PERI CANCELS: Public Employee Retirees, Mahoning County Chapter 18, canceled the February luncheon meeting due to coronavirus concerns.
DUZZNY TO HEAD PERI: The members of Public Employee Retirees Chapter 18 voted to retain Walter M. Duzzny Sr. of Austintown as president and Tom Sweder of Struthers as treasurer for 2022-23.
Duzzny, former county emergency manager, 911 and Homeland Security director, is also a retired Army colonel and active in veterans and community organizations.
Sweder was the past Struthers treasurer.
The following PERI board members continuing in their positions for the chapter are Vice President Arlene DeChellis, Barb Holzschuh, Carol Gonda, Mary Grace Welsh, Marilyn Carroll, Ceil Kidd, Jack Tomaino, Janice Mottram, Diane Dudek, Bill Wade, Mary Lou Senchak, Marilyn Abramski, Legislative Officer Joe Gorman and coordinator Ralph Zerbonia.
Duzzny points out that with more than 400 chapter members in Mahoning County, PERI continues to impact the issues and concerns that affect pensions and health care benefits through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.
In other chapter news, after serving more than 10 years, Norma Marzano stepped down as secretary and was recognized for her service.
Join by contacting the chapter’s membership chair, Marilyn, at 330-565-6913 or visiting the website MahoningPERI.com.
SENIOR CENTER: The Gathering Place Senior Center of Canfield will meet 11 a.m. Tuesday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield.
Cassandra Valentine of Direction Home of Eastern Ohio will speak of programs for seniors.
Lunch will be provided by The Woodlands. Contact person for these events is Woody Gingery at 330-538-3323 or call the church office at 330-533-3531.
This program is offered to all senior citizens and is held on the second Monday of each month. Contact person for these events is Woody Gingery at 330-538-3323 or call the church office at 330-533-3531.
Meeting were planned for February but were canceled due to the present COVID-19 situation.
PROGRAM FOR SENIORS: ACTION and MYCAP, along with Christ Centered Church, are presenting Seniors Offering Services for men and women 65 and older.
Three days per week, seniors participate in virtual programs of exercise, classes, game time, community awareness, movies and television, healthy cooking, chit-chat and humor, among other things. Once per week, lunch will be delivered while they participate in either game time, television, movies or guest speakers.
Preregistration is required. Call Elisa Hosey at 234-232-9043 or Micki Coylar at 330-788-7530.
SENIOR VOLUNTEERS: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of the Mahoning Valley is looking for volunteers. For information, contact Leah at 330-480-0352, Ext. 3.
RSVP is a national service program for individuals 55 and older who want to volunteer in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. These volunteers will also assist with community events.
The Senior Support Action Group is a coalition of community partners working together to assist seniors in the valley with access to food, transportation to medical appointments and companionship through the Phone Pals program.
AUSTINTOWN SENIOR CENTER: The schedule for the next week for the Austintown Senior Center, 112 Westchester Drive, 330-953-1416, austintownseniorcenter.org, is:
• Monday: Video course, 9 a.m.; Bible study, 9 a.m.; Floor Sculpt, 9:30 a.m.; card playing, 10 a.m.; sewing and needle arts, 10 a.m.; bingo, 10 a.m.; painting class, 10 a.m.; senior spinning, 10:30 a.m.; chair volleyball, 11:30 a.m.; bridge group, noon; lunch from Belleria, noon;
• Tuesday: Video course, 9 a.m.; Tai Ji Quan, 9 a.m.; card playing, 10 a.m.; sewing and needle art, 10 a.m.; bingo, 10 a.m.; Drum Your Way Fit, 10 a.m.; video chair yoga, 11 a.m.; spades, 11:30 a.m.; social dancing for seniors, noon; lunch from Calaveras; trivia, 1 p.m.;
• Wednesday: Video course, 9 a.m.; blood pressure check by Woodlands, 9 a.m.; bingo, 10 a.m.; card playing, 10 a.m.; sewing and needle arts, 10 a.m.; Walking Club, 10 a.m.; chair yoga, 10:30 a.m.; chair volleyball, 11:30 a.m.; lunch / grocery bingo sponsored by Woodlands, noon; bingo, 1 p.m.;
• Thursday: Video course, 9 a.m.; woodcarving, 9 a.m.; Bible study, 9 a.m.; Tai Ji Quan, 9 a.m.; bingo, 10 a.m.; card playing, 10 a.m.; sewing and needle arts, 10 a.m.; senior spinning, 10 a.m.; walking club, 10 a.m.; chair yoga, 10:30 a.m.; chair volleyball, 11:30 a.m.; lunch from Charly’s, noon; birthday party, noon; bingo, 1 p.m.
