will want to have an attorney with you every step of the way.

To manage social security or VA income, you must apply directly to the agency to become a payee. Keep careful records as annual accountings will be required.

Stepping AsideIf you find that your loved

one is in severe danger or needs more help than you are able to give, you should report the neglect or exploitation to your county Adult Protective Services (APS). Anyone can make a confidential report and

the APS will investigate and seek to help. Many professionals who work with seniors are “Mandatory Reporters”. Mandatory Reporters are required to report suspected abuse to the APS.

Mandatory Reporters Include:Psychologists, Social Workers,

Nurses, Counsellors, Peace Officers, Clergymen, Coroners, Marriage & Family Therapists and Attorneys.

Employees of:Phys ic ians , Ambula to ry

Health Facilities, Osteopaths, Home Health Agencies, Podiatrists, Residential Facilities, Chiropractors, Nursing Homes, Dentists and Hospitals.

As of September 29, 2018, more professionals will be added as mandatory reporters.

Firefighters, Real Estate Brokers or Salesmen, Ambulance Drivers, Nota ry Publ ic , Paramedics , Investment Advisors, Pharmacists, Financial Planners , Dialysis Technicians and CPA's.

Employees of:Mental Health Agencies and

Banks or Credit Unions.Any person who has reasonable

cause to suspect elder abuse, financial or otherwise, may make a confidential report, if the report is made in good faith, the reporter will be immune from criminal or civil liability and protected from employment discrimination or retaliation.

TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE IN OHIO CONTACT YOUR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES OR CALL 1-855-OHIO-APS (1-855-644-6277) TOLL-FREE 24/7

by Marta & Kyla Williger

Update On The Law

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Steps to Take

In Fighting Financial Neglect & Exploitation

High Cholesterol? The creator of Gatorade can help.

Gainesville, FL – If you’re one of the millions of Americans that have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, “Natural” help is not available from the creator of Gatorade ! The highly regarded late Dr. Robert J. Cade, while at the University of Florida did extensive clinical trials utilizing a special formula he developed containing soluble fiber (Acacia Gum).

This formula “CholesterAde” proved to lower cholesterol in the human blood by over 17% during an 8 week period. Not only is this special soluble fiber proven to lower cholesterol naturally but other positive effects showed weight loss and improving bowel functions which can help reduce the chances of many forms of cancer.

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Columbus, Ohio – Certain types of medications and drug combinations can cause dizziness, drowsiness and confusion, and could contribute to a life-changing fall in older adults.

The Ohio Department of Aging, through its STEADY U Ohio falls prevention initiative, is partnering with the Ohio Pharmacists Association and pharmacies around the state during the first week of

April to help older Ohioans and their caregivers understand and minimize the risk of falling potentially caused by the medicines they take to remain healthy.

“One in three Ohioans over the age of 60 will experience a fall this year, and falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths among our elders,” said Beverley L. Laubert, interim director of the department. “Prevention starts by understanding the risks, and we thank our pharmacy partners for having this crucial conversation with

their customers.”“More than 50 percent of patients

take their medicines incorrectly, resulting in approximately 10 percent of hospital admissions,” said Ernest Boyd, Pharmacist, executive director of the Ohio Pharmacists Association. “Be sure your pharmacist regularly reviews your medication with you. Whenever you get a new prescription, ask the pharmacist how to take it and about side effects, drug interactions and other important information. That conversation could help you avoid a fall and literally save your life.”

During the week of April 1-7, 2018, participating pharmacies around the state will provide free, confidential medicine reviews for older adults who visit their locations. Pharmacy staff will review customers' medicine usage and identify those medicines and combinations that may increase the risk for falls. Customers will receive a list of their potentially problem medicines to take to thei r heal th care professionals so that they can discuss risks and appropriate treatment options.

Dates and times vary by location. Participating pharmacies include all 249 Ohio Walgreens Pharmacy locations, more than 100 Kroger Pharmacy locations, and select Discount Drug Mart Pharmacy, Fruth Pharmacy, NEON Health Center Pharmacy, Rite Aid Pharmacy and Shriver's Pharmacy locations, as well as other local pharmacies.

Visit www.steadyu.ohio.gov for the schedule and complete list of participating pharmacies.

