Nov 27, 2021
From Troy Dunson with the Pa. Department of Aging: 3G wireless networks are scheduled to shut down next year, which will prevent older cell phones that utilize these networks from making or receiving calls or using data services. In addition to cell phones, other connected devices such as certain medical devices, alert systems, and security systems that use 3G network services will be impacted. Although most people have devices on 4G or 5G networks, the shutdown will likely disproportionately impact older adults and low-income individuals, who may be using older phones, life alert systems, and other devices still on 3G. For people with limited resources, this change could present challenges if they have to spend money on new products. Some carriers are offering free or discounted replacement phones. Older adults and low-income individuals may qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which could help them get discounted, updated devices. Advocates play an important role in outreach and education, particularly to communities who may be most impacted by this change, including older adults of color, those living in rural areas, and other marginalized groups. COVID-19 BOOSTERS Experience Inc. and Gaughn’s Drug Store have partnered to hold weekly booster COVID-19 vaccination events at the Allegheny Community Center. 300 seniors, frontline workers and individuals who are immunocompromised can receive the booster each Thursday. Appointments for booster shots are required and can be made by calling Gaughn’s at (814) 723-2840 or Experience, Inc. at (814) 723-3763, ext. 175. To save time when scheduling, people are asked to pick up paperwork at either Experience, Inc. or the ACC and remember to bring insurance and vaccination cards. TAX HELP AVAILABLE AND NEEDED Tax season is on the horizon and the ACC will be offering free tax services. The service – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) – is available both virtually and in person to anyone making less than $65,000 per year. As the name implies, anyone willing to offer their expertise to provide this service should contact the ACC. COVID-19 PROTOCOLS Experience Inc. wishes to remind everyone that masks are required at all senior centers for the protection of seniors and staff. RECEPTIONIST NEEDED A volunteer receptionist is needed for Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Allegheny Community Center. Duties are answering the phone, signing in people that come to the center, making copies and giving out information on what’s happening at the centers. TRANSPORTATION OFFERING The Transit Authority of Warren County offers shared ride door-to-door bus service for persons 65 and over that will pick you up at your door. Reservations are needed to utilize this service and must be called in at least a day in advance. The bus will take you to senior centers, medical appointments, visiting, shopping or just for a day out. TAWC buses are available to the handicapped. The buses are lift-equipped for passengers in wheelchairs or who have difficulty with steps. Give TAWC a call at (814) 723-1874 for more information. CLOSURES The county’s senior centers will be closed Dec. 24 and 27 for Christmas. TIA CHI FOR ARTHRITIS The Allegheny Community Center is offering a Tia Chi for Arthritis class this winter. Classes are held at 10 a.m. every Monday at the center. UPCOMING MEALS Here’s a look at the meal calendar for November which is, unfortunately, subject to change due to supply chain issues. Remember that you must order meals two weeks in advance. Please call your local center to order or – if needed – cancel meals. Dec. 13: Taco salad with Spanish rice, corn and black bean salad, nacho chips and pineapple delight. Dec. 14: Stuffed pepper with tomato sauce, garlic whipped potato, coin carrots, white bread, fresh fruit. Dec. 15: Orange glazed pork loin with vegetable rice pilaf, cauliflower and sliced applies. Dec. 16: Crispy chicken salad with mixed greens, vegetable soup, dinner roll and peach crisp. Dec. 17: Turkey caesar club sandwich with broccoli soup, sandwich roll, cherry chip cake and fruit cocktail. Dec. 20: Baked meatloaf with gravy with baked potato, green beans, white bread and sliced peaches. Dec. 21: Chicken marsala with rice pilaf, broccoli and cauliflower, wheat bread and mixed fruit. Dec. 22: Pineapple glazed ham with whipped sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, wheat bread and fresh fruit. Dec. 23: Hawaiian pork chop with rice pilaf, island blend vegetables and strawberry shortcake. Dec. 28: BBQ pork ribette with sweet potato bites, green beans, wheat bread and pineapple delight. Dec. 29: Bacon bleu cheeseburger with creamy potato soup, roll and fresh fruit. Dec. 30: Salmon cake with white wine cream sauce, white rice, broccoli, wheat bread and mixed fruit. Jan. 3: Potato crusted fish with macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, wheat bread and fresh fruit. Jan. 4: BBQ pulled pork sandwich, creamy coleslaw, baked beans, sandwich roll and pineapple tidbits. Jan. 5: Creamy chicken divan with white rice, tossed salad, breadstick and mandarin oranges. Jan. 6: Swiss steak with onion gravy, cabbage and noodles, diced carrots, wheat bread and blushed pears. Jan. 7: Chili with cheddar cheese, tossed salad, cornbread and applesauce. HOURS & CONTACT INFORMATION Allegheny Community Center, Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (814) 723-4180. Endeavor, Tues, Wed., Fri., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; (814) 463-7774. Marienville, Tues.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m.; (814) 927-6607. Sheffield, Mon., Thurs., Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (814) 968-5667. Tidioute, Mon., Tues., Thurs., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; (814) 484-3020.
