GCCOA - April / May Insights

Spring seems to have stopped teasing us and her true colors are starting to shine. One of the many gifts of living and spending time in Greene County is the changing of the seasons and opportunities to enjoy the beauty of Spring all around us. Whether by foot, bicycle, car, tractor or from our patio chair or window, it is time to celebrate the sights, scents and sounds of Spring.

Like the senior centers, parks and other groups, your Council has a number of activities and events for you to consider as you plan your Spring. You will find most of the info you need in this newsletter and we hope you will take advantage of at least one! By the time some of you read this, we will have helped with some spring cleaning by holding the April 1st Shredding Event. And if you missed it or still have plenty to shred, the fall shredding event is scheduled for October 28th.

We are looking forward to SeniorPalooza, which is our celebration of Greene County seniors for Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is “Living An Amazing Life” and we have activities and challenges for you to do on your own as well as in person. We kick off SeniorPalooza with our May 3rd Drive-By where we will distribute our take-away bags, complete with the Itinerary and a host of other items.

The celebration also includes participating in World Labyrinth Day on May 6th, where people from all over the world will ‘Be One At 1’. Please join us at Russ Nature Reserve at 12:30pm for some fresh air and to walk or sit as we connect with our worldwide neighbors. We close out SeniorPalooza with the Senior Gathering & Field Day on May 18th. It will be an ’amazing’ time and we hope to see you!

We are gearing up for the June 1st Yard Sale, with the proceeds benefiting our grab bar installation program. For those planning for spring cleaning/purging, this flyer lists the yard sale donation drop-off dates.

We encourage you to give thought and do some planning for what we hope will be a beautiful Spring. A country drive, visits to local gardening centers, walks in area parks, a few innings of a high school baseball game, or lemonade on the porch with a friend. The list of possibilities is long and we hope you make a point of crossing many off as DONE!

Our volunteers are some of the best people we know. They step up when needed, and this past year was no exception.

In April, which is National Volunteer Month, we will display this list of wonderful volunteers on our website for all to see and to hopefully inspire others who might be willing to share their time and talents.

Drive-by the Xenia Community Center on Saturday April 1st between 9 am and Noon. Your Council team will take up to 3 boxes of your confidential documents to be shredded.

Safe & Confidential Destruction of: Cancelled checks & bank statements, Medical bills & statements, Papers from deceased loved ones.

Limit of three (3) banker’s boxes. Individuals only — no businesses please.

Congratulations to our Artisans

Thank you to those joining us for the 2023 Senior Artisan Show. And an extra special thank you to the 31 artisans, including 10 artisans new to the show. A total of 59 pieces were submitted and seven pieces were sold. We asked guests to choose their favorite pieces (a difficult task), and the top vote getters are: View From My Window by Billie Dickson, Grayson by Linda Perry, and Where the Wind Blows Free by Lucille Burns. We also want to thank our friends at the Fairborn Art Association for their partnership and the Fairborn Senior Center team for providing the refreshments. We look forward to another wonderful show next year.

If you missed the show or you enjoy looking at art by seniors, we encourage you to visit your local senior center. The Beavercreek and Yellow Springs senior centers have regular exhibits as do other local businesses and organizations. 

Donate to the Council's Yard Sale!

Do you have items around your house that you no longer need? Donate them to us for our annual Yard Sale! This is one of our fundraisers; proceeds benefit our Grab Bar Installation program.

Drive by the Council parking lot and some cheerful folks will take your items. From 10am to 2pm on April 28th, May 4th, May 11th and May 17th. Click the picture below for a printable flyer.

It's Your Money ~ Am I Responsible For My Spouse’s Debts After They Die? 

When someone dies with an unpaid debt, it is generally paid with the money or property left in the deceased’s estate. If your spouse dies, you’re generally not responsible for their debt, unless it’s a shared debt, or you are responsible under state law. Click here to read more.

SeniorPalooza ~ Living an Amazing Life

Drive-by the XCC parking lot on Wednesday, May 3rd, between 1:30 and 3:00pm to pick up your Amazing Takeaway Bag with the SeniorPalooza Itinerary, the Registration Form for the Senior Field & Gathering Day, and some surprizes.

Join us Friday May 5th through Thursday May 18th for SeniorPalooza, as we celebrate Older Americans Month. Click the picture below for a printable flyer.

Please join us in thanking these generous donors who shared financial gifts since the last newsletter.

In Memory Of:
Mark Crockett
Scott Hadley

Donors:
Ray & Marlene Acus
Paula Adams
JoAnne Earley
Teresa Geraci
Mary Graves
Mary Hamer
Jeanette C. Johannes
Lauren Myers
Beverly J. Shaw
Amazon Smile
Kroger Community Rewards
Beavercreek Pizza Dive
United Way

To keep the heart unwrinkled — to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent — that is to triumph over old age.
~ Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Please join us in acknowledging the volunteers since the last newsletter:

Legacy Students
Lynn Berry      
Molly Bordonaro Hall
Tonya Camden
Eliza Brandenburg
Jerri DeVoe
Leah Donohue
Pam Dorsten
Don Dunn
Barb Hawk
Kyle & Stacie Davis Family
Rika Hendrickson
Alforetta Hughes
Linda & Jim Jones
Scott Kayser
Letha Kimball
Beth Kinsel
Anita Kuntz
Robert Lacy
Sherry Matsel
Chris Middleton
Sherry Newcomer
Connie Newman
Maryjane Nicely
Linda Parsons
Candace Perdin
Mark Rasch
Ken Richardson
Tracey Rickey
Barbara Vandecreek
Ginny Vikmanis
Lisa Weinstein
Roberta Wilhelm
Dee Willis

A very special thank you to Mel G

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For more information on any of these events, or to make a reservation, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 937-376-5486.

◊ Drive-By Shredding Event
      Saturday, April 1st, 9 am - Noon, Xenia Community Center parking lot

◊ Medicare 101
       Friday, April 7th, 1:00 - 3:00pm, Fairborn Library
       Wednesday, April 12th, 2:30 - 4:00pm, Xenia Community Center

◊ Legal Chat ~ Planning For Your Stuff
       Thursday, April 20th, 2:30pm, Peace Lutheran Church, Beavercreek

◊ Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease
       Wednesday, May 10th, 2:30 - 4:30pm, Xenia Community Center

◊SeniorPalooza ~ “Living an Amazing Life”
       Drive-by to get Takeaway Bag ~ Wed, May 3rd, 1:30 - 3:00pm, Xenia Community Center
       Senior Field & Gathering Day ~ Thursday, May 18th, 11:30 - 2:30pm, Xenia Community Center

◊ Grief & Loss Group
       2nd Mondays (Feb 13th, Mar 13th), 10:00 am - Noon, Peace Lutheran Church, Beavercreek

◊ In-Person Caregiver, Parkinson’s & Kinship Support Groups
       This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information

◊ Weekly Programming with our Partners at Real Roots Radio, WBZI FM 100.3:
          Boomers and Beyond on Wednesdays around 12:05pm
          Partners in Caregiving on Thursdays soon after 6:00pm