Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
- Senior Scams are Everywhere!
- Dutchess Heritage Days (This Weekend)
- Organizing for Life’s Transitions (6/18)
- Veterans to be Honored at Youth Baseball Events
- Bereavement Support Group (Every Thursday)
- Mobile Farmers Market Debuts on Thursday
- More Aging News Online
Click here to find the date for the Senior Picnic in your area: http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/AGseniorpicnic.htm
REMINDER: The Senior Walking Group is now meeting every Friday morning at 9 AM behind Gold’s Gym in LaGrange.
You are invited to join that group – or the Tuesday morning group that meets at 9 AM at the Washington Street entrance to the Walkway Over the Hudson. Come out and join us!
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Mary Kaye Dolan-Anderson, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
SENIOR SCAMS EVERYWHERE
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about possible paving/outdoor work scams that are prevalent at this time of year. It’s just one of a number of common scams that target the elderly population who tend to be home during the day to answer the door or the phone when a scammer calls.
Traditionally, the perpetrators of the paving scam will show up unannounced and advertise that they can do paving and/or other work at a significant discount. Sometimes they will say they can offer a reduction in cost as they are in the neighborhood working on another job and have “leftover” material. They will usually ask for a deposit, and then once it has been paid (usually in cash) they will do some preliminary work and then never return to finish the job.
IRS SCAM CONTINUES
The IRS telephone scam we first warned residents about in this column last year continues to be pervasive in the Hudson Valley. We hear from senior citizens on a regular basis who have been contacted by IRS “debt collectors” seeking to settle outstanding tax debts by pressuring them to send a payment via a money order or wire transfer.
According to the IRS, they will always send a taxpayer written notification of any tax due via the U.S. mail. They will never ask for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone. They also will not contact you via email. If you receive an email solicitation, send it to: phishing@irs.gov .
These scammers tend to be very aggressive and can threaten the elderly with arrest, having their utilities shut off, or having their driver’s license revoked. The call may seem very real, but that is part of what makes it so successful. It can also be very upsetting and confusing to some people who may feel the need to comply in order to avoid the consequences.
If you get a call from someone saying they are from the IRS and you think you may owe taxes, hang up and call 1-800-829-1040. The IRS employee who answers the phone will be able to help you with any payment issue. If you are certain you do not owe any taxes, call the Treasury Inspector General at 1-800-366-4484 to report the incident.
REPORT ALL SCAMS
Seniors should be vigilant against any and all scammers. Similar scams involving utility companies, the “Grandma it’s me” scam, etc. are all still very common. The Dutchess County Sherriff’s Office warns, “It is very important to not send any money to anyone that you don’t know until you’ve confirmed the situation through an independent source and feel comfortable with it. If it’s a scam, once the money is sent, it’s very difficult, and most times impossible, to get it back. If you think you may have been a victim of this type of scam in the past, or if you receive these types of calls in the future, you are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800 or via the tipline at 845-605-CLUE or dcsotips@gmail.com.”
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone 486-2555, email: agingservices@dutchessny.gov website:http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/AGIndex.htm
Dutchess Heritage Days 2015 at Boyce Park in Dover
The Dutchess County Department of History, in partnership with the town of Dover, will host Dutchess Heritage Days 2015 at Thomas J. Boyce Park in Wingdale, off Route 55, on Saturday, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th. The program, The 150th on the 150th, will commemorate the American Civil War’s conclusion and Dutchess County soldiers’ return, in General J. H. Ketcham’s home town. Ketcham, an antebellum town supervisor of Dover and New York State Assemblyman and Senator, commanded the 150th (Dutchess County) New York Volunteer Infantry for most of the Civil War. The event will run from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, featuring a living history encampment and a history fair with displays from area historical societies and preservation groups.
A variety of programs will be offered all weekend long. The event will open with a short parade on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Reenactors of the recreated Company I, 150th NYVI, along with the JH Ketcham Fire Company, will march in and be on hand all weekend, offering ongoing camp life demonstrations, musket firing, and period military drill. The adjoining history fair, in the Boyce Park picnic pavilion, will feature presentations on general county history along with specific exhibits and displays on Dutchess County’s contribution to the nation’s defining conflict. Children’s activities include drilling with wooden muskets and playing with period toys. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Town of Dover will sponsor a special showing of the final episode of Ken Burns’ The Civil War with boxed dinner options available.Sunday programming will include a Civil War-style church service at the reenactor camp at 10 a.m.
“This event offers a unique opportunity for Dutchess County residents and visitors from across the region to explore our area’s deep connections to the Civil War,” said County Historian William P. Tatum III. “Boyce Park and the Town of Dover offer the perfect setting for this event, with close and continuing ties to Dutchess County’s major contributions to the war effort. Eastern Dutchess is a treasure trove of historic sites we hope this event will encourage people to visit.”
