Local Senior News in Chicagoland

Local Senior News

Cast Your Vote for ‘Zero Hour’

And Help Spread the Word about Aging

The Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, a not-for-profit agency that develops and promotes services for local seniors, needs your help to win a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project. Grants will be awarded based on the number of votes each proposed project receives from visitors to the RefreshEverything.com website.

The agency’s project is a play they commissioned called “Zero Hour”. The grant would provide funding for this production.

HOW TO HELP: Visit the website at http://refresheverything.com/zerohour, log in using your email address, and cast your vote for the project. It’s that simple, and you can vote each and every day through March 31.

Why do we need YOU? There are 283 projects vying for $25K. The top 10 projects with the most votes are awarded $25K. The agency needs YOU to vote each day between now and March 31st!

Pepsi has devoted more than $20 million to the Pepsi Refresh Project to support various people, organizations, and ideas during 2010. The Pepsi Refresh Project is a groundbreaking initiative that will award millions of dollars each month to, “great ideas that refresh the world.”

YOUR vote makes the difference! Aging is all around us and it’s everyone’s future – We need your help to get the word out about aging in our communities.

Spread the word. Please support AGING and "Zero Hour".

Lecture Series Features Murder in McHenry

With a “True Crime” theme, the McHenry County Historical Society offers its 24th Annual Sampler Lecture Series. Reservations are now being taken for the four-part series, which begins March 8th. All lectures will be held at the Society’s museum at 6422 Main St. in Union.

The first presentation is titled “Murder in McHenry County: The First 100 Years,” presented by Ed Urban, a McHenry County law enforcement

officer, Civil War Roundtable member, adjunct faculty member of criminal justice at McHenry County College and local history researcher. The program begins at 7 p.m.

On March 15 at 7 p.m., entertaining lecturer, historian and family researcher Craig Pfannkuche will talk about “Brothels, Babes and Booze”, centering again on McHenry County history.

The April 5 program begins at 2 p.m., featuring author Jim Ridings. He will broaden the search into crime and corruption with a look into the activities of 1920’s Illinois Governor Len Small. His program is based on his most recent book, Len Small: Governors and Gangsters.

The last lecture on April 19 at 2 p.m. highlights Chicago’s notorious criminal past with the title “Chicago: From the First Vice Lord to the New Narco Gangs.” Noted true crime author Arthur Bilek will discuss Chicago’s early organized crime roots, starting with Big Jim Colosimo and the Ladies of the Levee. Bilek is the executive vice president of the Chicago Crime Commission, a former Chicago organized crime special investigator, and adjunct professor of criminal justice at Loyola University.

Registration for this exciting series is now underway through the McHenry County Historical Society at 815-923-2267. The cost for all four lectures is $30 for members of the McHenry County Historical Society, and $35 for others. Individual lectures are $10 each. Visit the website at www.mchsonline.org for the program schedule.

Hearthstone Presentations

Cover Wide Range of Topics

The Hearthstone Senior Living Community in Woodstock will host two early spring presentation this month. The public is invited to attend.

Reflexology Presentation, March 18

Karla Fernet of Healthy Balance Reflexology will be at Hearthstone Village as part of our Gather Round the Hearth educational series to teach us about reflexology and share basic tips we can practice on our own hands. Karla will also be available before and after her presentation to provide 30- or 60-minute reflexology sessions. A 30-minute session is $25, and 60 minute session is $50. To schedule a session contact Beth Burg at ext. 4002.

Canine Companions for Independence, April 15

Nick Breheny and his training dog Greely will demonstrate how these highly trained assistance dogs help children and adults with disabilities.

Hearthstone Village is located at 840 N. Seminary Avenue in Woodstock. The programs, geared toward adults of all ages, will begin at 2 p.m. and are free of charge. For questions or directions call 815-338-2110.

Hearthstone Senior Living Community is a non-profit faith based continuing care retirement community with more that 200 seniors whose mission is to enable seniors to live with dignity, hope and personal fulfillment.

