THE SENTINEL   

River Valley Senior Center

MARCH NEWSLETTER

Sue's News:

CPR / AED Training

We understand the importance of acting quickly when a medical problem arises. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) saves lives, so to be prepared for a medical emergency, we offered Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) training to staff members at the River Valley Senior Center on February 3.

     CPR is a life-saving technique that helps maintain blood flow to the brain and heart in an emergency situation. Having a trained staff trained in CPR and AED is critical in those first moments of a health emergency.

     The class was instructed by Bobby Blaylock, American Safety Health Institute. Mr. Blaylock is a volunteer fireman at the Buchanan City Fire Department and works at Cook Nuclear Plant in the Safety Department. He was able to relate real life experiences in the use of CPR and the AED.

     The entire staff at RVSC attended the training: Mike Deeds, Susan Buckingham, Donna Pydlek, Vern Kits and Tim Hawkins.  (Sabine Wheetley is currently certified in CPR and AED.)

     The course was also offered to RVSC volunteers and Board members. Board members who attended were Sharon Phillips and Curtiss Alvarez. Other participants were Mary McCormick from Senior Nutrition Services and Vytenis Zygas, a volunteer driver.

     With a trained staff we feel more confident that a medical emergency can be handled efficiently and knowledgeably. We send a big thank-you to Mr. Blaylock and all who attended the training.

Sue Polishuk

Income Tax Preparation:

We Need Volunteers for 2024

 

Unfortunately, the River Valley Senior Center will not prepare income taxes this year.
We would like to resume this service next year, but we need
volunteers who are willing
to complete formal income tax training to qualify as AARP tax preparers. We will recruit tax volunteers throughout 2023, so that we can resume our tax preparation service in 2024.

     At present, we have information available at the RVSC receptionist desk listing alternative tax prep assistance for 2022—both free and paid services. Please take this information with you the next time you visit us. If you, or someone you know, would be willing to volunteer for income tax training for 2024, please call Tim Hawkins at RVSC at
269-469-4556.

 

Cell Phone Beginnings

 

How did we go from playing with a tin can tied to a string to having the ability to communicate with the whole world from a
device in the palm of our hands? The cell phone has affected most of our lives in ways we never expected.

   Many times, using a cell phone can be challenging. Please join Kathy Viscant, a retired teacher and part-time Harbert resident, on March 1 at 11:00 am at the Senior Center. She will give a presentation on the evolution of the cell phone from 1973 to the present.

   After Kathy’s presentation, we will also inquire about any struggles you’ve experienced with your own cell phone, and if needed, you can sign up for one-on-one help—Android or Iphone.