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November 2019 SENIOR Times Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, Inc

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November 2019 SENIOR Times Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, Inc Volume 45 Number 11 November 2019 SENIOR Times Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, Inc. Est. 1974 Age Well, Live Long! providing senior services in Fayette, Greene & Washington Counties A Time For Thanks & Giving Call your local Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging for services and supports for seniors. Toll free 1-800-734-9603 or visit www.swpa-aaa.org Page 2 November 2019 Senior Times Census Kick Off... SENIOR TIMES National Recruitment Campaign SAC Christmas Gathering REVIEW BOARD The Census Bureau needs to hire about 500,000 census takers across the coun- Greene County Senior Action Council (SAC) will Fayette County host the annual combined district Christmas gathering try in 2020. Peak recruiting efforts have begun. The positions provide the perfect Dorothy Brown on Wednesday, December 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carolyn Capozza Agnes Harris opportunity to earn extra income while helping your community. The results of Victoria Pennington Thistlethwaite’s Winery, 151 Thistlethwaite Lane, Jef- the 2020 Census will help determine each state’s representation in Congress, as Greene County ferson, PA 15344. The cost per person is $25. The menu well as how certain funds are spent for schools, hospitals, roads, and more. This Clarence Brewer includes roast beef or cod, garlic whipped potatoes, Marianne Brewer is your chance to play a part in history and help ensure that everyone in your Rev. James Cherry Pat Lemley vegetable medley and cake for dessert. Participants community is counted! For more information or to apply now, search for the Mon Valley will be invited to join in a wine tasting. Emma Jane Davis Sue Dunlop U.S. Census Bureau Kick Off or visit: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ SAC members planning to attend should make ar- Washington County USCENSUS/bulletins/2679106. Wilma Decker rangements through their district presidents with RSVPs Helen Gault Rita Hritz due to the hosts no later than November 26. Gay Massey Mary Jane Stewart Volunteers needed for upcoming tax season Publisher: Southwestern PA The AARP and the IRS annually seek volunteers of all ages and backgrounds Area Agency on Aging, Inc., an affiliate of Southwestern PA to assist in tax preparation. Tax counselors receive free tax training certification Human Services, Inc. from the Internal Revenue Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Rev- Editorial Staff: Leslie T. Gren- enue to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. If you enjoy helping others fell, Johnetta Dinio and Robbie Spaziani and working with figures, this could be the volunteer position for you. To learn NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS Advertising Representatives: more, visit the AARP site at www.aarp.org/taxaide or the IRS site at www.irs. The Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, John Mollenauer Judi Robbins gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers. Inc., Board of Directors will meet on the follow- Technical Support Staff: Marcia Westich-Hawk ing dates in 2019: Nov 21 Dec 18 Contributing Photographer: America Recycles Day: November 15 The Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Matthew Updegrove According to the Environmental Protection Agency Advancing Sustainable Opinions or ideas expressed through Advisory Council will meet on the following date “Letters to the Editor,” or guest columns, Materials Management: 2015 Fact Sheet, “In 2015, in the United States, approxi- in 2019: Dec 4 are not necessarily those of the editorial mately 262 million tons of MSW [municipal solid waste] were generated. Of the staff or the Senior Times, nor does advertising in this publication constitute MSW generated, approximately 68 million tons were recycled and 23 million tons For the location and time of the meetings, contact endorsement by the Senior Times, or the Leslie Grenfell, Executive Director, Southwestern Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency were composted. Together, more than 91 million tons of MSW were recycled and on Aging, Inc. The Senior Times reserves composted, equivalent to a 34.7 percent recycling and composting rate. In addition, PA Area Agency on Aging, Inc., at 1-888-300- the right to decline an advertisement for any reason. more than 33 million tons of MSW (12.8 percent) were combusted with energy re- 2704, Ext. 4420. Editorial and advertising copy cannot covery. Lastly, more than 137 million tons of MSW (52.5 percent) were landfilled.” be reproduced without prior permission from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Donation Coupon Agency on Aging, Inc. *Please use this coupon to make personal dona- Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Thank you for your support tions of support, for recognitions of birthdays or Agency on Aging, Inc. Thank you to those “PATRONS” recognition. DONOR Corporate Office special honors and for offering memorial tributes. 