Milford Senior Center Looks Forward To
An Updated Veterans Celebration

November 11th is a day reserved in order to pause and recognize veterans and their service to the country. Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, to correspond to the one-year anniversary of World War 1. The annual observance was adopted by Congress in a resolution in 1926 making Nov. 11th a national holiday in 1938. In 1954, the name of the holiday changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or deceased. It especially gives thanks to those living veterans who served their country both during war or peacetime. Every year, the Milford Senior Center hosts a Veterans Day Program to honor our men and women who have served and reside in Milford. This year’s Veterans Celebration will be on Friday November 8th. Weather permitting, Taps will be played at 9:30am near the entrance at the base of the flagpole. Veterans who are members of the Milford Senior Center will receive a meal voucher redeemable for a hot lunch at the Milford Senior Center at the end of the Veteran celebration. Vouchers will be valid through the end of November. For more information please contact Program Director, Amanda Berry at (203) 877-5131.

Thank you again to all our Veterans!

Help Fill Our Shelves at the Milford Food Bank

 The Milford Senior Center is welcoming donated items for the Milford Food Bank. You may drop off items at the center at 9 Jepson Drive, Monday through Friday    9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are also looking for gift cards to grocery stores in denominations of $25.00 or more. Contact Sharon Brown, Food Bank manager at (203) 877 - 5131.    

FROM THE DESK OF EDITOR, ELEANORE MYERS TURKINGTON

Thanksgiving! One of my favorite family holidays;  Oven baked turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, the entire menu shared with my children and their families. November, the month you  can begin to feel the frost in the air and possibly the threat of a snowfall..  November at our Center also promises to be an enjoyable month.  May I remind you to turn to page 4  of this month’s bulletin.  Program Director Amanda Berry has planned many events that will capture just about everyone’s interests. Members are able to keep up to date on next year’s health plans, attend an AARP’s Safe Driving Class, gain tips for caregivers and enjoy the various classes in exercise, dancing and  crafts just to name a few popular activities found here. Occasionally, I take a brief stroll around the Center  and recently I heard The Note Ables, the Center’s band, under the direction of Linda Whittaker, rehearsing for our Veteran’s Day Program, Friday, November 8.  Rosemary Boone, director of the Choral Group has also  been rehearsing for Veteran’s Day..  You will be impressed with the performance of these two music groups. Our new Executive Director Leonora C. Rodriguez has a number of exciting, interesting plans coming up that we can all look forward to as well. If you are not a member of the Milford Senior Center and are a Milford resident and over the age of 55, come join our family.  Annual membership is just $15.00.  Please call us at 203 877-5131  for sign up information.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Maureen Brannelly, Carol Carboni, Leslie Cichon-Allen, Gordon Clark, Eugenie Cody, Louis Coulombe, Caroline  D’Avignon, Denise DeBrocke, Cathy Duhamel, Bernadette Furrelle, Theresa Furrelle-Sladick and Diane Hagan.  Also, Cynthia Haight, Arlene Hart, Marcia Insler, Nancy Insler, Dottie Johns, Tamara Thomas Leach, Darlene Lombardo, 
Jill Moran, Clare Rogers, Sherry Sierzant, Joseph Sladick, Liz Smethurst, Rich Smethurst, Jody Stapleton,
Joan Annatone and Teresa Salzillo.

 ARHENS PROGRAM

The Ahrens Program provides respite time for caregivers. The program is designated for individuals with cognitive impairments who require a supervised environment. During their stay in the program, members are offered a light breakfast and enjoy various activities, which include; arts & crafts, tables games, cognitive fit games, music and entertainment, trips and other special events. To learn more about the Ahrens Program, please contact Rita Whiskeyman, Program Coordinator at (203) 877-5131.

 VETERANS DAY PARADE

The City of Milford is hosting Veteran’s Day Parade, Saturday, November 9^th at 10:00 a.m. Units meet 9:15 a.m. Daniel Wasson Field parking lot. Veteran’s Day Wreath Laying Ceremony, Monday, November 11^th front of Milford City Hhall 10:45 a.m.

BEWARE OF PHONE SCAMS

It is estimated that older adults lose billions of dollars to scammers each year. Here are scams to watch out for in 2019

BEWARE OF SOCIAL SECURITY SPOOFING CALLS

There’s been a significant uptick in fraudulent telephone calls from people claiming to represent the Social Security Administration (SSA).  In them, unknown callers threaten victims that they face arrest or other legal action if they fail to call a provided phone number or  press the number indicated in the message to address the issue.  Sometimes the scammers switch tactics and say that they want to help an individual activate a suspended Social Security number.  If you receive one of these calls, hang up.  Know that Social Security rarely contacts persons by phone unless you have ongoing business with them and they never make threats about arrest or legal action. Report suspicious calls to the SSA Office of the Inspector General by calling 1-800-269-0271

WATCH FOR A NEW TWIST ON THE OLD GRANDPARENT SCAM

The grandparent scam has been around for several years.  In the approach, a person calls an older adult pretending to be a grandchild who’s been involved in an accident or legal trouble and needs money immediately.

The FCC warns that if you or a loved one receives one of these calls, don’t act right away.  Call that grandchild back on a correct phone number and verify the whereabouts.  If you’ve mailed cash, report it right away to the Postal Service or shipping company you used. Some people have been able to stop delivery by acting quickly and giving a tracking number.  Be sure to also file a complaint to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint.

ONLY WORK WITH REPUTABLE AGENCIES AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER

Unfortunately, natural disasters are a golden opportunity for scammers, who target both those who’ve been directly affected and those who want to offer their support.  Natural disaster scams typically start with unsolicited contact by telephone, social media, e-mail or in person.

Scammers may impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-meaning consumers, set up fake websites with names that mimic legitimate charities to trick people into sending money.  They also pretend to be from the IRS and collect personal information under the guise of helping victims with fire loss claims and get tax refunds.

This article contains information from the National Council On Aging