A prescription to prevent falls: Tips from STEADY U Ohio

c Maintain a list of all the medicines you take. Include doses, frequency and prescribing doctor. Also include any over-the-counter medicines (pain relievers, antacids, cold medicines, etc.) or supplements you take. Bring the list with you to doctor's appointments and when you pick up prescriptions.

c Read the label. If it says "may cause dizziness or drowsiness," or cautions against driving, ask about the best time to take it to avoid falls. Also ask about alternative treatments with less hazardous side effects.

c Take your medicine exactly as prescribed. If you find it hard to stick to a medication schedule or if you have trouble telling medicines apart, your doctor or pharmacist may have some ideas to help. Similarly, ask your doctor to write detailed 182 High Street Warren, Ohio 44481

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directions on how and when to take your medications.

c Talk to your doctor about changes to your eating habits (such as a low-fat or high-calcium diet), as well as how much caffeine and alcohol you consume, as these can affect how your medicines work.

c Ask your pharmacist about easier-to-read labels and instructions if you have trouble reading warnings or directions on your medicine containers.

c Choose over-the-counter medicines that only have the ingred ien ts you need . Your pharmacist can help select the best medicine options for your symptoms.

About STEADY U Ohio – Falls are an epidemic among our elders and are the number one cause of injuries leading to ER visits, hospital stays and deaths in Ohioans age 65-plus. STEADY U Ohio is a comprehensive falls prevention initiative led by Governor John Kasich and the Ohio Department of Aging, and supported by Ohio government and state business partners to strengthen existing falls prevention activities, identify opportunities for new initiatives and coordinate a statewide educational campaign to bring falls prevention to the forefront of planning for individuals, families, health care providers, business and community leaders and all Ohioans. Visit www.steadyu.ohio.gov.

About ODA - The Ohio Department of Aging works to ensure that Ohio is on the leading edge of innovation in responding to the growing and changing aging population. We work with state agencies, area agencies on aging and other local partners to help integrate aging needs into local plans and ensure that aging Ohioans have access to a wide array of high-quality services and supports that are person-centered in policy and practice. Our programs include the PASSPORT Medicaid waiver, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.

Department of Aging, Ohio Pharmacies

Partner to Help Older Ohioans Prevent Falls

Take advantage of free medicine reviews April 1-7 at more than 400

Ohio pharmacy locations

Lemon

Squares

The Senior News

Trish’s Dishes

TRISH’SDISHES

Trish

April 2018

By Trish Ludwick

Lemon

Cucumber Salad

Baked Fish with

Lemon Cream Sauce

Sweet & tart and dresses any salad beautifully!

1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest 1 tbsp. honey 1/2 tsp. chopped thyme 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil salt and pepper to taste In a small bowl, whisk the

lemon juice with the lemon zest, honey and thyme. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Let’s talk lemons. This lovely little citrus gem is

one of the top 20 most loved flavors around the world. The scent of a cut lemon has many layers, it smells fresh, with a tart clean edge and at the same time, there is an underlying hint of sweetness that can make one’s palate dance with delight.

While the origin of lemons has yet to be determined, lemons arrived in America as seeds in the pocket of Christopher Columbus and were mainly used as ornamental plants and in medicines. It was not until the 1800’s; they began to be used for cooking and flavoring. Today there are over 200 varieties of lemons available in the United States.

This lovely little fruit plays a vital role in cooking today, its dual flavoring of tart and sweet allows it to accompany many recipes. On the savory side, it is most often paired with chicken, fish, vegetables and salad dressings, yet its sweetness shines in cakes, pies, cookies and candy, not to mention how smashing it is with a cup of tea.

Did I fail to mention that lemons are also a great source of vitamins, potassium and loaded with antioxidants? And they add loads of flavor to anything with almost no calories! With all this goodness, one cannot simply imagine life with lemons…don’t you agree?

Well, I do, and following are some great recipes using the fabulous flavor of the lovely lemon!

Tart and fabulously fresh!2 large cucumbers 1 cup cherry tomatoes 1/2 cup yellow sweet bell

pepper 3 tbsp. parsley 2 and 1/2 tbsp. fresh lemon

juice 1 and 1/2 tsp. lemon zest 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 and 1/2 tsp. white wine

vinegar Salt and pepper to tastePeel the cucumber if desired

and thinly slice. Chop the cherry tomatoes into small pieces. Measure the cherry tomatoes once chopped to make one cup. Finely chop the yellow sweet bell pepper. Add the tomato and yellow pepper in with the cucumbers. Finely chop the parsley and add it in. If you aren't eating this right away, place the mixture in the fridge to chill. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, white wine vinegar, and salt + pepper. Right before serving, add the dressing to the cucumbers and adjust to taste. (Add more lemon, salt, or pepper, if desired.) Enjoy immediately.

