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Archived Front Pages 2009-2010
March is National Women's History Month
The overarching theme for March 2010 is Writing Women Back into History
In 2010, in celebration of The National Women’s History Project's 30th Anniversary, they are also highlighting themes from previous years. Each of these past themes recognizes a different aspect of women’s achievements, from ecology to art, and from sports to politics.
The history of women often seems to be written with invisible ink. Even when recognized in their own times, women are often not included in the history books.
National Women’s History Month provides an excellent venue to recognize and celebrate women’s historic achievements as well as an opportunity to honor women within our families and communities. What will you do to celebrate National Women’s History Month?
For more information about National Women’s History Month, visit www.nwhp.org.
February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
"Don't Lose Sight" National Campaign Aimed to Educate Americans about Macular Degeneration
More than 15 million Americans are affected by macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss for people 50 and older. Actress Jane Seymour has partnered with Prevent Blindness America (PBA), the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, to announce "Don't Lose Sight" – a movement to educate adults ages 40-69 about their risk for macular degeneration.
In a recent study conducted by Prevent Blindness America, 96 percent of Americans believe that vision retention is important to overall quality of life. However, nearly 40 percent of people are unaware that a disease like macular degeneration exists and can be responsible for vision loss.
"Macular degeneration gradually destroys the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, identifying the face of a loved one, watching television, reading and performing other daily tasks," said Dr. Michael Cooney, a New York City ophthalmologist who has done extensive research into eye health and macular degeneration. "In some cases, macular degeneration advances so slowly that people will see little effect on their vision as they age."
Low vision aids can make the most of remaining vision. Information on eye disease warning signs and treatment is available through Prevent Blindness America.
January is National Mentoring Month
Become a Mentor
To be a mentor, you don't need special skills, just an ability to listen and to offer friendship, guidance and encouragement to a young person. And you'll be amazed by how much you'll get out of the experience.
Mentoring happens in a number of settings:
* The community.
* Schools.
* The faith-based community.
* Business.
* Through the Internet.
For more information about these settings and to find mentoring opportunities in your area Read On...
Get Invoved in Senior Corps
Americans over 55 have a lifetime of experience to share, and the desire to make a real difference in their world. They’ve managed households, been business owners and nurses, farmers and salespeople, artists and executives. Now they are ready to put their unique talents and expertise to work in their communities, and enrich their own lives in the process.
Senior Corps connects today’s over 55s with the people and organizations that need them most. We help them become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations. Conceived during John F. Kennedy's presidency, Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities. Their contributions of skills, knowledge, and experience make a real difference to individuals, nonprofits, and faith-based and other community organizations throughout the United States.
Read On for several ways to get involved...
MLK Day has become a traditional Day of Service to your community.
On January, 18, 2010, people of all ages and backgrounds will come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and to move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned. Dr. Martin Luther King devoted his life’s work to causes of equality and social justice. He taught that through nonviolence and service to one another, problems such as hunger and homelessness, prejudice and discrimination can be overcome. Dr. King’s teachings can continue to guide us in addressing our nation’s most pressing needs---poverty, economic insecurity, job loss and education.
Volunteer with Americans across the nation on the 2010 King Day of Service and make a real in difference in your community.
Plan a King Day project!
December is the ultimate holiday and observation month.
When it comes to holidays in December, everyone immediately thinks of the big ones: Christmas, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. But what else is going on in this last month of the year? Here's a list of well-known and not so well-known holidays and observances in December 2009.
Christmas 2009: December 25, and Christmas Eve 2009: December 24
This year, Christmas falls on a Friday, and Christmas Eve, which is a day off for many people, falls on a Thursday. This means an extra long weekend to celebrate with family and friends (and a whole weekend to stop by the stores for returns and after-Christmas sales). And poor Santa and the elves will have the whole weekend to rest before starting the post-Christmas workshop inventory.
New Year's Eve 2009: December 31
New Year's Eve also falls on a Thursday, followed by New Year's Day on a Monday. This means two long weekends in a row. Not a bad way to end one year and start a new one.
