Informative and Protective Services
AARP DRIVERS SAFETY from Kay Wise
02-01-2020
Sign up to refresh your skills and learn:
- New traffic laws and regulations in your state.
- Research-based driving techniques and proven safety strategies.
- How to reduce traffic violations, crashes and the risk of injury.
- Techniques for handling highway traffic, right-of-ways and blind spots.
Upon completion you may be eligible for a discount on your auto insurance. Consult your agent for details.
One session is 4 hours: 10-2.
Monday, March 23, 2020, in Streetsboro. Please contact Rachel at Streetsboro Parks and Recreation. Register by calling 330-626-2398. Cost is $15.00 for AARP members and $20.00 for non-members. Pay the day of participation. Kay and Ralph Wise have registered for this class.
Friday, March 20, 2020, at Aurora Parks and Recreation. Register by calling 330-562-4333.
For an online course to take at your own pace visit www.aarp.org/smartdriver4 to get started.
Save on Your Insurance!
AARP Smart Driver Courses Available in Your Area!
AARP SMART DRIVER PROGRAM — 2017
Sponsored by the Tallrnadge Recreation Department
This new 4 hour smart driver course (formerly driver safety) is open to all licensed drivers age 50 and older. New concepts are provided to better compensate for age related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. After completing this course, participants may qualify for a lower cost of car insurance. No tests are handed in and there is no actual driving. Trained volunteers conduct the sessions. Course Fee: $15.00 for AARP member or $ 20.00 for non-member.
Please note registration and the classes are held at the:
Tallmadge Community Center
80 Community Road
Tailmadge, OH 44278
330-633-5610
A total of four ( 4) hour classes are scheduled for 2017 and are from 9:00 am — 1:00 pm
______Thursday May 25, 2017
______Thursday August 17, 2017
______Thursday November 16, 2017
Registration is limited and pre-registration is needed. Please complete the registration form below and mail or drop off with your payment to the Tailmadge Community Center, 80 Community Rd, located next to Tailmadge Library.
Make Check I Money Order payable to AARP, DO NOT SEND CASH!
Please have your valid driver’s license with you at the class.
Please complete the form below and return with your payment.
(Keep the top portion for your records.)
AARP SMART DRIVER PROGRAM FOR 2017
Select the class above.
Name_______________________________________
Address Phone _____________________________________________________
City____________________________________________ Zip Code____________
Name_______________________________________
Address Phone _____________________________________________________
City____________________________________________ Zip Code_____________
Enclosed is a check / money order, PAYABLE TO AARP, in the amount of $______________ to cover the above named participant(s). I understand the fee is non-refundable, unless the department cancels the seminar. DO. NOT SEND CASH.
Signature_________________________________ Date ___________________
2017 ARRP Smart Driver Program – Download
11-01-15 Medical ID Theft by Kay Wise
The following is a summary of an article in the Beacon Journal Sunday, September 6, 2015, Section D. One type of ID theft is medical ID theft. It can range from someone getting medical goods or prescriptions to actual medical procedures in your name. Theft could also affect your health. There is a San
Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit group that offers free help to victims (www.idtheftcenter.org or 888-400-5530).
The “thief” and victim’s medical information, diagnosis and allergies to certain drugs are now intermingled. It can be hard with medical privacy laws to get the full record or untangle them.
Medical ID theft bills are not covered by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, which limits consumers’ losses if someone uses their credit information. Medical ID theft affected about 2.3 million people last year. Incidents of medical ID theft are growing. Interestingly, about 50 percent of all medical theft is committed by friends and family of the victim.
“Protect yourself…
Aetna/Medical Identity Fraud Alliance offers these tips to guard against medical ID theft.
Be careful with your member ID card and keep personal information personal.
Be on guard even if someone claims to be with your health plan.
If you are uneasy giving information to someone who says they are from your health plan, don’t do it. Instead, call the number on your ID card.
Make sure “free” is free.
Review your explanation of Benefits statements for anything you don’t recognize.
Check your credit report often. Consumers are entitled to one free credit report per year from www.annualcreditreport.com or 877-322-8228.”
All of the experts say it is important for consumers to be aware of potential problems and keep a close eye on their Explanation of Benefits for anything suspicious.
