March for Meals Scheduled for March 17
The Mu chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi at James Madison University is hosting its very first “March for Meals” on Saturday, March 17.
The March for Meals is a benefit 5k or 1-mile “march” to help our local philanthropy, Valley Program for Aging Services. VPAS is a local organization that provides Meals on Wheels among other services designed to help older adults stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Continue reading “March for Meals Scheduled for March 17” »
VDOT road-work schedule
The following is a list of highway work that might affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks.
Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Also, when traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures. Continue reading “VDOT road-work schedule” »
VDOT work schedule: Feb. 13-17
The following is a list of highway work that might affect traffic in the Staunton Transportation District during the coming weeks.
Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Also, when traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures. Continue reading “VDOT work schedule: Feb. 13-17” »
Shenandoah National Park development talk at East Rock SC
James Lawson of Elkton, who is a noted historian, presenter for the JMU Lifelong Learning Institute, and a master naturalist, paid a visit to the East Rockingham Senior Center on Jan. 25 to share his knowledge about the development of the Shenandoah National Park.
For the 29 members and 10 guests/volunteers in our audience, we learned that the Park was developed by five companies and that the CCC boys actually just assisted with roadway preparations. Continue reading “Shenandoah National Park development talk at East Rock SC” »
East Rockingham High School SCA spearheads donations for homebound seniors
Based on a presentation in November by East Rock Senior Center Director Lisa Gooden about ways the East Rockingham High School SCA could partner with the Senior Center, a plan was set in motion by ERHS SCA Advisors Kim Dean and Natalie McCrady to have students collect personal care items for the Center’s most vulnerable clients – the homebound elderly.
In the photo taken by Joshua Gooden last Friday, ERHS SCA officers are shown holding some of the items collected: powder, Q-tips, cotton balls, and soap. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand wipes, tissues, shampoo, lotion, and even some cute small stuffed animals were packaged for delivery to our clients receiving home delivered meals. Also, Rebecca Holloway, the ERHS FFA advisor, donated a case of oranges and grapefruit for the project, which will be a nice treat for the recipients. SCA members also created colorful, handcrafted cards to go along with the items that will be delivered to folks. Continue reading “East Rockingham High School SCA spearheads donations for homebound seniors” »
Avoiding Charity Scams Discussed at East Rock
Extension Agent Cristin Sprenger offered a 45-minute presentation to 29 East Rockingham Senior Center members and eight guests on Dec. 14.
Sprenger provided attendees with four pages of information that covered a checklist of precautions to help ensure that donation dollars benefit the people and organizations desired. Specifically, it was suggested that potential donors not be shy about asking who wants their money, rust their gut, and know the difference between tax exempt and tax deductible organizations. Continue reading “Avoiding Charity Scams Discussed at East Rock” »
East Rockingham Senior Center: Diane & Co. Had Toes Tappin’ at East Rock
Seven tap dancers from Diane and Company of Staunton offered a 30-minute energetic performance for 23 East Rock Senior Center members and 16 guests on Nov. 3.
This is the group’s second visit to the Center, and it was through a member of the dance troupe and former Ms. Virginia Senior America 2010, Linda Huntley (far right), that the initial contact was made.
The dancers, some of whom have been tap dancing for 30 years, provided a very entertaining morning for members and guests, as this is the only group of its type to ever perform at the Center.
We were fortunate that Diane Roberts (center), the director of the group, and husband Calvin, as well as Linda and her beautiful mother, Dot Farren, were able to stay for lunch.
Our guests were very complimentary of the dancers and appreciated being invited to this social activity.
East Rockingham Senior Center: Rockingham Fire Offers Fire Prevention Tips at E. Rock
Lt. Keith Higgs and Firefighter Jeremy Saum offered a very informative 45-minute program on the importance of fire safety, having a properly installed fire detector and carbon monoxide detector, and what to do if there is a fire in one’s home.
For the 29 members and eight guests in attendance, there was a lot of discussion during the presentation, and everyone was given a variety of pamphlets further explaining the items discussed. As one of our members who had not been in attendance for awhile sat in her wheelchair, Lt. Higgs posed the question to the audience. “What does a person do who is confined to a wheelchair if they have a fire in their home?” As the audience pondered the question, Lt. Higgs, replied, “STOP, LOCK and ROLL!”
He pointed out that he is one of the first to pioneer this advice and said it came through his work in educating school children and working with a child who is confined to a wheelchair.
Before leaving, Lt. Higgs and Firefighter Saum took a list of folks wanting a smoke detector and also a list of those needing to have their smoke detectors checked and agreed to follow up with all of them in the coming weeks. We also look forward to a return visit from our Rockingham County fire professionals in the spring.
More online at www.EastRockinghamSeniorCenter.org.
East Rockingham Senior Center: East Rock views Massanutten
Nineteen East Rock SC members and 11 guests took their annual trip to Massanutten on Oct. 26 to view the fall foliage and socializeTwenty-one from our group took the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary ride on the chairlift, courtesy of Steve Showalter, Massanutten ski manager.