The Dutchess County Historical Society, the Town of Washington/Village of Millbrook Historical Society, and the Town of Amenia Historian Arlene luliano have offered early support for the History Fair. The Dover Town Council and the Dover Historical Society have worked closely with Dutchess County in planning this event from the beginning and will be providing significant support for this celebration of county heritage.
This event is free and open to the public, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Additional event details are available at dutchessny.gov/history. The event flyer can be viewed here.
ORGANIZING FOR LIFE’S TRANSISTIONS
The Pines at Poughkeepsie Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation is hosting a seminar with Colleen Ashe, Certified Professional Organizer, of Ashe Organizing Solutions. Organizing for Life’s Transitions will be held in the lobby from 5:00-6:00 PM on Thursday, June 18th. Attendees will learn time tested strategies to de-clutter their home. The seminar will be interactive and free making it simply priceless! Ashe Organizing Solutions works closely with seniors, children of seniors helping to downsize and anyone feeling overwhelmed with clutter. Reserve your seat with Becky (845) 454-4100 ext. 318. The Pines at Poughkeepsie is located on 100 Franklin Street in Poughkeepsie.
VETERANS TO BE HONORED
The NY Commissioner of Babe Ruth and Cal Ripkin Baseball would like to honor local veterans at two of their upcoming youth tournaments. The tournaments will be held on Saturday June 27th at the Beekman Recreation Center – 29 Recreation Center Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY and Saturday July 4th at the Crown Heights Field – 85 Airport Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY (What a great way to celebrate Independence Day!!). Both tournaments will include a “Thank You” to all Veterans in attendance, they will also provide food and the opportunity to stay for one hour, two hours or the entire day to watch some youth baseball. Opening ceremony for both tournament begins at 10:00am however they’re asking any veterans that plan on attending to be there at 9:30am. As they will be providing food they need a head count of the number of veterans that plan to attend.
If you plan on attending please contact Ruth Recchia of Semper Fi Parents of the Hudson Valley atsfphvtroops@yahoo.com
Dutchess County Bereavement Support Group
Jewish Family Services of Dutchess County has formed a bereavement support group for those age 30 and older mourning the loss of a parent, spouse/partner, adult child. The group will take place Thursdays, 10-11:30am at Schomre Israel, 18 Park Place, Poughkeepsie and is free of charge, donations are welcome. This group is open to the anyone in the community. For more information or to register to attend, contact Lenora Koffman, Jewish Family Services, 845-471-9817 or jfs@jewishdutchess.org
Poughkeepsie group debuts mobile farmers market
It’s a new day for farm-fresh, affordable food shopping in the City of Poughkeepsie.
The mobile market will launch this Thursday, June 11, with a celebration at the Family Partnership Center starting at noon. The market’s schedule will begin next week:
- Tuesdays — Poughkeepsie Housing Authority (New Hope Community Center, Smith Street), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Thursdays — Interfaith Towers, Washington Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Fridays — Family Partnership Center, North Hamilton Street, noon to 4 p.m.
- Saturdays — Hudson River Housing (Middle Main Pocket Park), Main Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Patrons may pay with cash, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks, WIC or SNAP benefits.
In collaboration with Hudson River Housing’s River Haven program, teenagers will learn job skills by working on the mobile market. The Poughkeepsie Plenty Fresh Market is funded through grants from the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley, the New York Healthy Food & Healthy Communities Fund, Health Quest, Vassar Brothers Medical Center and the United Way for Cornell Cooperative Extension. Partners include Dutchess Outreach, Poughkeepsie Plenty Food Coalition, the Family Partnership Center, Hudson River Housing, Interfaith Towers, Poughkeepsie Housing Authority (New Hope Community Center), Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and Dutchess County Interfaith Council. You can find out more about the market online at www.dutchessoutreach.org/ppm.You can also find its location and other information by connecting on social media using #PokPlentyMarket.
MORE AGING NEWS ONLINE:
05/27/2015 03:29 PM EDT
Source: HealthDay
Fish Oil Tied to Better Brain Function in Older Adults
05/22/2015 02:00 PM EDT But small study doesn’t prove omega-3 fatty acids boost mental flexibility. Source: HealthDay
4 Cancer Charities Are Accused of Fraud
BY REBECCA R. RUIZ A network of people controlled the “sham charities” and used a chunk of the more than $187 million in donations on personal expenses, regulators said.
ALZHEIMER’S NEWSLETTER: http://act.alz.org/site/MessageViewer?autologin=true&em_id=185310.0&dlv_id=217509&utm_campaign=enews-2015-06-08&utm_medium=email&WT.mc_id=enews2015_06_08&utm_source=enews-aff-118
A MATTER OF BALANCE (Fall Prevention Program): http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/agMBbrochure.pdf