Yum! Yum! A meal in one!4 medium yellow potatoes

sliced (skin-on is ok) 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 cups baby spinach 2 boneless skinless chicken

breasts, halved 2 tbsp. stone ground mustard 1/2 lemon juiced Salt & pepper to tastePreheat oven to 375°. Slice

potatoes and put in a baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes, and sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Place spinach on top of potatoes, and then put chicken halves on top of the spinach. Sprinkle the chicken with a little salt, and then squeeze half the lemon over the chicken breasts. Spread the stone ground mustard on the chicken and then bake for 25 minutes, remove from oven and stir the potatoes around a bit, and then bake for another 20 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

Deliciously easy and oh so wonderful!

1 boxed lemon cake mix1 cup hot water 2 sm. boxes lemon jello mix1 cup milk1 sm. box instant lemon pudding1 8oz. whipped topping, thawedPrepare cake and bake according

to package directions in a 9x13 baking dish. With a fork, poke holes all over top of cake. Combine 1 cup hot water with one package of lemon gelatin. Stir until gelatin is dissolved, and pour mixture over cake. Chill in refrigerator until cool. In large bowl stir together milk, lemon pudding mix and remaining package of lemon gelatin until powders are dissolved. Fold in whipped topping and spread over cake. Refrigerate until serving.

Fish with lemon is a pair made in heaven!

4 6oz. fish fillets, skinless, boneless (your choice of fish)

4 tbsp. unsalted butter¼ cup heavy cream½ cloves garlic, minced1 tbsp. Dijon mustard1 ½ tbsp. lemon juice1 ½ tbsp. finely chopped

scallionsSalt & pepper to tastePreheat oven to 390°. Place fish

in a baking dish and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Place butter, cream, garlic, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a microwave proof jug or bowl. Microwave in 2 x 30 sec bursts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Sprinkle fish with shallots, then pour over sauce. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, or until fish is just cooked. Remove and transfer to serving plates. Spoon over sauce, and garnish with parsley and lemon wedges if using.

This is fabulous on….well, on anything!

3 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup butter, cubed 1 tbsp. grated lemon peel In a small heavy saucepan over

medium heat, whisk eggs, sugar and lemon juice until blended. Add butter and lemon peel; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a metal spoon. Transfer to a small bowl; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate, covered, until cold.

These are the best-ever, all time luscious, most fabulous lemon cookies in the world!

Crust½ lb. unsalted butter½ cup sugar2 cups flour1/8 tsp. saltFilling6 extra-large eggs, room temp.3 cups sugar2 tbsp. grated lemon zest1 c fresh squeezed lemon juice1 cup flourConfectioner’s sugar for dustingPreheat the oven to 350°. For

the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet and chill for about 15 minutes. Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on. For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares. Lemon Mustard

Chicken & Potatoes

Lemon Cooler Cake

Homemade Lemon Curd

Honey Lemon Dressing


The Senior News is ranked

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2018 SPECIAL!

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Cut Cable, Save Money

If your cable bi l l keeps climbing, you don't have to give up your television. There is a way to keep watching your shows and movies at a fraction of the cost. It's called cord cutting.

"Cord cutting" means that you can dump your cable company, replace it with a small indoor HDTV antenna and a streaming device, and sign up for individual services for much less than you're paying now.

There are new streaming devices every day: Roku, the Roku stick, Amazon Fire stick and more. Roku connects to your TV with an HDMI cable ($10) and runs on Wi-Fi from your Internet. The stick plugs right into your TV. The little device will cost you from $30 to $100, depending on which one you select.

With Roku alone you can access thousands of channels, many of them free. Some will cost you a few dollars a month. Before you sign up for any channels, give yourself a month of sampling what you can get on your device for free.

If you're ready to venture out and add channels, consider Netflix for its thousands of movies, as well as full seasons of TV shows, although they're a year late. Hulu, on the other hand, airs many network shows the next day or week. If you're an Amazon Prime customer, look through its movie and TV offerings for no additional cost, or access premium channels (such as HBO and Showtime) at a discount.

