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Senior Scene
by Ethel M. Austin
Sometimes there is so little of real necessity to tell you
that I have trouble getting a column together. Today however,
is one of the days when I could write a whole page were there
space for it. That's because there are dates to be met and some
real opportunities for you to stir out of lethargic summer routines
and volunteer where you will meet some new people, and in some
cases get a new prospective on the coming year. So read on!
First there is a correction in last week's column, and fortunately
I can blame it on SNET (or maybe the state) because after this
year's book was printed they changed a whole bunch of state phone
numbers and nobody let us know. Please out there in telephone
land, have your operators switch numbers for us for the entire
time the old number is in the book. We customers are not psychic
and can spend hours trying to locate our parties. So what was
last week's problem?
Since the book came out the numbers under the Attorney's General
listing were changed. Those of you who would like to volunteer
for the chance to help on this vitally important piece of senior
scam prevention and everything that needs to be done should call
RSVP, the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program and tell them you
are interested in what jobs are available to you for the AG's
Senior program. The name of Meredith Field was given but she
has left and so the job has been turned over to RSVP. Now if
you don't apply quickly to this phone number and ask for Mary
Wilcox, the director of RSVP, you may lose out on this job, but
are in a very good position to see if there is not another interesting
opening for you. Call Mary now at 280-0191.
The Alzheimer's "Memory Walk" will start in Bushnell
Park on this coming Sunday, October 4, at l0 am. Over l000 are
expected to walk to help raise money for programs and services
for this disease. Walkers should get "sponsors" who
will donate for their effort. There are also spaces available
for those who might like to accept these pledges and register
the walkers on Sunday morning at 8:30 am. Those who collect sponsor's
contributions of over $75 will receive a tee shirt. For additional
information please call 954-9500.
Asylum Hill Revitalization Association and Problem Solving Committee
is sponsoring a Neighborhood Asset Survey. No they are not trying
to determine how much money everyone has saved up... but what
"assets" or "treasures" the people of the
area have. The object is to see what businesses or services are
needed to make the Asylum Hill area more attractive. At one time
Asylum Hill was a residential area, where everyone walked to
work. Today they need to know if alternatives to present transportation
are needed, what kind of housing is right for them, and have
they skills which could be turned into paying jobs which could
be located in Asylum Hill.
The recorders will be at the doors of residents on the Saturdays
of October 3rd, l0th and 17th. Seniors are invited to come to
the Salvation Army Senior Center to pick up a form and fill it
out. I will be on vacation until the l9th, but if I need to contact
you, please leave your phone number and I'll call you when I
get back. Other residents may choose to go to the Mark Twain
Library or to the Asylum Congregational Church for the forms
and someone to help.
There will be prizes for those residents who enter the survey
- either a month's mortgage payment, a month's rent or a month's
property taxes. The drawing will be held November 2, at the monthly
meeting.
In addition to needing residents to reply to the survey, they
are asking college students to do the door to door questioning.
If you know of any college students willing to do this on one
or more days, please have them call Phyllis Reeds at 521-5696
for details and training times. This number may also be used
by residents who need more information.
Another important program which is being planned is the Greater
Hartford Senior Volunteer Showcase and Exposition on Saturday,
November 7, at the St. Francis Gengras Center, l000 Asylum Ave.
in Hartford. It will run from 9 am to 2 pm.
The Greater Hartford Senior Citizen Coordinating Council which
was created after last year's very successful Exposition, is
working to get all seniors who may not be volunteering now for
a variety of reasons, but who also find something lacking in
their lives that the most suitable volunteering could fill.
This year's Expo is called "Time to Make a Difference"
There will be three fascinating speakers, book sales of those
speakers, nearly 40 display tables of those who offer volunteer
spots of all kinds.
There will also be two workshops, Effective Volunteering and
Leadership Development, as well as an Informational Video Room
to learn about the Volunteer Opportunities in Greater Hartford.
Come and explore the possibilities.
The charge of $5 covers lunch, door prizes throughout the day,
free parking in the Atwood Street lot. For more information
or to reserve your spot, please call 860-724-6443 X350.
Talk with you next issue.
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