From Troy Dunson with the Pa. Department of Aging: 3G wireless networks are scheduled to shut down next year, which will prevent older cell phones that utilize these networks from making or receiving calls or using data services.
In addition to cell phones, other connected devices such as certain medical devices, alert systems, and security systems that use 3G network services will be impacted. Although most people have devices on 4G or 5G networks, the shutdown will likely disproportionately impact older adults and low-income individuals, who may be using older phones, life alert systems, and other devices still on 3G. For people with limited resources, this change could present challenges if they have to spend money on new products.
Some carriers are offering free or discounted replacement phones. Older adults and low-income individuals may qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which could help them get discounted, updated devices. Advocates play an important role in outreach and education, particularly to communities who may be most impacted by this change, including older adults of color, those living in rural areas, and other marginalized groups.
COVID-19 BOOSTERS
Experience Inc. and Gaughn’s Drug Store have partnered to hold weekly booster COVID-19 vaccination events at the Allegheny Community Center. 300 seniors, frontline workers and individuals who are immunocompromised can receive the booster each Thursday. Appointments for booster shots are required and can be made by calling Gaughn’s at (814) 723-2840 or Experience, Inc. at (814) 723-3763, ext. 175. To save time when scheduling, people are asked to pick up paperwork at either Experience, Inc. or the ACC and remember to bring insurance and vaccination cards.
TAX HELP AVAILABLE AND NEEDED
Tax season is on the horizon and the ACC will be offering free tax services. The service – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) – is available both virtually and in person to anyone making less than $65,000 per year. As the name implies, anyone willing to offer their expertise to provide this service should contact the ACC.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Experience Inc. wishes to remind everyone that masks are required at all senior centers for the protection of seniors and staff.
RECEPTIONIST NEEDED
A volunteer receptionist is needed for Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Allegheny Community Center. Duties are answering the phone, signing in people that come to the center, making copies and giving out information on what’s happening at the centers.
TRANSPORTATION OFFERING
The Transit Authority of Warren County offers shared ride door-to-door bus service for persons 65 and over that will pick you up at your door. Reservations are needed to utilize this service and must be called in at least a day in advance. The bus will take you to senior centers, medical appointments, visiting, shopping or just for a day out. TAWC buses are available to the handicapped. The buses are lift-equipped for passengers in wheelchairs or who have difficulty with steps. Give TAWC a call at (814) 723-1874 for more information.
CLOSURES
The county’s senior centers will be closed Dec. 24 and 27 for Christmas.
TIA CHI FOR ARTHRITIS
The Allegheny Community Center is offering a Tia Chi for Arthritis class this winter. Classes are held at 10 a.m. every Monday at the center.
UPCOMING MEALS
Here’s a look at the meal calendar for November which is, unfortunately, subject to change due to supply chain issues. Remember that you must order meals two weeks in advance. Please call your local center to order or – if needed – cancel meals.
Dec. 13: Taco salad with Spanish rice, corn and black bean salad, nacho chips and pineapple delight.
Dec. 14: Stuffed pepper with tomato sauce, garlic whipped potato, coin carrots, white bread, fresh fruit.
Dec. 15: Orange glazed pork loin with vegetable rice pilaf, cauliflower and sliced applies.
Dec. 16: Crispy chicken salad with mixed greens, vegetable soup, dinner roll and peach crisp.
Dec. 17: Turkey caesar club sandwich with broccoli soup, sandwich roll, cherry chip cake and fruit cocktail.
Dec. 20: Baked meatloaf with gravy with baked potato, green beans, white bread and sliced peaches.
Dec. 21: Chicken marsala with rice pilaf, broccoli and cauliflower, wheat bread and mixed fruit.
Dec. 22: Pineapple glazed ham with whipped sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, wheat bread and fresh fruit.
Dec. 23: Hawaiian pork chop with rice pilaf, island blend vegetables and strawberry shortcake.
Dec. 28: BBQ pork ribette with sweet potato bites, green beans, wheat bread and pineapple delight.
Dec. 29: Bacon bleu cheeseburger with creamy potato soup, roll and fresh fruit.
Dec. 30: Salmon cake with white wine cream sauce, white rice, broccoli, wheat bread and mixed fruit.
Jan. 3: Potato crusted fish with macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, wheat bread and fresh fruit.
Jan. 4: BBQ pulled pork sandwich, creamy coleslaw, baked beans, sandwich roll and pineapple tidbits.
Jan. 5: Creamy chicken divan with white rice, tossed salad, breadstick and mandarin oranges.
Jan. 6: Swiss steak with onion gravy, cabbage and noodles, diced carrots, wheat bread and blushed pears.
Jan. 7: Chili with cheddar cheese, tossed salad, cornbread and applesauce.
HOURS & CONTACT INFORMATION
Allegheny Community Center, Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (814) 723-4180.
Endeavor, Tues, Wed., Fri., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; (814) 463-7774.
Marienville, Tues.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m.; (814) 927-6607.
Sheffield, Mon., Thurs., Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (814) 968-5667.
Tidioute, Mon., Tues., Thurs., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; (814) 484-3020.
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