08- 01-15 FAREWELL TO A FINDLAY LEGEND: by Kay Wise
At least once a year, I enjoy visiting the Mazza museum in Findlay, Ohio. The week of July 13, 14 illustrators of children’s books would be making a presentation. I chose to attend on Tuesday so I could have my copy of How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?, that had already been autographed by the author Jane Yolen in 2001, autographed by the illustrator Mark Teague. I teased the illustrator that I knew he was going to be successful 15 years ago.
In 1982, in an effort to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the University of Findlay, Dr. Jerry Mallett conceived the Mazza Museum. It began as a four-item collection of original pieces of art from children’s books and as a speaking event that featured a campus visit by an internationally recognized children’s illustrator/author.
Since then, the Mazza Museum has become one of the world’s largest museums of original artwork by children’s book illustrators. Its purpose, as established by Mallett, is to promote literacy and enrich the lives of all people through the art of children’s literature. The Dr. Jerry J. Mallett Institute serves as the umbrella organization that oversees the museum’s 28 educational programs and outreach activities. For more information visit www.mazzamuseum.org<http://wwwmazzamuseum.org.
At lunch time, my husband Ralph and grandson Connor stood in line for the autographing. After the autographing we went to hear Mark Teague’s presentation.
After Mark Teague spoke, Jerry asked Ben Sapp, the current director, for a few minutes to speak one–maybe five minutes. Once again in his inimitable fashion the exuberant, vivacious Jerry exhorted those in attendance to promote literacy.
Less than a week after the conference, I received an email from Ben Sapp that the beloved Jerry was gone. He died suddenly Sunday, July 19, 2015. Jerry’s legacy lives on. In November, an addition to the museum will be opened that will feature pop-up books.
THE JOY OF VOLUNTEERING by Kay Wise
Everyone knows a variety of ways to volunteer. Two of my favorites are the Mentor/Mentee
One might ask, “What do you do?”Kent was the first college in Ohio to have a mentor/mentee program. A retired teacher is matched with a junior or senior majoring in education.
Michelle Mann and I went to the fashion museum; met for dinner and yogurt; had lunch and exchanged gifts at Christmas; and celebrated Valentine’s Day. We attended the Virginia Hamilton Conference, and I attended awards night at KSU where Michelle earned two awards.
Michelle came to my home and perused my children’s book collection; we shared a picnic at the end of the year with other mentors and mentees. I was proud to go and watch Michelle‘s presentation of what she had learned in early child development.
At Christmas time, another mentor took her mentee to the Winking Lizard where they donned costumes and waved at the children on the Polar express train as it flew by. The activities are limited only by the participants’ imaginations. If you are a member of OEA-R and would be interested in a mentee, please contact me at 330-297-1110.
As a community educator, I arranged three visits at my home at mutually agreed upon times with first-year Pharmacy students. There is an assignment for each visit.
Visit one: the students have been given some basic questions just to get to know more about the educator.
Visit two: the students will jointly interview the educator to take a medical history. They will obtain information about over-the-counter (OTC) drugs being taken.
Visit three: the students will discuss the safety of using OTC medications. The students will be asking questions related to safety assessment. The educator is asked to do a quick evaluation of the students after the three visits.
I included a picture of the three of us in the evaluation, and NEOMED asked permission to put it on their web site. Patti Pfeifer is the coordinator for the Community Educator Programs. She may be reached at 330-325-6390. Both experiences were very rewarding.
04-16-15 FRAUD WATCH NETWORK by Kay Wise
Dave Gynn gave me a pamphlet titled The Con Artist’s Playbook: The Psychology Behind ID Theft, Fraud & Scams. The pamphlet includes Watchdog Alerts/Tips & Resources/Free for Everyone. Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus started AARP to protect the financial security of older Americans.
Watchdog Warnings from this pamphlet:
1) Always wait 24 hours for the excitement of a sales presentation to wear off and to give you time to check out the company and product.
2) Never engage a stranger in a dialogue about your personal life.
3) Virtually all lotteries, prizes and sweepstakes offers that require payment to win are scams.
4) Whenever you get approached with an offer that is available only for a limited time or is in limited supply, beware! 5) If you are being harassed by con artists, call the police and file a report, change your phone number or screen your calls with an answering machine.
