THE CONNECTION
Seniors Connect Newsletter
Issue 2 - April 2005

Home & Community Support Service –
Grey Bruce Expands Again!

Recently Home & Community Support Services of Grey Bruce expanded their Adult Day Program to three days per week. H&CSS offers a number of services for frail elderly and adults living with physical or cognitive impairments. There services include transportation, an adult day program, Meals on Wheels – both hot and frozen, friendly visiting & home maintenance referrals.
The most recent service, which started in August of 2004, was the opening of an adult Day Away program. This program takes place in beautiful Gateway Haven in Wiarton and runs every Tuesday & Thursday. We have realized a great need for this service in our community and as a result we are now also operating on Wednesdays as well. This program is designed to offer caregivers a “day off” and your loved one a “day out”. Transportation, meals and bathing are available. Trained staff and volunteers are eager to help you out! We have a number of volunteer opportunities available throughout our community.
For more information about our services, call Carol Cornfield, 534-1728.

Cradlelink

Cradlelink is a Federally funded program through the new Public Health Agency of Canada. Nurses visit new & expectant moms throughout Grey & Bruce, offering information, weights, community links and volunteer support. We train volunteers who can offer these new moms 4 hours a week of hands on help until the baby turns 1 year old. If you would like to help out a new mom with the care of a cute and cuddly baby, please contact Kim Gallowar or Joyce Gateman at 371-4773 for details. They have training sessions available in Owen Sound for two days, mileage paid. The next training session will be in September.
Community Service Fair
In Tobermory on Monday May 2nd, a community service fair will be held at the community center from 10:00 – 11:30. There will be a number of agencies there and they will have a wide range of information available. This information session is for youth & adults. For more info call Barb Tanner at 596-2241.
 Internet service:
If you have a computer at home and would like some help sending emails or need some information on doing searches on the internet, call me and we can set up a time for training in the office. If you do not have a computer but would like to stay in touch with family members who are a distance away, we can send a message for you! We can even send digital pictures!
TAX TIME
Tim Hayes of Lion’s Head does volunteer tax returns through the Federal Government. This service is free for people with an income below $25,000. You can drop off your returns here in the office or call Tim direct at 793-4207.
Tax tips:
Medical expenses: If you have to travel more than 45 kilometers for a medical appointment you can claim your mileage. If you are paying for additional medical coverage, the premium payments can be claimed on your return.
Tim will be holding a work shop on Saturday, March 26th at the Rotary Hall in Lion’s Head if you would like to have your returns completed on that day.
Coffee will be provided.
George Blandon of Lion’s Head had his 90th birthday on March 2nd. He had a very busy day! He enjoyed tea at our Coffee Connection in the morning, went to Lenton Lunch at noon and out for dinner at a friends place in the evening. Whew, hard to believe he’s 90!
March was Kidney month. If you would like to make a donation, please call 1-800-667-3597.
Drive Wise seminar
Drive Wise is a driver education seminar that provides mature drivers with a shopping basket of safe driving strategies. It teaches drivers how to take preventive measures against the most likely causes & circumstances of collisions. The seminar also provides seniors with advice on what to do when involved in a collision. We will be holding a seminar in the Lion’s Head & Tobermory area. If you would like to attend, please call our office, 793-3781. This seminar is free.
April is Daffodil month for the Cancer Society. If you wish to donate, call 376-6011.
Story Corner
Country Bumpkin
It was the year 1949, a very special year for Toronto football fans. Toronto Argonauts had won the Grey Cup the previous year which meant that in ‘49 the Grey Cup game would be held in Toronto in November. There was much excitement with so many people trying to procure tickets. Those who were able to obtain them were either owners of a business establishment or one of the top executives. My fiancé’s father owned a textile business and had in his possession two tickets for the game. He was not a football fan himself so he gave the tickets to Howard. One day in October Howard asked me if I would like to go to the game with him and I said, “Sure!” Deep down I really wasn’t that keen on going as I knew very little about football. While residing in Lion’s Head in my childhood and early teens, I don’t think I ever saw the boys with a football.
The big day came. Seated in Varsity Stadium, Howard and I watched while the teams warmed up before the game. He and the spectators around us were cheering, but I was missing out on something and I really had to know!
“Howard, who’s playing?” I asked, a little loudly, otherwise my voice would not have been heard above the noise.
NEVER will I forget that look he gave me. I wanted to crawl in a hole. There was a lull in the din around us, but when they again began cheering Howard leaned toward me and quietly told me the name of the opposing team.
Howard never let me forget that incident. In fact, several times he related the event at different parties we attended. He said – “Imagine! People dying to get their hands on a ticket to the Grey Cup and I take my girlfriend who doesn’t even know who is playing!!” Howard really wasn’t angry with me, as he found he got great laughs whenever he told the story.
We were married the following year on October 28th. We came home from our honeymoon just in time for the Grey Cup which, due to the fact the Argos won the previous year, the 1950 game was again held in Toronto. Guess who my husband took to the game? – his brother’s wife!! I really didn’t care – I didn’t like football anyway!
Lee (Oley) Knight

Telephone Fraud
Constable Meyer, from the Bruce Peninsula OPP detachment, made a presentation at both Tobermory and Lion’s Head on telephone fraud in March. 1 billion dollars was lost last year through phone fraud by people in Canada. 80% of that money lost was by seniors. Criminals target seniors because they are at home during the day. There are 67,000 legally registered charities in Canada! If you go to a home & garden or sports show and fill out a ballad to win a vacation or hot tub, they may sell this information to telemarketing companies for $5. Your name is now on a call list!
TIPS: It is very important not to give your information out over the phone. If you are buying goods over the internet, have a separate credit card with a $500 limit that you use just for the internet.
Contact Phone Busters if you think you have been involved in a telephone theft. Their number is 1-888-495-8501.

Volunteers Grow Communities!

April 17 - 23, 2005
is
Volunteer Week.
VON UPDATE

The ‘SMART’ program mentioned in the last newsletter is currently on hold. I will keep you posted when I hear new information.