Hanukkah 2009: December 11 to December 18
This year, Hanukkah begins and end right int he middle of December, significantly before the Christmas festivities begin. Like all Jewish holidays, Hanukkah begins and ends at sundown. The festival lasts for eight days and eight nights, and Jewish children typically receive a small gift on each of the eight nights. Want to know more? Here are some frequently asked questions about Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa 2009: December 26 to January 1, 2010
Kwanzaa, a week-long African-American celebration of the values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement, always begins the day after Christmas and ends on New Year's. This year, the celebration begins on a Saturday, which will lend itself well to Kwanzaa celebrations. Want to know more?
November is American Diabetes Month!
November is American Diabetes Month®—a time to shine a spotlight on a serious disease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.
This year, we need to take a bolder, more audacious approach to American Diabetes Month. Consider that:
* 24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes
* 57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes
* 1 out of every 3 children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue
October is Family History Month!
10 Ways to Celebrate Family History Month
Projects to Explore and Preserve Your Family Heritage
By Kimberly Powell, About.com
October is designated in many U.S. States as "Family History Month," and genealogists everywhere have adopted the month as their own. Whether you're new to genealogy, or have devoted a lifetime to it, celebrate Family History Month with your family this October by trying one (or more) of these ten wonderful ways to craft and commemorate your past.
Get Started Tracing Your Family Tree
If you have been curious about your family tree but just aren't sure where to start then you don't have any more excuses. Here is a great collection of resources and simple advice on how to get started researching your family tree both on and off the Internet.
First Steps: How to Trace Your Family Tree
Free Family Tree Charts
Uncover Your Family Health History
Also known as medical genealogy, tracing your family health history is a fun, and potentially lifesaving, project. Experts state that about 3000 of the 10,000 known diseases have genetic links, and that many diseases "run in families," including colon cancer, heart disease, alcoholism, and high blood pressure. Creating a family health history can be a useful tool to aid you and your medical care provider in interpreting patterns of health, illness and genetic traits for you and your descendants. What you learn now could potentially save a family member's life tomorrow.
Tracing Your Family Medical History
Nature vs. Nurture: Are We Really Born That Way?
Read on for more Family History projects!
September is Healthy Aging Month!
Begin Your Training for Your Older Years Now!
September is Healthy Aging® Month is an annual health observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. The month, created by Educational Television Network over 15 years ago, is part of the Healthy Aging®, a national, ongoing health promotion designed to broaden awareness of the positive aspects of aging and to provide inspiration for adults, ages 50-plus, to improve their physical, mental, social and financial health.
In an effort to draw attention to the needs of the growing numbers of older adults, the month was developed to offer a second month on the calendar in addition to May is Older Americans Month. September was chosen as a time when many people think about getting started on new tasks after the summer. Drawing on the “back to school” urge embedded in everyone from childhood, the observance month activities are designed to encourage people to rejuvenate and get going on positive health measures. These measures include physical, social, financial and mental wellness.
What can you do to celebrate September is Healthy Aging® Month? Get in training now for your positive older years… Begin this month to take more personal responsibility for your own health. Read On for some ideas...
July 3 - August 15 are Air Conditioning Appreciation Days
The arrival of summer's sticky, steamy weather is a reminder that July 3 through August 15 is designated "Air Conditioning Appreciation Days," so don't forget to give your cooling equipment some tender loving care before the "dog days of summer" turn into scorchers.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's (ARI) guidelines give homeowners suggestions to help keep central air conditioners working properly, which can reduce energy costs, head off expensive repairs and protect families from killer heat waves like the kind that took thousands of lives last year in Europe and India.
"Proper maintenance of your air conditioner can help you beat the summer heat and conserve electricity," says William G. Sutton, president of ARI. "However, if your air conditioner or heat pump gives you problems that seem too expensive to fix, consider a replacement. Newer equipment on average is about 50 percent more energy efficient than equipment manufactured 25 years ago." Read on for tips on how to keep cool this summer...
And don't forget! When temperatures rise so high in Bond County that a HEAT ADVISORY is issued, the Bond County Senior Center serves as a cooling center from 9:00 - 5:00 weekdays.