For more information about the latest scams, go to aarp.org/faudwatchnetwork.
02-01-2015 21st CENTURY LEARNING CENTERS by Kay Wise
I represent PCRTA on the board of 21st Century Learning Centers. I thought PCRTA members might appreciate knowing about this educational program.
The premise is that after-school programs boost knowledge, self-esteem and lead to better grades, test scores and opportunities. Students are exposed to science, technology, engineering, art, math and medical experiences, in addition to sports and other programs designed to help them prepare for lifetime success with 21st Century skills. Most importantly, after-school programs offer a safe and fun environment for Ravenna’s students.
Program goals are: improvement in academic gaps in math and reading; STEAMM enhancement; college access, ACT prep, and post-secondary options; youth development activities and field trips; parent involvement. What is STEAMM? Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, Medical.
Students enrolled in the 21st Century Learning Centers are provided math and/or reading remediation; STEAMM/youth activities enhancement period; healthy snack and tutoring/homework help; transportation home via Ravenna School District bus service.
This program is operated through a partnership between Ravenna School District and the Community Action Council of Portage County. It is funded by a grant awarded to Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC). There is no charge for any of the services provided by this grant. Students must be enrolled in the Ravenna School District. Services are provided at Brown Middle School or Ravenna High School with qualified staff and teachers. Students are expected to commit to 30 or more days of attendance. Athletes involved in RSD athletic activities will be released to practice following a minimum 30 minutes attendance daily.
The program runs Monday through Thursday, when school is in session. Brown Middle School hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m. and Ravenna High School hours: 2:15-5:15 p.m. The program offers leadership opportunities for students through youth development programs and community service opportunities with many community partners. Parents are expected to attend a minimum of two parent meetings per school year where they learn about college preparedness, ACT preparation, technical school and other information regarding opportunities after graduation. In addition to on-site programming, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers provide a three to four weeks summer school program in affiliation with the CAC Youth Center located at 519 N. Walnut Street in Ravenna.
08-01-14 ‘Beware of new scammers posing as utility officials, IRS agents and tech experts” by Betty Lin-Fisher of the Beacon Journal
Go to the following link to learn how to avoid phone schemes, the electricity shutoff scam, the computer fix, the Caller ID Scam and updating Credit profiles scams:
Click here to download the flier on the ARRP Smart Program and Signups
FEBRUARY 2014 AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM
In 2011, Kathy Lutz did a four hour AARP Driver Safety Program for PCRTA at Ravenna High School. I thought this year would be a good time for a refresher class. The AARP Smart Driver Program is sponsored by the Tallmadge Recreation Department.
This new four hour smart driver course (formerly driver safety) is open to all licensed drivers age 50 and older. New concepts are provided to better compensate for age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. After completing this course, participants
may qualify for a lower cost of car insurance. No tests are handed in and there is no actual driving. Trained volunteers conduct the sessions. Course fee: $15.00 for AARP members or $20.00 for non-members.
Please note registration and the classes are held at the: Tallmadge Community Center, 80 Community Road, Tallmadge, OH 44278 330-633-5610.
A total of four (4) hour classes are scheduled for 2014 and are from 9:00 am-1:00 p.m. each day.
Thursday February 20, 2014 Thursday May 22, 2014
Thursday August 21, 2014 Thursday Nov.20, 2014
Registration is limited and pre-registration is needed. Please complete the registration form and mail or drop it off with your payment to the Tallmadge Community Center. Make check/money order payable to AARP. Registration forms will be available at the registration desk at the March Luncheon.
Mr. Milton Mayhew is the current instructor. He has been most accommodating. I was looking at the May date for PCRTA. You certainly may attend at a time most convenient for you.
November- December 2013 REED MEMORIAL LIBRARY STAR PROGRAM
The STAR (Stay and Read) program is an after school reading club held at each of theRavenna elementary schools. Students in grades 1-3 enjoy educational programming provided by the staff of Reed Memorial Library. There is no cost for the program and this fall nearly 240 students were involved.
The Friends of the Library raise funds through the book sales each year. They recently got 20 more iPads to add to the 30 tablets they already had for this program. Visit their next book sale to support this wonderful program.