The view from atop the Massanutten as we exited the chairlift was extremely colorful … much better than the fog that we encountered during our visit last year. Our trip was originally planned for last week, but rainy weather postponed our visit. This was actually the last Wednesday that the chairlifts would be operating, so we felt especially fortunate that mother nature cooperated!
The members who chose not to ride the lift were able to enjoy the hot chocolate and light morning snacks that were packed, and they sat in the ski lodge, playing dominoes and socializing. Our meal was delivered to the entrance gate at Massanutten where our van driver Gale Younkins and substitute driver Wallace Weaver transferred the food to bring back to the lodge for us to enjoy. Several deer were seen on our way to Massanutten as well.
This annual trip is always planned when our JMU nursing students are scheduled to be with us so that they can partner with members who choose to ride the chairlift. The students were very excited to take a very short hike to an overlook at the top of the mountain where they spotted Route 33, JMU, and Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Needless to say, lots of photos were taken and will serve as a reminder of our special day taking in the views from atop the Massanutten.
More photos from our trip are available on our Facebook page.
East Rockingham Senior Center: JMU nursing students health fair
Six JMU nursing students serving a four-week practicum at the East Rock Senior Center offered a health and nutrition fair at the East Rock SC on Oct. 13.
Since attendance was sparse (only 13 members attending at the time of their presentation), the center director took the opportunity to invite a few folks who were conversing in our community center. Fortunately, four guests took the opportunity to come and join us … one of them is actually a member of our Local Council.
The topics included: Fall Foods, Water Aerobics, Dominoes (Enhancing Brain Power), Arthritis, Health Leftovers and Memory. Each student did an excellent job of presenting their topic and providing us with many useful tips and, in some cases, recipes.
This was the last day of service from this group of students, but a new group will join us again on Oct. 19.
East Rockingham Senior Center: East Rock attended Monster Mash
Nineteen East Rock Senior Center members and two volunteers attended the JMU Student Nurses’ Association “Monster Mash” themed senior prom at the JMU Festival Center on Oct. 5. The ghoulish decor provided us with some gentle reminders that October has, indeed, arrived.
This annual event is always enjoyed and allows attendees to win a variety of door prizes, shake a leg to a variety of musical selections (including the hokey pokey), and enjoy an assortment of finger foods. As a bonus this year, attendees were encouraged to bring cans of food for the area food bank, and for every can of food each member brought, they were given an extra raffle ticket, which increased their chances of winning a prize.
East Rock invited some guests who were able to enjoy all or part of the day with us: Valerie Evans (Rockingham Recreation Department); Anna Stell and Donna Cash (Avante’ at Harrisonburg); Cristin Sprenger (Extension Office); and John Scott (Aide to Congressman Bob Goodlatte).
While attendance was half of previous years, since our friends from the north in the Shenandoah AAA service area did not attend, we still had a great time seeing our friends in the H/R Region and those from Staunton and Waynesboro.
More info at www.EastRockinghamSeniorCenter.org.
One in five children in Augusta, Rockingham at risk of hunger issues
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, today released a new study which reveals that more than 20 percent of children under the age of 18 in Augusta County are struggling with hunger. In Rockingham County, more than 19 percent of children are food insecure.
The study, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011″, also reveals that there are children struggling with hunger in every county in America. Nationally, while one in six Americans overall is food insecure, the rate for children is much higher: nearly one in four children is food insecure.
“Between Augusta and Rockingham counties, more than 6,600 children are at risk of hunger. Imagine, 6,600 hungry children …,” said Larry Zippin, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. “And the number of food insecure children in the surrounding localities is alarming as well. These are children we know and see every day. They are our neighbors – even your child’s best friend.”
The study is an important tool because it provides critical information for developing strategies to alleviate child hunger.
One way in which the food bank has been tackling child food insecurity is through several afterschool feeding programs, in particular, the BackPack Program, an initiative that provides children at risk of hunger with backpacks full of nourishing food to carry home on weekends and school vacations. Children at Wenonah, William Perry and Craigsville elementary schools have been benefitting from the program for several years. And the numbers are rising. The Food Bank has experienced a 17 percent increase in participation across all of its afterschool feeding programs in the Valley between the 2010 and 2011 school years.
Of the 6,600 children at risk of hunger in Augusta and Rockingham counties, more than 4 in 10 qualify for nutrition programs, such as SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) and other Federal Nutrition programs, but are not receiving the assistance because they are above 185 percent of poverty, making them ineligible.
By providing additional details about the face of child food insecurity at the county level, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011″ will enable food banks, the community based agencies they serve and policy makers to redefine approaches in addressing needs of hungry children and their families and develop more effective policy solutions.
This research is supported by ConAgra Foods Foundation. The ConAgra Foods Foundation funded this research with the goal of advancing the collective understanding of child hunger in America, so that resources at the local and national level could be better leveraged to help children and families in need.
The research is based on “Map the Meal Gap 2011: Food Insecurity Estimates at the County Level”, supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen.