THE GIRARD MULTI-GENERATIONAL CENTER: The Girard Multi-Generational Center, 433 Trumbull Ave., Girard, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Offered are stretching classes, a coffee and snack bar, puzzles, mind games, computer cafe, newspapers and fitness center. Yoga / Pilates is offered; call for class times. For more information and lunch reservations (two days ahead), call 330-675-2486.
• A tai chi class is offered noon to 1 p.m. Fridays for $5 per person;
• Nutrition Meal Program, 1:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, from Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs. Reservations must be made at least two days in advance.
ALZHEIMER HELP ONLINE: The Alzheimer’s Association’s online Community Resource Finder at alz.org/crf provides ZIP code area-specific information on topics such as care at home, community services and housing options.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers numerous caregiver support groups virtually. A number of dial-in telephone support groups have been added for additional support.
To learn about support groups and community education programs, visit the site or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
MEMORY SCREENINGS VIRTUAL: The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering a free virtual memory screening. Appointments can be scheduled by calling AFA at 866-232-8484 or by visiting www.alzfdn.org. Screenings are conducted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through secure videoconference. There are no minimum age or insurance prerequisites.
To schedule a screening or for more information about brain health and lifestyle choices that can help promote healthy aging, visit AFA’s website at www.alzfdn.org or call AFA’s Helpline at 866-232-8484.
FOOD DELIVERY: Direction Home of Eastern Ohio is partnering with various agencies for Families First Coronavirus Response Act funding for no-contact food deliveries to seniors 60 and older.
Agencies for Mahoning and Columbiana counties include Easter Seals, 330-884-2513, and Jewish Family Services, 330-746-7929.
SENIOR WATCH PROGRAM: Liberty residents 60 and older may sign up for the Liberty Township Senior Watch Program. Contact Marcy Orlando, police secretary, at 330-759-1315, or Joy, fire secretary, at 330-759-0363, Ext. 102.
CAREGIVER PROGRAM: The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter has a new caregiver relief program called The Jan & Josephine Castora Family Caregiver Relief Program, which pays for agency caregivers to assist families needing help caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
For more information, people can go to alz.org/eastohio/carerelief.
Visit www.alz.org or call our 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS: Dave Long answers questions during a series of monthly talks on the latest scams, why scammers target seniors and how to protect personal information 1 p.m. the fourth Thursday of every month at the Poland Township Government Center, 3339 Dobbins Road, Poland.
Long, of Poland, is a retired public affairs officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Buffalo who later worked as an Elder Scam Prevention Outreach specialist with Lifespan in Rochester, N.Y., before moving back to the Mahoning Valley.
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM: Direction Home of Eastern Ohio is looking for volunteers to join the Ombudsman Program to advocate for excellence for those living in long-term care facilities.
Ombudsman help ensure that residents of long-term care facilities receive quality care and treatment. Volunteers will make phone calls and virtual visits to residents.
The training to become a certified volunteer will be provided virtually. Call 330-505-2338 for more information.
FALL PREVENTION GUIDE: The Ohio Department of Public Safety Division of EMS joined with the Ohio Injury Prevention Partnership and released an updated “Elderly Fall Prevention Resource Guide” for EMS providers and the general public.
Download a copy of the guide at www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/EMS5934.pdf.
PERI WELCOMES RETIREES / EMPLOYEES: Ohio Public Employees, retired or working, are eligible to join the state organization and the local chapter by calling Marilyn at 330-565 6913 or visiting the Chapter 18 website at www.mahoningperi.com.