That's where you need to beware. Make your choices carefully, or you run the risk of signing up for so many that it equals the cable bill you just got rid of. Take it one step at a time.

Your best bet to start: a Roku and Netflix.

c On Apr i l 15 , 1783 , the Continental Congress of the United States officially ratifies a preliminary peace treaty with Great Britain. Five months later, the Treaty of Paris was signed, bringing an end to the Revolutionary War.

c On April 9, 1859, a 23-year-old Missouri youth named Samuel Clemens receives his steamboat pilot's license. Clemens is better known by the pseudonym "Mark Twain," a boatman's call noting that the river depth was two fathoms (12 feet) and safe for travel.

c On April 14, 1912, the luxury liner RMS Titanic, on its maiden voyage, fails to divert its course from an iceberg, ruptures its hull and begins to sink. Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, some 1,500 were killed.

c On April 12, 1945, while on a vacation, President Franklin Roosevelt suffers a stroke and dies. FDR had been elected president four times and had served for more than 12 years, the only president ever to serve more than two terms.

c On April 11, 1951, President Har ry Truman r e l i eves t he flamboyant and egotistical Gen. Douglas MacArthur of command of U.S. forces in Korea. The firing set off a brief uproar among the American public, and he returned home to a hero's welcome.

c On April 10, 1963, the atomic submarine USS Thresher sinks in the North Atlantic during deep-diving tests, killing the entire 129 man crew. An investigation found that a silver-brazed joint in the engine room had caused a short in critical electrical systems.

c On April 13, 1970, disaster strikes 200,000 miles from Earth when oxygen t a n k No. 2 blows up on Apollo 13. Commander James L o v e l l reported to mission control on Earth: "Houston, we've had a problem here." Using dramatic and untested maneuvers, Apollo 13 touched down safely in the Pacific Ocean four days later.

Senior News Line

By Matilda Charles

COMMUNITY

NOveNas

hOMe servICes

eMplOYMeNT

waNTed

aUTOMOTIve

Care Takers

fOr sale

persONals

hOUsINg

Only $5


Personal and For Sale Ads Only $5 per Month!

CLASSIFIEDADS

Classified Ads are Prepaid Only. Personal, Personal For Sale and Novena ads are $5. Business and ALL other ads

are $15. Price per 25 words. Deadline is 25th of the month. Send ad & payment to: The Senior News P.O. Box 2868 Youngstown, OH. 44511

ST JUDE NOVENA, May the Sacred heart of Jesus be adorned, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us, St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the end of the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised.

1996 Chevy S-10 . 4 cylinder, 5 speed. New radiator, exhaust, clutch assembly and tune-up. Power windows. This S-10 is clean, runs great and has custom paint! Call 330.559.8643. $3450 or BO.

For Sale – 97 CHEVY 1500 with extended cab, AC, Ladder rack, 2 toolboxes, bed liner, good tires and body, plus extra tires, runs good, needs a Y pipe. $1595 or best offer! 724-982-9724

CHIMNEY EXPERT! Specializing in all types of chimney repair work, concrete caps, metal caps, tuck pointing, and flue replacements. Expert in ALL roof repairs and slate work, also spouting cleanings. Senior Discounts! John Davanzo 330-757-4558

BETTYZ SIMPLY CLEAN – Available for Residential/Businesses for all your cleaning needs! Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly, One time cleaning, Senior Discounts Available, Call for Free estimates! 330-623-5489

SWM – 54, would like to meet a nice lady, aged 45 - 65, for friendship and doing things together. 330-717-7145

SWF – 60’s, attractive, bubbly, and fun, long hair, loves to cook, seeks respectful gentlemen, 60 to 80, NS, must drive for dating and friendship. Please your phone number also! 330-651-5703

For Sale – Wicker Love Seat - $50, Bissell Deep Clean - $75, Power Pressure Cooker - $25 or best offer on all. Elliptical LifeMax Trainer $100, Saunders Home Cervical Traction - $100. Call Geri at 330-518-9165

For Sale – Neck Warmers & Cold Packs, made with rice and lavender, purses, essential oils, fleece booties, (adults) and other sewn items. Call 330-609-3305