August-September 2013 The Mazza Museum
The Mazza Museum is the world’s largest museum featuring the art of children’s illustrators. Because I am a Mazza enthusiast, I get the mailings early for the Dr. Jerry J. Mallet Institute that presented the Mazza Summer Conference in July. I especially wanted to see Walter Wick who illustrated I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles and Can You See What I See?
Ralph and I drove to the conference at the Mazza Museum at Findlay University on the turnpike to I-75 south to exit 159 turning east on SR224, or you could go the scenic route on 224. Either way the drive is 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
There will be a weekend Conference at the Mazza Museum on November 8 & 9, 2013 celebrating the work of Patricia Polacco. Her art from the book, The Keeping Quilt, was on display at the Mazza Museum. This is the book’s 25th anniversary.
If you want more information on the Mazza Museum or the November conference, check it out at www.mazzamuseum.org or call Kay Wise 330-297-1110.
June-July 2013 Know your Medications!
A handy site to get information on medication is :
http://www.aarpmedicareplans.com/aarpoptum/family-guide-to-medicine-safety
Free Blood Pressure Screening will be held at the July18th Meeting!
02-01-13 Free Memory Screenings
On the back of “Robinson Today,” Winter, 2013, is a Community Calendar for January-April where I noticed Free Memory Screenings being provided by the health education nurses. They are given on Tuesdays in February from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Call the Robinson Health Education Center at 330-297-2576 for more information.
I found the room at the hospital for the memory screening. I recognized the name Mindy Gusz who did the screening. I kidded her about my wearing a necklace with a K so I wouldn’t forget my name. The weekend before my son, Victor, teased me about forgetting to go to the screening.
I was told the name and address of a person. About five minutes later I was asked to repeat it. The person was John Brown and an address. Then I was given a circle and asked to put the numbers of a clock. Then I was given a time and told to indicate the time on the clock. There were nine items on the ten-minute assessment in all, and I got them all right.
I received a certificate of participation that said the test used for screening was the GPCOG test, the General Practitioner assessment of COGnition. The testers said I could give the certificate to my general physician.
A memory screening is a simple and safe evaluation tool that checks memory and other thinking skills. It can indicate whether an additional check up by a qualified healthcare professional is needed.
Alzheimer’s disease is a slow, progressive brain disorder that results in loss of memory and other cognitive function and eventually death. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is estimated that as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is rising in line with the nation’s aging population.
The presence of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years between ages 65 and 95. A rarer form of the disease, known as young onset, can affect people as young as in their 30s. Alzheimer’s disease is among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. Early detection is critical to maximize available medical treatments and support services.
I was given an Alzheimer’s Foundation of America fact sheet, “Facts About Alzheimer’s Disease,” and a publication called “Memory Screenings.” The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will send 25 copies to be available at our next luncheon.
There is a website for the National Memory Screening Day which will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2013. If you can’t make it at this February, maybe you can get screened then. Mark it on your calendar.
Visit the website for more information: www.nationalmemoryscreening.org
My Precious Doll (November-December 2012)
When I was just two years old, my appendix ruptured. My mother was a supervising nurse,and she had her bed moved into my hospital room. I was very sick.
One evening, my grandfather, a tall stern German, walked through the door to visit. He was holding a beautiful doll for me. Her body was soft. Her head, arms and legs were made of wood. I loved my doll.
When I grew up, I wrapped my doll in blankets and stored her for years. She moved from house to house with me. You can imagine how sad I was when I unwrapped her and found that the wood had cracked from heat. I was very dismayed because it seemed as if I hadn’t taken good care of my precious gift
.
Recently, I read in a Sunday Akron Beacon Journal than an artist in Fairlawn had restored a doll that had been on the Titanic. I began to wonder if she could restore my doll.
She could and she did. I was delighted! My restored doll is beautiful and sits on a chair in the living room not far from a picture taken at our wedding with my grandparents. You can imagine what fond memories the doll evokes.
Others have mentioned to me that they have dolls from their own childhood that are in poor condition. If you have a doll that you would like to have refurbished, contact: Toland Dolls, 25 Ghent Road, Fairlawn, Ohio, 44333. The Toland Dolls phone number is 330-865-7349.
