Sunday, March 21, 2010
By LINDA M. LINONIS
linonis@vindy.com
liberty
The objective of an open house planned from 10 a.m. to noon March 31 for Liberty Senior Watch Program is twofold.
First, it’s an educational and informational event to disperse resource materials about services available to seniors including how the Liberty Senior Watch Program works.
Second, the Citizens for Trumbull County Seniors, a political-action committee, will distribute information on and promote passage of the senior-levy renewal that will be on the May ballot.
The five-year, 0.75-mill property-tax levy generates about $2.3 million, said Gary Engstrom, executive director of Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs. He said the levy costs a homeowner about $1.91 a month on a $104,000 residence, the average value of a Trumbull County home.
Liberty’s Senior Watch is funded by a grant from the senior-services levy. Last year, it was about $3,800, said June Smallwood, parks and special projects director. She said the Senior Watch is geared mostly to seniors, but the program will accommodate shut-ins, the disabled and others with special needs. Smallwood said about 100 people are in the program.
She said the program for the township’s elderly population offers welfare-check phone calls, either daily or on an arranged schedule. Residents can sign up for the program at the township building at 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road or call Liberty police at (330) 759-1315.
The program also features the installation of lock boxes and light signals. The house keys held in the lock boxes allow for access to a home in an emergency.
Special light sockets installed at homes also provide a signal, when the switch is activated, to police or fire personnel that something is wrong.
Engstrom emphasized the senior levy is a renewal and not a new tax. He said members of Citizens for Trumbull County Seniors will promote the levy and provide information on the services it funds by attending government meetings and community events.
Engstrom said if the levy should fail, it would mean cutting 50 percent of services offered by the office of elderly affairs.
The agency provides assisted transportation, congregate meals and home-delivered meals. If the levy should fail in May, it would be put on the November ballot, Engstrom said.
liberty senior watch
Open house
Liberty Township Senior Watch Program has scheduled an open house to display and distribute resource information.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon March 31 at Liberty Township administration building, 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road.
AGENCIES REPRESENTED: Girard Multi- Generational Center, Adult Protective Services, Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs, Area Agency on Aging District 11, Western Reserve Independent Living Center, Wellness One, SCOPE, Home Instead, Valley Counseling and Trumbull Mobile Meals.
SCREENING: Liberty Fire Department will provide free blood-pressure checks.