Boomer's Cafe that is!  LifeSpan is happy to announce the creation of Boomer's Cafe at our Mon-Valley Center, 624 Lysle Blvd., McKeesport.  Boomer's is an alternative choice from your standard senior center experience.   An alternate lunch; soup, sandwich or salad; will be served at a nominal fee, off-site activities will be taking place, options will be unlimited!  To experience this new cafeteria style center, visit us Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.  For lunch reservations please call 412-664-5434.

Applications for Heritage Court Elderly Housing can be obtained by calling Pam Stein 412-257-4844

Items needed for productive PR/Marketing:

            Countertop Literature Holders

         Give-away items for Wellness Fairs

         Advertisers for Quarterly Dialogue newsletter

         Sponsorship for fund raising activities

Call Dotti Ward for details  -  412-464-1300 Ext. 102      

Thanks to the following for their donations;

             Financial Advantage FCU, E.L. Kemp, Paper Products, Savolskis Wasik-Glenn Funeral Home, Anderson's Funeral Home, Paper Products, Town Hall South

We sincerely thank you for your support!

Mt. Lebanon Police Department Spreads Holiday Cheer

to the Hillsdale Senior Resource Center Home Delivered Meals Recipients.

Thank you for your generosity!

 Gov. Ed Rendell paid a visit to our Chartiers Senior Resource Center in Carnegie.  He was there to promote his Keep Pennsylvania Warm program.  While there he went into the kitchen to visit our volunteers.  This was a real treat for all of our center participants.

LifeSpan held a press conference on Tuesday, August 15th to kickoff Senior Smiles!  Senior Smiles is a program through the efforts of GlaxoSmithKline and the American Dental Association to educate senior citizens on the importance of dental health as we age.  Through the Senior Dental Care Program, eligible seniors are able to obtain dental care at a reduced cost by dentists who are members of the Pennsylvania Dental Assoication (PDA).  More than 1,200 PDA members have volunteered to participate in this program. 

Participating dentists have agreed to reduce their fees for all dental services.  This includes examinations, cleanings, and all other dental procedures.

Eligible persons are encouraged to take advantage of the program for regular, preventive dental care.  Regular examinations are the best way to prevent potential oral health problems from developing. 

Who is eligible?

In order to be eligible, a patient must:

        *  Be age 65 or older

        *  Not be receiving federal, state or other dental health assistance

        *  Have a total annual household income of less than $14,500 for a single person, or less than $17,700 for a married couple.  (All forms of income apply). 

Call LifeSpan for further information and who to contact if you are interested in this program.   412-464-1300.

Scott Deaton, President of the Mt. Lebanon Sunrise Rotary presented a check to Dotti Ward, Agency Support Director, at their June meeting.   The Rotary supports the causes of many local agencies with LifeSpan being one of those fortunate recipients.  Our heartfelt thanks to the Sunrise Rotary for their generosity.

Seniors Must File Tax Return To Get Rebate

PITTSBURGH (KDKA)  Seniors are thankful for a $600 tax rebate as part of the economic stimulus program, but to get it many seniors will have to do something new this year.

Most seniors do not file a federal income tax return and do not have to unless their income from a part-time job or pension - not counting Social Security - is over $10,050. But this year is different if they want a rebate.

Seniors must file a federal, not a state, tax return to prove they have at least $3,000 to qualify for the rebate and this time they should report their Social Security income if that pushes them over the $3,000 mark.

"They still won't be taxable but they have to report them and that could get their income over the $3,000 limit so they can receive this rebate," Mary Gallagher, from Jackson Hewitt, said.

If you're a low-income person or a senior citizen who has not had to file a federal tax return in recent years, you can obtain a copy of the Form 1040-A from IRS.gov - Call LifeSpan's I & R Office at 412-464-1300 Ext. 154 if you need further assistance.

The following is information and updates about programs offering energy assistance during the 2007/08 winter season:

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):  Provides cash and crisis assistance with residential heating bills.  You may be eligible if you are responsible for your home heating costs and your income falls within the following range:

Add $425 per month or $5,100 per year for each additional person

  Cash assistance helps with home heating costs.  Crisis assistance can assist with Termination Notices, Service Restoration, delivery of heating fuel (oil, kerosene, wood propane…), and emergency repairs/replacements to a heating system or to gas or fuel lines.  For Cash assistance call 412-562-2146.  For Crisis assistance call 1-800-851-3838.

$1 Energy Fund:  Provide utility assistance to customers who “fall through the cracks” of other programs or still have a critical need after other resources have been exhausted.  Individuals apply once a year for each utility but must apply for LIHEAP and CRISIS first. To qualify, your account must be for residential service, and you must have paid at least $150 ($100 for seniors) or $100 for water ($50 for seniors) on your account in the last 90 days.  For information call 412-431-2800.

Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP):  The purpose of LIURP is to provide free winterization measures to low-income utility customers in an effort to reduce their monthly bill.  LIURP participants are asked to participate in budget counseling and energy education.  For more information about LIURP, contact your gas or electric company.

Customer Assistance & Referral Evaluation Service (CARES):  Provides assistance to customers experiencing hardships, such as loss of income due to injury, illness, or death of a primary wage earner.  Benefits include affordable monthly payment plans, budget counseling, home visits by CARES representatives, and referrals to other community resources.  For more information about CARES Program, contact your gas or electric company.

Weatherization:  Grants and low-interest loans are available for home weatherization through ACTION Housing Inc. (412-227-3700), the Steel Valley Opportunities Industrial Center (412-678-8622) or the ACHILP Program (contact Allegheny County Department of Economic Development at 412-350-6337/6338).

Emergency Care Management:  Through the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, space heaters are available to those without heat.  Call 412-350-4234 for details.

Mark your calendars for July 7th!   That's the day that LifeSpan's Mon-Valley Center, home of Boomer's Cafe, is opening at 624 Lysle Blvd., McKeesport.  The Center will be located in the Senior Care Plaza in the heart of McKeesport.  Through a consolidation of our New Traditions Senior Resource Center and our Glassport Visions Senior Resource Center, the Mon-Valley Center is born!   This innovative center will offer choices as no other center has in the past.  Boomer's Cafe will offer an alternative menu choice, there will be off site fitness programs, and many activities to participate in right at the center.  Please join us at 12 noon on July 7th for our Grand Opening!  For further information, please call the main office at 412-464-1300.   Joining us with their grand opening of Boomer's on the Hill, is the Hill House Association.  They too will open on July 7th at 2928 Bedford Avenue, Hill District.  For further information on Boomer's on the Hill, call 412-392-4450.  See you at Boomer's!