June is Adopt A Shelter Cat Month
Approximately 4 million cats end up in shelters every year. One of them is sure to be a perfect match for you! Each year, thousands of kittens are born during spring and summer -- and many end up in animal shelters, waiting for loving homes. To promote adoptions of these playful, affectionate animals, American Humane celebrates Adopt-A-Cat Month® in June. Come visit the fabulous felines at your local animal shelter, and take home your new best friend! [ Keep reading for more information about how a cat companion will improve both his and your life ... ]
ASPCA's Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month Resources
At the ASPCA, it’s all shelter cats, all the time. But the month of June is extra special—it’s Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month! Read on for cat care tips, this year's photo contest theme and profiles of some of our favorite shelter cats—then make your way to your local shelter and meet the feline of your dreams!
May is National Bike Month
Bicycles For Aging Baby Boomers
Fun, fitness and easy on the joints are the reasons more and more baby boomers are turning to
cycling than ever before. But what makes a good bike for boomers? While there are lots of hard-core,
50-plus cyclists out there, most older riders are more interested in a leisurely ride on the comfy
side. That’s why manufacturers are making a line of “comfort” bikes –
feel-good alternatives to the high-performance road bikes and nubby-tired mountain bikes.
Comfort bikes let you sit upright which eases lower-back strain; they come with big tires that
ensure a smooth ride; have raised, swept-back handlebars to reduce pressure on the wrists and hands;
and offer oversize seats to eliminate saddle soreness.
[ Keep reading for a closer look at some different boomer-friendly styles... ]
May is also Older Americans Month
"Living Today for a Better Tomorrow"
Each year the Administration on Aging (AoA) issues a theme for Older Americans Month to assist their National Aging Services Network of state, tribal, area agencies on aging, and community services providers plan for activities that might take place in May or throughout the year. This year’s theme “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow” reflects AoA’s continued focus on prevention efforts and programs throughout the country that are helping older adults have better health as they age and avoid the risks of chronic disease, disability and injury.
April is National Garden Month
"When You Garden, You Grow!"
Gardening is an activity you can enjoy from childhood through retirement. While your gardening style may change over time, your love of gardens and plants probably won't. Sharing your wealth of knowledge and skills with young people is a great way to stay active and engaged. Intergenerational gardening has other benefits, too. Young people learn how to grow their own food and flowers — a lifelong gift they can use to improve their quality of life at home and in the community. They also glean wisdom from and nurture a relationship with an older adult. Older gardeners get physical assistance that may keep them active longer. Plus, a young gardening friend may nurture an older gardener's creativity or sense of adventure by suggesting new ideas or asking to try unusual plants. Intergenerational gardening is a win-win activity for everyone! [ Read More... ]
Bond County Humane Society offers special adoption discounts for seniors 60 years or older. Senior
adopters receive a $50 discount off of adoption fees. This discount is
made available through the The Purina Pets For Seniors program. Studies have shown that pet companionship actually improves senior citizen health and outlook on life. Lowered blood pressure and a reduction in stress are among the potential benefits of pet ownership. In addition‚ seniors with pets report feeling happier and safer. The Pets For Seniors program helps to defray the costs of spaying or neutering‚ vaccinations‚ and other fees and provides product information‚ coupons‚ and a pet care booklet.
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In the News
Senior Dinner on Christmas
The Greenville Police Association sponsored their annual Christmas Day Dinner. The event was hosted in December 2009 at Bond
County Senior Center and featured holiday music and gifts from Santa.
2009 Volunteer Recognition Evening
An informal evening of fellowship and dessert, featuring Senior Center volunteers aged 32-90!
Fundraising For New Building Kicks Off!
Expanded services and an outgrown location mean it is time for brand new site plans and an optimistic fundraising campaign.
Spelling Bee Held First Time in 15 Years.
The Bond County Senior Citizen 2009 Spelling Bee competition and results. Winner advances to regional round.
Funding Cuts Jeopardize Services
Bond County Senior Citizen's Center Life Saver Capital Campaign for the Endowment Fund
Photos from the First Annual Golf Scramble
2003 Volunteer Appreciation event
The Center offers a variety of meaningful volunteer opportunities for people of all ages.
Henrietta File Flag and Medals Ceremony
In a special ceremony with Senator Frank Watson, Henrietta File received the flag and medals awarded to her son.