Senior Center

The Help is Here Express bus tour will be at the Carroll Nonprofit Center from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at 255 Clifton Blvd., Westminster. The bus offers uninsured Americans help in finding programs that provide free or low-cost prescription medicines. The tour is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a national effort sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research companies. The bus is staffed by trained specialists who can quickly help low-income, uninsured or underinsured patients get access to more than 475 patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs that are offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Events Listen to the Beat -- The Baltimore County Department of Aging, in partnership with Cardiophonics, will offer free cardiac arrhythmia screenings at area senior centers this month. Appointments are required. For times and locations, call 410-887-3423. Classes No-to-tobacco -- This month, the Harford County Health Department is sponsoring three free classes for people looking to quit smoking or stop chewing tobacco. For class times, locations and registration: 410-638-8405. Type 2 diabetes -- Greater Baltimore Medical Center's Geckle Diabetes & Nutrition Center, 6569 N. Charles St., Physicians' Pavilion West, Room 300, Towson / Days and times vary.

Workshops set for caregivers The South County Faith Network and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health have set up two series of caregivers' workshops. They will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the South County Recreation Center in Harwood. These workshops will be led by registered nurse Mary Fridley and are open to family members and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Fridley will also lead workshops through June. This month, the sessions will be held: From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, and March 22 at the Brooklyn Park Senior Center, 202 Hammonds Lane.

Cholesterol to be topic of discussion Upper Chesapeake Health will hold a Dining with Docs dinner, lecture and discussion at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Upper Chesapeake Medical Center's Chesapeake Conference Center. Dr. Lynne Einbinder, certified in cardiology and internal medicine, and Dr. Carol Bowman, certified in internal and holistic medicine, will discuss "Cholesterol: A Comprehensive Approach to Managing Your Numbers." The cost is $5 (cash only). Reservations are required. Information: 800-515-0044.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities is seeking volunteers for a focus group to help the agency form a marketing strategy to promote its services. Part of the problem, officials say, is that some people aren't aware of specific county services. "That has been a concern of our department," said Jeffrey Balentine, assistant director of the Department of Aging and Disabilities. "We'll hear about people saying they haven't heard of our services, so we'll try to market our department and make sure they know what we offer."

When he mails off his ever-rising annual property tax payment, Ben Pritchett includes a letter. Addressed to no one in particular, the letter states: "If you keep this up, pretty soon you will be taking care of me." The 72-year-old retired Bethlehem Steel worker has seen no rise in his pension, a decrease in what his former employer pays for his health care insurance and an increase in the assessment of his Bel Air condominium. "We all need tax relief," he said, scanning a roomful of residents who came to the McFaul Senior Center in Bel Air last week to gather information on the county's newly enacted Homeowners Property Tax Credit law. "How poor do we have to get before we get it?"

The Howard County Woodworkers Guild offers members a fully stocked workshop, opportunities to buy discounted supplies and professional advice from seasoned woodworkers. But members most appreciate an unexpected fringe benefit. "I joined this woodworking group looking for information and help on projects," said Wade Headley of Ellicott City. "I found something better -- friendship. This is a group of guys who would do anything for me." The guild, Howard County's first woodworking organization, was formed in 1990 by the late John Maitland, a Columbia resident.

86, an 18 year resident of Severna Park died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, April 29, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Pasadena. Mrs. York grew up in Maine and relocated to Maryland from Connecticut with her husband in 1989 to be close to her children. She was very active in the Senior Center and was chosen to represent Connecticut Seniors and testify on Capital Hill for the Select Committee on Aging in 1982. She remained active in may roles for the Senior Center, taking computer classes, swimming, yoga and serving Meals on Wheels.

`Thanksgiving Countdown' set The east Columbia library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, will sponsor a "Thanksgiving Countdown with the Chef," in which Turf Valley's chef Russell Svoboda will supply recipes and tips for a traditional holiday menu. Those who attend are invited to take a family recipe to share with others and hear answers to turkey-cooking questions when a Turkey Talk-Line representative joins the event by phone. The event is planned for 7 p.m. tomorrow. Registration is required.

Santas needed to visit seniors Home Instead Senior Care, working with Pasadena-based Partners in Care, is sponsoring the fourth annual "Be a Santa to a Senior" program, providing presents to seniors who otherwise might not be remembered this holiday season. "We see many older adults who have no one during this festive season, and that makes for a very sad and lonely time," said David Dickens, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care offices serving Anne Arundel and Howard counties. "Whether they are in a nursing home or in their own homes, where more are choosing to stay, it's important to reach out those who are usually overlooked during this special time of the year."