Be Aware of Scams! (September 2012)
Please be aware of scans involving finances, sweepstakes and lottery, online dating and socila media, check cashing, identity theft, phishing, home renovation, job seeker, and sales. Always contact the Better Business Bureau at (800)825-887 or visit www.akron.bbb.org .
Brimfield’s Chief Oliver and Backers Frazzle Phone Scammer
After a report from a Brimfield grandmother about a caller saying her grandson needed money to get out of jail in Peru, a common scam, Chief Oliver called the phone number and rattled the scammer by tying up his phone line.
The man told Oliver, “I makes more money in a week than you do in a year by telling people their relatives have been arrested.” Some 6,000 fans of the Brimfield PD’s Facebook page also called the number and kept it tied up as a form of payback. Don’t mess with Brimfield, scammers!
AARP DRIVER SAFETY CLASS-SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR ORTA MEMBERS (July 2012)
AARP is offering an Educator Appreciation Promotion in July and August. It allows ORTA members to take advantage of AARP Driver Safety’s classroom course for just $5…a savings of up to $9. The AARP Driver Safety classroom course is the nation’s first and largest course designed for drivers age 50 and older. You’ll learn proven safety strategies to maintain your confidence behind the wheel. Plus, you could get a great discount on your car insurance!
Each class is 4 hours long on one day. There are 3 classes offered in Portage County. Call the telephone number at each venue to register for the class.
July 13, 2012 10:00 am Streetsboro Senior Center, 9184 State Rt. 43, Streetsboro, OH 44241 330-626-2398
July 14, 2012 12:30 pm Robinson Memorial Hospital, Room 3-A, 6847 Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH 44266 330-297-2576
July 23,2012 12:00 p.mm Aurora Parks and Rec, 129 W. Pioneer Trail, Aurora, OH 44202 330-995-9148
Rembrant in America at the Cleveland Art Museum
Do you recognize this artist?
Yes, Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1668)
The Cleveland Museum of Art’s major spring exhibition Rembrandt in America and its companion show Rembrandt Prints from the Morgan Library & Museum are up and running. Attendance at the show is likely to escalate as the weeks roll past; the attendance at the North Carolina Museum of Art approached nearly 150,000 visitors.
The exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see more than 30 Rembrandt paintings together with another 20 that are at one time thought to be autographed Rembrandts but are now attributed to his workshop or followers-or the artist himself with a bit of help from his studio.
Dean Yoder has a project that was inspired by the idea that a sophisticated photographic analysis of a painting, coupled with the experience of expert conservators and curators, could help precisely sort out events in the life history of a work of art.
The Rembrandt exhibition features a study room built around this project, which examines in depth the painting Portrait of a Woman using a variety of photographic and digital imaging techniques. Each of three lighting conditions and three energy sources offers different information about the construction and condition of paint layers.
Here through May 28, 2012, Rembrandt in America is the first major exhibition to explore in depth the collecting history of Rembrandt paintings in America. Call 216-421-7350 or go to www.ClevelandArt.org for more information.
Looking for a great place to visit?
“The Mazza Museum: International Art From Picture Books” is the world’s largest museumdevoted to literacy and the art of children’s picture books.
The museum is open Wednesday, Friday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Its permanent home is the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion, 1000 N. Main, Findlay, OH.
The museum was dedicated on September 13, 1994. It began with 4 pieces of art valued at $1,700. Currently it contains nearly 5,000 pieces of art valued at many millions of dollars.
The Mazza Museum is the first and largest teaching gallery in the world specializing in the art from children’s picture books.
It has hosted over 415 artists and authors. It has held 17 Annual Mazza Summer Institutes and 12 weekend institutes hosting book arts and authors from around the world. The Mazza annually provides formal tours through the galleria for over 5,000 children and adults.
In November, my husband and I visited on a Saturday to see Steven Kellogg receive his honorary Ph.D. The conference began at 9 am and the presentation was at 7 pm. Steven Kellogg had given over 200 original pieces of art to the museum.
My ticket number to get an autograph was #373, but luckily someone gave me her #186 ticket because she wasn’t going to get an autograph. I got my books autographed and we were on our way home by 10 pm.