888-300-2704 OR 724-489-8080 individuals who make Donations that are $50 Helen Henderson Make your donation payable to: SWPA AAA FAX No. 724-483-9360 donations to help support and over are recognized Sylvia Vignali Fayette County Office Mail to: Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, Inc. 724-430-4603 the Senior Times mission as “SPONSORS” of the Senior Times Greene County Office to provide quality infor- Senior Times. 305 Chamber Plaza 724-852-1510 IN MEMORIAM Charleroi PA 15022-1607 Washington County Office mation to older adults in 724-228-7080 Robbie Spaziani southwestern Pennsyl- HONOR AMOUNT OF DONATION The project is funded, in part, by the In Memory of Pennsylvania Department of Aging. vania and to those who In Honor of June Puskarich The Senior Times is a monthly choose the Senior Times Sister James Ann Name__________________________________ publication designed to bring you news Germuska about information on services available as a means of remem- Address_________________________________ to you, people you know and those you bering and paying trib- ________________________Zip_____________ would like to meet, and activities you enjoy. The publication is online at ute to their friends and IN MEMORIAM May we print your name as a donor? www.swpa-aaa.org. If you would like loved ones. If you make IN MEMORIAM Cora Straight ____Yes ____No to receive it, at no charge, via email, Dominick Don Ritz send your contact information a standard donation, your In Memory of Father, Are you a member of a senior center? to [email protected]. name will be acknowl- In Memory of Mother, Kenneth Straight, Sr.; ____ Yes ____No Write to: Rose Ritz; Senior Times edged in the Senior Times Mother, Type of donation: ___________________________ Southwestern Pennsylvania unless anonymity is re- Father, John Ritz; Fannie Straight; Area Agency on Aging, Inc. Brother, William Ritz; Email: ______________________ THANK YOU 305 Chamber Plaza quested. Contributors Brother, Charleroi, PA 15022-1607 who make donations up Brother, John Ritz, Jr.; Kenneth Straight, Jr.; The official registration and financial information of the Southwestern Circulation 40,000 and Sister, PA Area Agency on Aging, Inc., may be obtained from the Pennsylvania to $25 are recognized as and Friend, Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations by calling www.swpa-aaa.org “DONORS.” Donations Rose Ritz Yowler E-Mail: [email protected] Rose Ritz Yowler toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does from $26 to $49 receive not imply endorsement. November 2019 Senior Times Page 3 Home is where your heart is. Senior LIFE is a Medicare and Medicaid Program that provides all of the healthcare and medical services seniors need to remain in their home and not a nursing facility. Call to learn how your existing benefits can provide access to care in your home and how you can get both medical and prescription drug coverage for $0 per month! Get your FREE $15 grocery gift card (no obligation) for meeting with a Senior LIFE Benefit Specialist and learn what services you may be eligible for at NO COST! SeniorLIFEPA.com Senior LIFE Washington: (724) 222-5433 Senior LIFE Greene: (724) 852-2273 Senior LIFE Uniontown: (724) 434-5433 No Cost to Those Who Qualify An Approved Medicare and Medicaid Provider No Co-Pays Page 4 November 2019 Senior Times Volunteer Corner— Home-Delivered Meals Life improves with Last year, 3,248 people the volunteers. Ruth said don’t have anyone. She received 478,623 home- that if a person does not admits, too, that she has Progressive Mobility! delivered meals within answer the door, it is hard grown close to some of the Southwestern PA Area not to worry. If this does the people on her route. Agency on Aging (AAA) happen, the volunteers are “I really enjoy doing it,” service area of Fayette, instructed to report the Raianna said. “It doesn’t Greene and Washington “no response” back to the take long; the schedule is Counties. senior center that, in turn, flexible; and the people The majority of the follows up to be sure that enjoy seeing you.” home-delivered meals are the consumer is safe. Ruth Want to help? delivered by volunteers said that considering all Volunteers are desper- who give their time and of the benefits that they ately needed in all of the service to one or more of see, both for themselves communities in Fayette, the senior centers within and for those who receive Greene and Washington the AAA service area. the meals, the volunteer Counties. Some volun- People volunteer for a position is easy and it only teers deliver a couple of variety of reasons, but the takes about 90 minutes, times a week, while others overwhelming response “start to finish.” volunteer only one day given when asked why Carmichaels Activity a month. Whatever time they volunteer: “The se- Center, Carmichaels a volunteer can spare, it niors need us!” When Raianna Mur- is greatly appreciated by The following are two phy was laid off from those who receive the examples of the experi- the gas and oil industry, meals, as well as by the ences of home-delivered she began actively look- locations where the meals meals volunteers.
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