For Sale – Power Wheelchair, “Invacare Storm TDX5, High end”, 400 pound capacity, $500 firm. 330-448-4981

For Sale – 2015 Ford Taurus SEL, 11,000 miles, White Metallic – Black Leather Interior, Wife’s Car, $16,500.00, Like New! Call 330-755-9529

Retired Army Veteran will pay cash for WWI, WWII, and Vietnam war relics such as guns, uniforms, medals, helmets, daggers, swords, knives, etc. Serious local collector. 330-518-0016

All Toy Trains and Older Toys! – Buying Lionel, Marx, American Flyer, HO or any other trains. I will buy one piece or complete sets in any condition. Get my prices before you sell! Call Bill 330-758-2119

ALL ANTIQUES WANTED! – Cash paid for your old furniture, dishes, glassware, all gold, silver and old costume jewelry, pottery, Roseville, Depression, quilts, toys, jukeboxes, bookcases, cupboards, Hoosiers, and most anything over 50 years old! Call Mr. Fox at 330-424-9486

Looking To Buy Older Coins in Good Condition. Call Tom at 330-747-9112

SWM – Gentleman seeking SWF, 50-57, for dating and LTR, Mahoning County only please. 330-272-4341

MUST SALE! 2 Crypts in Green Haven Mausoleum - $8000. 234-600-5302

FOR SALE – VitaMaster Exercise Bike, complete with Speedometer, odometer and timer. $40. 330-792-3110

FOR SALE – Small Wurlitzer Piano, $150.00, Small Couch, good condition, $100.00. 330-783-0885

Collector Autos & Appraisals - sales, consulting, - www.mahoningauto.com. Serving the area for over 40 years, we are certified for court, estate purposes. Assistance in selling your antique, classic car, call 330-538-3246

For Sale – 2004 Buick Century, 127,000 miles, good condition, runs great, looks good, tan w/brown mock top. $2395.00 330-729-9655

FOR SALE – 2014 Denali 34’ Fiberglass Camper, all weather package, lots of extras, power awning and jacks, fireplace, central VAC, parked at Salem K. O.A. Excellent Condition! $23,000 or Best Offer 330-914-9773

For Sale – Set of 4 nearly new run flat tires. Continental ContiPro SSR 195/55/16 run flats. Extremely light usage. $300 for the set of 4. 330.770.5442

Pleasant Lady will take in Free Birds in my loving home, anytime! Call 330-965-0194 Does anyone have a Canary for me? I love birds and making a caring home for them!

peTs

Apartments for Rent in quite spacious 6 plex at 12 N Crandon Ave, Niles OH. Quite, spacious apartment, (650 sq. ft) with adjoining living/dining room. Kitchen w/eating area and balcony. Two bedrooms and one full bath. All appliances including dishwasher. Central Air, heat and water included in rent. Carport and on-site laundry, $575 & $600. NO smoking or pets. Seniors welcome! Call Diana: 330-718-4923

Skilled Writer available for 3 week days (4 hours each) in your Mahoning Co. office. Excellent business letters, etc. Use Microsoft Word, Outlook. Minimum Wage fine. 330-953-0341

GOOD KNIFE NURSE – Broken handles repaired or replaced, broken points redone. Blade nicks removed and long lasting very sharp edges put on. Call 330-219-9822

PLUMBING! Advice and repairs on residential plumbing. Master Plumber (OH Lic. #48359) Insured. Won’t break your fixed income! Call Mike Mistovich at 330-531-2203

Professional Handyman Service – Remodeling, replacement windows, decks, porches, pressure washing, painting, additions, roofs & roof repairs, carpentry. All of your handy-man needs! Free Estimates – Senior Discounts! 330-207-8438

Thank You St. Jude and Sacred Heart of Jesus. A.R.

Thank You St. Jude and Sacred Heart of Jesus. C.W.

Thank You St. Jude and Sacred of Jesus. J.C.

Thank You St. Jude and Sacred Heart of Jesus. R.K.

High noon

Humor Us

angel Flying

Too Close To The Ground


PLACES TO GO...THINGS TO DO...PEOPLE TO SEESENIORSCENE

Where’s The Beef?