The Harford Senior Center in Baltimore will remain open after a letter-writing campaign by its regulars led city and state officials to maintain funding for the building, officials from the center said. The building was scheduled to close at the end of October because of financial cutbacks resulting from the economic downturn. But Russ Snyder, president of Volunteers of America Chesapeake Inc., one of the organizations responsible for working with the senior center, said the center received only slight cuts in its funding from the city after many of the seniors contacted City Council members and the mayor's office.

Partners and sponsors The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities is accepting partnership and sponsorship opportunities to businesses and private sector agencies. Opportunities include the Family Caregiver workshop series, the annual Caregivers' Wellness Day, the annual caregivers' conference, the Planning for the Future workshop series and sponsorships for publications and various products. Sponsorship categories start at $500. To obtain a sponsor agreement form, call 410-222-4257, ext. 3051.

St. Louis Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, will sponsor a concert of the music of Austria and America, including Mozart's Coronation Mass and American spiritual, folk and gospel music, at 4 p.m. April 26. Soloists Sarah Berger and Neil Ewachiw, organist Paul Carroll, the St. Louis choir and the choir of St. Teresa of Avila from Summit, N.J., will perform. Admission is free; a free-will donation will be requested. Information: 443-535-8929. Senior center events The Glenwood Senior Center will offer a question-and-answer session on energy conservation with a representative from BGE at 10 a.m. April 28. Registration is requested.

Crownsville man hurt in accident with fire engine 1 A Crownsville man suffered extensive neck and head injuries late Thursday night after apparently rear-ending a fire engine on Route 100 in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County police said. About 11:25 p.m., the fire engine was traveling east on Route 100 near Interstate 97 to reach a crash on westbound Route 100. The fire engine slowed down in the center lane and swung wide to the right to make a U-turn through the emergency vehicle crossover, police said.

When Kenneth N. Oliver was elected to the Baltimore County Council in 2002, he was the first African-American to hold the post, and he brought with him the hopes of an area that had long felt itself to be at the margins of politicians' interests. Since then, Oliver - whose black-majority district covers Randallstown, Woodlawn and parts of Owings Mills - has seen his star dim, not only by what some constituents see as a lackluster performance on the council, but by the news this week that he has been indicted on felony charges involving the personal use of campaign funds.

Marjory Kennedy makes sure the 300 weekly visitors to the Aberdeen Senior Center have opportunities to socialize, exercise, dine and participate in all manner of activities. As manager, she also makes sure seniors have access to all the resources they might need to stay in their homes, pay for their medications and their utilities, and keep themselves as active as possible. "I am 86, but I can still jitterbug," said Alvina Lenccycki, sporting a Santa cap and dancing to what she called funky music.

With its elderly population growing more quickly than any other segment, Harford County will build a sixth senior center to serve its fast-developing western area. And no official could be more thrilled than Veronica "Roni" Chenowith, Harford's senior county council member, who learned at the groundbreaking Thursday that the $6.8 million center will be named in her honor. Although battling illness, Chenowith refused to miss the official start to a 30,000-square-foot project, which the Department of Parks and Recreation is sharing with Community Services, Office on Aging.

The Glenwood Senior Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, will sponsor a Halloween and Harvest Bingo at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 14. Take a Halloween or fall treat to be used as a bingo prize. Free admission. Registration is requested by Friday. The Glenwood Community Book Club will meet at the senior center at 10 a.m. Wednesday and Nov. 5. The group will discuss Peace Like a River by Leif Enger on Wednesday. The center will offer a Painting and Drawing Open Studio from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays.

Seniors group head to talk about issues The president of the Baltimore County Association of Senior Citizens Organizations will visit each of the county's 19 senior centers during the next three months to discuss proposed legislation and other issues that affect older people. Beth Wiseman will tell seniors how they can have a say in proposed state and federal legislation. The first talks will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Bykota Senior Center in Towson and at 11 a.m. Aug. 14 at Woodlawn Senior Center.

Towson Lifelong learning courses offered The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University will hold a fall preview of courses at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the conference center at Sheppard Pratt, 6501 N. Charles St. Check-in for the free program starts at 10 a.m. Information: 410-704-3688. Cockeysville Medicare course at senior center The Cockeysville Senior Center will hold a program on "When I Turn 65, What Do I Need to Do to Get Medicare?" at 1 p.m. Thursday at 10535 York Road.