There is an incredible book store there. Become a Mazza Enthusiast (member) and you receive notifications of programs, a discount at the book store, and a calendar with beautiful illustrations from children’s books.
Check them out at http://www.mazzamuseum.org!
Out With The Food Pyramid, In With The Plate!
Many of us as we get older, need to watch what we are eating more carefully since we may not be exercising as much as we did before. While looking through the 2011 Spring/Summer issue of Strive for a Healthy Living, I read that people who use an online program can improve their weight just as much as people who work with a nutrition expert.
Here are some websites you can visit to slim down with the government experts. Go tohttp:/www.choosemyplate.gov to find out about making a your own daily food or exercise plan, print out activity or food tracking pages, learn about the different food groups, or use an interactive graph to enter your foods for the day and compare them to your personal eating plan. Losing even a little weight can help you lower your blood sugar and blood pressure. Here are some aids to dieting found at the AARP Websitehttp://arrphealthcare.com/tools. This site offers several tools, including the Healthy Weight Calculator, a Fitness Assessment, and a Calories Burned Calculator. Check them out!
Kay
June-July 2011 ARRP Driver Driving School Was a Success!
Just look at these PCRTA Members hard at work learning how to be better drivers at theAARP
Driver Safety Program offered recently at the new Ravenna High School. Starting right off with a quiz…some of us quickly found out we didn’t know as much as we thought about some of the signs and laws regarding the skill of operating our cars safely. Do you know what the 3-second rule is about road safety?
Thanks to Kay Wise, standing, who made the arrangements for the course with Kathy Lusk, AARP Instructor, seated on the left. Dottie Emerick is hard at work…Tom, not quite so much.
The course cost was $12 for AARP Members and $14 for non-members. Dave and Pat Gynn reported that they contacted their car insurance company and learned they could save $91 a year for the next three years because they took the class. Pretty good return for a $24 investment! Kay Wise offered this class as a part of the PCRTA Informative and Protective Committee of which she is the chair. Other members who took the class were pictured left, Evelyn Park, Terrie Sargi, Mary Jane Brannon, Nancy Granville, and Ron Snowberger. Not pictured were Edie Scott, Peg and Ed Hall, and Pat and Sam Mazzer. If you see any of these educated drivers acting up on the roads, let Kay know!
April-May 2011 ARRP Driver Safety Program is a Go!
At the March luncheon meeting, a signup sheet was passed around to see if there was any interest in having an AARP Driver Safety Program for PCRTA members. About twenty people have signed up, so it is a go!
Tuesday, May 17
12-4 pm
Ravenna High School Auxiliary Gym
$12 for AARP Members
$14 for Nonmembers
What You Will Learn:
* Defensive driving techniques, new traffic laws and rules of the road
* How to deal with aggressive drivers
* How to handle problem situations such as left turns, right-of-way, interstate highway traffic, trucks, and blind spots.
* How to safely use anti-lock brakes, air bags, and safety belts
For more information or to enroll in the class, call Kay Wise at (330) 297-1110. Please arrive at 11:30 and bring your AARP card or number to receive the AARP discount. Many auto insurance companies grant a discount to people who take this program. Check with yours.
May 13,2007 ARRP Driver Safety Program Available to PCRTA Members
My husband Ralph and I attended an AARP Driver Safety Program in Salem. When I told my friend, Pat Mazer, about the program, she mentioned that Robinson Memorial Hospital offered the same program.
I called Tracie Martin at the hospital, and she said that the next AARP Driver Safety Program will be May 13 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm in Classroom 3A. The instructor is Kathy Lusk. She suggested that if PCRTA got as many as 6 people to participate, she would hold the class at the Methodist Church at a convenient time for us.
Best of all, the AARP Safety Driver Program is only $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers.
I called my insurance agency when we returned from our class and got an immediate discount on our insurance. I didn’t even have to send a paper confirmation; however, you do get a certificate upon completion of the driver safety class.
Kathy’s 84-year-old mother saved $100 over three years time. There is no guarantee this will happen for you, but it is a possibility. Each person would have to check with his/her auto insurance company to see if they would be eligible for a discount after completing the class.