Beethoven

(not the dog)

Batter Up!

it Cameth

and Wenteth

appetite for Destruction

Hello Doily

Aut Mori Grotto will host a Beef Tips & Noodle Dinner on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 4:00pm thru 7:00pm at the Grotto Hall, located at 563 North Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44509. Menu to include Beef tips & noodles, salad, vegetable, tolls & butter and non-alcoholic beverage. Cost of this event is $10.00 per person and is a Grotto Fundraiser. Proceeds benefit Grotto

charities and the Building Fund, for more information on this event as well as Grotto Charities contact Dan Illenick @ 330-565-8648 or Carmen Pompeii @ 330-718-5742. Building is handicap accessible and carryouts are available,

YSU announces the inaugural Good Humor Radio Hour, presented by the Good Humor Radio Players April 10 and 11 at 7p.m. at the Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal Street, Youngstown. The Tyler History Center is the original home of the famed Good Humor bar. The events are free, but tickets must be secured in advance by calling the Box Office at 330-941-3105.

The Good Humor Radio Hour features live actors on old-time radio microphones including live sound effects and music as a selection of dramatic tales for the ear are told.

Guests will be treated to complimentary Red Ribbon Cherry Soda. Founded in 1905, Red Ribbon is a small, family-owned soft drink company.

For info call 330-941-2307.

In 2016, the Governor of Ohio declared April to be Eastern European Month in Ohio! In celebration the American Slovak Cultural Association of the Mahoning Valley is holding an event on Sunday, April 22, with the theme “Honoring Your Eastern European Heritage”.

The celebration will begin at 3pm at the Father Snock Center (in the former St. Matthias School) at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 2800 Shady Run Road, Youngstown.

Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown and Law Director Jeff Limbian are planning to attend.

Representatives from many of the ethnic groups from Eastern Europe, who now reside in the Mahoning Valley, will be attending and displaying their cultural items.

YSU’s Dana School of Music announces Music at Noon concerts. All concerts are free and open to the public, and begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave, Youngstown.

Wednesday, April 4. Saxophone Studio Recital

Wednesday, April 11. Dana Guitar Ensemble

Wednesday, April 18. YSU

Barbershop Singers, “Love and Singing”

Wednesday, April 25. Clarinet Ensemble

Info at 330-941-2307.

Reservations are being accepted for the 48th annual Salem Founders’ Day celebration. Open to the public, and held on April 24 at Bone Shakers on East Pershing Street, Salem. Doors open at 5pm. Dinner served at 6pm. Tickets are $25.00 per person.

The evening’s activities will include “Pick-A-Prize Auction” which includes gift certificates from area businesses.

Early reservations encouraged through April 17 by calling the Salem Historical Society’ reservation line at (330) 337-6733 or online tickets at salemhistoricalsociety.org. For questions, call 330-337-8514.

The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra’s spring concert – Spirits of Spring! – features a star soloist, Beethoven’s most exhilarating symphony, and a trio of irresistible opera overtures. 3 p.m. on April 22, at Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic Street, NE, Warren.

WPO Garage Sale on April 27-29 to help fund the 2018-2019 season. 1337 Springwood Trace, SE, Warren, from noon to 4 p.m. each day. Visit the website at http://www.warrenphilharmonic.org/upscale-garage-sale-april-27-29-2018.html to view photos of items looking for good homes.

Tickets for the April concert purchased at the door. Adults: $25; students: $15; children under 12 are free with an adult. For info about the concert or the fundraiser, call 330-399-3606 or email [email protected].

Have you ever wondered what Ohio was like during the Ice Age? The entire landscape was different, from animals to glaciers, but the events that occurred then helped shape the Ohio we know today.

Join the Ohio Cer t i f ied Volunteer Naturalists April 14 to listen to Dale Gnidovec, OSU Orton Geological Museum, speak about glacial effects on the land and more.

From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Metroparks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield. Registration is free, but required. To register, stop at Mahoning County Extension Office, call at 330-533-5538, or visit go.osu.edu/IceAge.

USA Dance on Sunday April 15 "Baseball, Ballroom & Bolero" Dance Party encouraging favorite baseball team spirit and will feature Bolero Lessons and General Dancing at the Orthodox Center, 1025 N. Belle Vista Ave, Youngstown.

The evening will feature: 5PM Bolero Basics. 5:30 PM Intermediate/Advance Bolero. 6:15 - 9PM Open dancing to Ballroom, Latin, Swing and Hustle. $5 members, $10 Non Members, $2.50 Students.