Seniors Helping Seniors:

Ways That In-Home Care Can Improve Your Life

Local seniors are invited to attend one of two presentations this spring in Westmont. Dan Rattary of Seniors Helping Seniors will discuss the benefits of in-home care at 9:30 a.m. March 24 at the Westmont Community Center, 75 E. Richmond St., just off Cass Avenue.

Since space is limited, a second presentation will be offered at 9:30 a.m. April 7 in the same location.

Both presentations will feature a segment on questions to ask when looking for in-home care. Refreshments will be served. Those who attend will receive a free gift certificate and other incentives.

To reserve your space for either presentation, call 630-324-6086 as soon as possible, as seating is limited.

Active Senior Expo To Be

Held March 24 in Grayslake

Active Senior Expo, an event “dedicated to inform, educate and entertain senior citizens,” will be held on March 24 at the Lake County Fair Expo Center, 1060 E. Peterson Rd. in Grayslake. The facility is located on the Lake County Fairgrounds at the intersection of Peterson and Midlothian roads. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Entering its ninth year, Active Senior Expo is being held for the first time in Lake County. The event features hundreds of products and services designed specifically for seniors. Offerings include health care, retirement communities, assisted living, financial, insurance, legal, estate planning, home care, travel, consumer products, government programs and more.

Special attractions include free health screenings, free seminars, free doughnuts (while supplies last) and door prize drawings. Live entertainment will be presented at noon.

No registration is required and regular admission to the event is $2. However, free admission coupons will be widely available and attendees can obtain a free admission coupon by visiting www.activeseniorexpo.net. Parking is free.

The presenting sponsor of Active Senior Expo is Chicagoland’s Senior News, the premier news source for active adults age 50 and better. Major sponsors are Vista Health System, Humana MarketPoint and Jewel-Osco.

For information on attending or exhibiting, contact Silver Star Expositions at 630-620-6347 or via e-mail at activeseniorexpo @hotmail.com.

Aging Well Sponsor ‘Safety for Seniors’

In cooperation with the Westchester Police Department, the Westchester Community Action Team of Aging Well has announced a special event entitled “Safety for Seniors.” This free event will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Westchester Public Library, 10700 Canterbury in Westchester. Village President Sam Pulia will provide the introduction, and the local police department will offer tips on how older adults can remain safe both inside their homes and out in the community. Refreshments will be served, and participants will be offered time to ask questions.

For more information, please contact Aging Well at 708-354-1323, extension 19.

Aging Well is a community partnership that was started in 2001. The project’s goal is to work with communities to create an environment in which people can age well.

Legacy Girls Entertain

At Swing Into Spring Expo

Maine Township announced an entertaining addition to its fourth annual senior expo. “Swing into Spring” is set for April 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always, there will be something for everyone at the expo. New entertainment from the Legacy Girls promises to help make the show a continued success.

Attendees will be treated to the sweet sounds of the Legacy Girls at 12:30 p.m. This Andrews Sisters-style musical revue will sing all the hits from days gone by and wow their audience with great costumes and synchronized dancing.

The expo promises to be a fun and beneficial event for all who attend. Last year’s event was a huge success, with approximately 1,000 seniors attending to take advantage of health screenings, raffles, entertainment, exhibits and informative presentations. The proven partnership between the MaineStreamers and Golf Mill promises to make the 2010 event the best yet.

The expo sales team expects more than 60 exhibitors, featuring displays from senior housing, health, financial, and other providers of products and services that benefit older Americans. For further information, please call 847-297-2510 or visit the Maine Township website at www.mainetownship.com. Potential exhibitors are encouraged to contact the expo office at 847-698-5069.

Free Senior Health Fair

Smith Village, the continuing care retirement community at 2320 W. 113th Place, is taking Nutrition Month seriously by holding a free health fair from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 16. The community is invited to attend to hear the word about good nutrition.

Lending their expertise that afternoon will be Smith Village chef Dennis Karim preparing healthy snack foods, resident service director Diane Morgan speaking on dementia, fitness specialist Martina Wessels taking height and weight measurements, and others handing out guidelines on proper nutrition.

Also available will be free screenings to check glucose levels, blood pressure and body mass index. Local health care professionals will offer recommendations on reducing specific risks and improving overall health.

For more information, call 773-474-7300.