What you will learn:
* Defensive driving techniques, new traffic laws and rules of the road
* How to deal with aggressive drivers
* How to handle problem situations such as left turns, right-of-way, interstate
highway traffic, trucks and blind spots
* How to safely use anti-lock brakes, air bags, and safety belts
I will have a sign-up sheet at the March Luncheon for anyone who would like to have the class at the Methodist Church. If you are interested in the class, but will not be attending the March meeting, call Kay Wise at (330) 297-1110.
If you are interested in the class at Robinson on May 13, call Tracie Martin at (330) 297-2576.
September-October 2010 Season for Screening!
Last Wednesday when I went shopping at the Ravenna Giant Eagle, I noticed some people doing health screenings. So, on behalf of our members, I made inquiries.
The health screenings are done every Wednesday from 10 am to 12 noon. Everyone must sign a Giant Eagle Screening Consent Form, which says that you understand that the screening procedure is a tool to provide information but does not serve to diagnose any particular health condition.
The screenings are Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Blood Cholesterol, and Bone Density. You agree to have a pin prick of your finger to obtain a small blood sample, which will be analyzed by a machine.
You also need to sign that you understand the potential benefits of early screening and it is up to you to do any follow-up testing for confirmation and treatment. And, of course, that you understand the potential risks, such as discomfort at the needle prick site.
You also release Giant Eagle from any and all liability from the procedure or the information you gain from it.
The blood pressure, blood sugar and bone density are free. The cholesterol screening costs $15.00.
January – March 2010
My first encounter with RSVP, America’s largest volunteer network for people over 55, was when Saroj Sutaria volunteered at the Reed Memorial Library book sale. Mandy Zantow, RSVP Program Manager, spoke to the PCRTA Executive Committee. She is in need of volunteers. I will have handbooks and applications for you to look over at the March 18 luncheon.
RSVP’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all generations in Portage County through the efforts of senior volunteers. As a retired teacher, you’ve gained a lifetime of experience. Now is the time to put your skills and talents to good use by volunteering.
Here is an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, draw on your experiences, or develop new skills. Volunteers are needed for clothing distribution, administrative support and management, office and clerical support, arts and entertainment, home maintenance and skilled trades, mental health support, and library. You can volunteer for food services, personal services, animals, mailings, fund raising, and advisory council.
Talk with Saroj or with Mandy (330-298-2666) to learn about the program and the insurance and rewards for volunteers.
November-December 2009
At the September board meeting, Ray mentioned that in November members usually receive flu shots. Some members thought we should have the flu shot in September so we could get the H1N1 flu shot later. So I contacted Robinson Working Partners and they agreed to provide the shots.
It was necessary to call everyone registered for lunch to alert them the flu shots would be available. Many thanks to those who volunteered to make the calls. Thirty-one people received the flu shot. Sorry about the late notice on the shots. Stay well!
Kay
August-September 2009
At the last board meeting, Art Fesemyer told me a very informative story about his experience with fraud. The following narration is in Art’s own words:
I had a phone call from a company in California about a shipment the company was about to make to my home address. I had not ordered anything from this company ever, so I immediately called the bank where I had my credit card account.
The bank asked me if I had used the card at Giant Eagle, and I told her I had. Then they asked if I had charged a call to Mexico, and I hadn’t. So we canceled the card.
There were 48 packages that had been charged to my card and delivered by the post office. The postmaster had told me just to mark them “refused” and return them to the post office.
In addition, Fed Ex left a package on the porch that I returned, and another Fed Ex delivery person asked me to sign for a shipment from China that I also declined to sign.
My bank sent me a new card. When the statement on the old card arrived, three of the purchases were mine and the rest, about 50, were listed. I was instructed to mark them “fraud” and return the statement to a branch of my bank that investigates these cases.
The moral of the story is if you get calls about products you did not order, please call your credit card provider immediately. If you get packages you did not order, mark them “refused” and return them to the post office. If you get a statement with items you didn’t order, mark those items “fraud” and return the statement to the credit card provider.
Editor’s note: When I talked with Art recently, he told me that someone had also tried to order something on his Amazon account and asked to have it sent to a different address, but Amazon contacted Art to check about it before they did it. Count your personal card numbers!