Come and see how rewarding volunteering can be! The Guardian Angels of Trumbull County, a volunteer program of the Trumbull County Probate Court, is looking for new volunteers! Our trained angel volunteers reach out as friends to seniors who may need a friendly phone call, a visit in a nursing home, or a visit at home. Angels are also involved in planning special events for seniors. Please join us for our next meeting on May 1, 2018 at 5:00 pm at Shepherd of the Valley, 4100 North River Road, Warren. For info call 330-675-2521 or go to www.trumbullprobate.org.

Quakers at shakers for

Founders Day it’s a euro Thing

The Hartford-Badger Alumni Association will hold its 131st Annual Alumni Banquet at 6:00pm on Saturday, May 12, 2018, with registration starting at 5:00pm at the Sharpsville VFW Post 6404, 215 Walnut Ext., Sharpsville, PA 16150. Price is $15.00 per person. Music will be provided by DJ Dan Messersmith. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Secretary Helen Burns 330-772-3051

The Niles Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will be holding their 16th annual Spring Extravaganza Style and Creativity Show on Saturday, April 28th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at A La Carte Catering in Canfield. An elevated professional runway will be used for the show, featuring 3 guest “designers”. In addition to the show, there will be a judged “Hello Doily” sewing challenge for our members. Cost is $24 for members and $27 for non-members and includes lunch. Reservation deadline is April 14th; contact Barb at 330-550-1215.

“A Taste of Wine and Murder” a play adapted by Lundeana Thomas centers on six people accused of murdering Barry Underwood, where you will dine and help the authorities choose which one is the murderer.

The play, set in a winery, will be performed Saturday, April 14th at 6:30pm and Sunday, April 15th at 2pm. At the Georgetown Banquet Hall at 5945 South Avenue in Boardman.

The event will include a 50/50 Cash Raffle and a Raffle for a Kitchen Basket, a cash bar and scrumptious dining by the Georgetown Banquet chefs.

Show tickets are $40 per person. For tickets and information, call Mrs. Dorothy Davis at 330-559-7261 or Dr. Lundeana Thomas at 502-210-1252.

The p roceeds f rom our illustrious affair will go towards our scholarship and community outreach programs fund.

131st Class runion

The Senior News April 2018SENIORSCENE

PLACES TO GO...THINGS TO DO...PEOPLE TO SEE

Dr. Dre Wants To square Dance

With Me

Let your Hair Down, Mama,

and Pick Up This Beat

you’re Bloody

Well right

al Gore rhythms

To B. or not to B.

Dirty Culture

Hit The side of a

Barn

Much Less Taxing

Fatheads

are not KoiYOUNGSTOWN, OH – Local

pond and lake owners, we are selling fingerling size fish to stock your pond. Japanese Koi, White Amur, Bass, Bluegill, Hybrid Bluegill, Channel Cat, Shell Crackers, Yellow Perch, and Fathead Minnows. Deadline for ordering is Fri April 13th pick up will be Thurs April 19th from 2:30pm – 3:30pm at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

Out of state residents restrictions apply please refer to notice posted on our website or call the office. The day of pick up you will need to bring a lined container filled with your own pond water. Five to ten gallons of water per 100 fish is required.

The White Amur must be placed in a container with a lid or liner large enough to be tied at the top. Only two White Amur to each 5 gallons of water.

Other conservation materials available for sale include birdseed from our local farms. For ordering call the MSWCD office at (330) 740-7995 or stop at their office located at 850 Industrial Road Youngstown.

Friends of Ohio Barns to Hold 19th Annual “Ohio Barn Conference” In Carroll County

~ Public WelcomeCarrollton, Ohio, April 27th &

28th, ~ Please join Friends of Ohio Barns for yet another educational barn adventure! Friday kicks off the Full Conference package with a daylong bus tour through Carroll County to see and explore some wonderful historic barns in beautiful settings. We begin our tour by holding registration in a fantastic example of a dairy barn turned into an event barn. We will be visiting a barn that was converted from gable to gambrel construction that also sports some incredible stone work in the foundation. There will be an amazing double-crib log barn made of virgin timber to view on the tour as well. Other stops will include the Carroll County Golden Age Retreat barn as well as a very old scribe-rule Sweitzer barn and accompanying sandstone house. The barn tour requires pre-registration and information can be found on our website which is listed below.

Saturday’s conference will be a day filled with presentations. This year the conference will be held at the Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum. Our Keynote speaker will be Doug Reed who will be speaking about European barns. And, of course, the Barn Detectives will follow up with their findings from Friday’s tour with a slide show and their usual antics. There will be our annual member meeting, exhibits and vendors along with the annual silent auction filled with interesting items and much more! Please join us for what will be a very entertaining and educational conference.

Friends of Ohio Barns is a 501c3 non-profit membership based organization created to promote awareness of the significance of Ohio’s historic barns through educational opportunities that bring together barn owners, barn lovers and folks who believe in the stewardship of Ohio barns.

Visit our website https://www.friendsofohiobarns.org for more information and to register securely online to attend. If you have any questions you may contact Friends Past President Ric Beck at [email protected], 614-738-4302.

YWCA is offering free tax filing assistance until April 14 at the YWCA, 25 W. Rayen Ave.

Help available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays without an appointment. Appointments available from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays. Appointments scheduled by calling 330-540-1947.

Also available is a self-serve

link on the YWCA website – ywca.org/youngstown.

To file through YWCA, one must have household income under $65,000 if single and $95,000 if married. Also needed are the user’s social security number, W2’s, 1099’s, 1098’s, info about other income, deduction and credit information (child care expenses, tuition, bills, and union dues), and a copy of last year’s tax return, if possible.

Susan B Inspires MeThe Springfield Library Capital

Campaign Committee is hosting a “Book Review & Soup & Salad Too” fundraiser on Sunday, April 15th at 1pm at the Poland Library Meeting room. The Guest speaker will be Springfield native Christine Ridarsky and she will be reviewing a book she co-edited “Susan B. Anthony and the Struggle for Equal Rights”. The Event will include a light lunch plus basket and 50/50 raffles. Cost is $20 per person. Reservations are required by April 10th. To make a reservation, send a check to “Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, ATTN: Development Director, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown OH 44503. For info contact the Development office at 330-740-6086.

Spring into action April 14 at our Spring Horticulture Seminar! Hosted by the Mahoning County Master Gardener Volunteers, this seminar offers gardening tips and tricks, two make and take classes, ten breakout sessions and more.

Keynote speaker Melinda Carmichael, Associate Director of Beech Creek Botanical Gardens and

author of “Native Plants of Ohio”, will discuss the benefits of adding native plants to your landscape, and will be available for a book signing. Participants can get creative while making hypertufa pots and alcohol ink paintings, and are also welcome to visit the garden art sale.

Registration for the program is $40 per person, which includes a set of hand pruners, a hot lunch and proceedings from all sessions. The seminar will be held at the Canfield Fairgrounds, 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH. To register or learn more, call Mahoning County Extension at 330-533-5538 or visit go.osu.edu/springseminar2018.

The Friendly Squares will host their monthly square dance, Saturday, April 14, 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Niles SCOPE Center, 14 E. State St., Niles. This will be a High/Low dance with alternating tips for new dancers currently taking lessons

and tips for more experienced dancers. Dress is casual and light refreshments will be served. There is a $6 donation per person. For additional information call Gene Hammond at 330-506-3370.

YSU’s Department of Art - lecture by James Siena, April 18 5:10 p.m. in the McDonough Museum Auditorium. Free and open to public.

James Siena is an American contemporary artist based in New York City. He earned a BFA from Cornell in 1979, and has exhibited his work in dozens of galleries throughout the United States.

His art is typically created through a series of self-imposed constraints also sometimes referred to as visual algorithms —rules Siena decides on before sitting down to work.

More info is available by calling the Office at 330-941-2307.

Music for the Masses: Music Club - A special tribute to Bruce Springsteen. Come, listen, watch and discuss, featuring Bruce Spring-steen music and videos. For adults and teens. Snacks provided.

Main Library, 6:30 p.m., Mon., April 30

Blood Pressure Screening by Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association --

Canfield Library, 1 - 2 p.m., Wed., April 18

Poland Library, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Fri., April 20

Sebring Library, 1-2 p.m., Wed., April 11

Blood Drive - the Red Cross is taking blood donations to help our community. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Austintown Library, 1-6 p.m., Tues., April 10

Boardman Library, 1:30-6:30 p.m., Mon., April 23

Poland Library, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fri., April 13


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