Silver Quill

DECEMBER 2017

VOLUME 35,

NO. 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Giving Hearts Day 2

Blood Pressures 3

Mailing List 3

Nutrition 4

Storm Policy 5

Take Back

Program 6

Foot care 6

Rural Cass News 7

Center Highlights 8

Flu Shot Clinic 8

Fuel Assistance 9

Scam of the

Month 10

Donations 11

Season’s

Greetings

Join us for a special meal to celebrate the holiday

season. The meal will be on Tuesday, December

19th at the West Fargo and Fargo Senior Centers.

Reservations are required. Tickets will be

available at the senior centers and must be

reserved by December 15th.

Valley Senior Services will be closed on

December 25th and January 1st for the holidays.

Valley Senior Services

P.O. Box 2217

Fargo, ND 58108

www.valleyseniorservices.org

Directors: Pat Dimmer

Jane Hazlett

Juanita Tewksbury

Wilbert Fischer

Frank Lenzmeier

Henry Kucera

Duane Fontaine

Vince Dalke

Mike Worner

Executive Director:

Brian Arett

Director of Transportation: Paul Grindeland

Outreach Director: Bernie Johnson

Nutrition Director: Shannon Lang

Metro Senior Ride Operations

Supervisor: Cindy Girdner

Dispatchers: Jessica Sabo

Sharon Sondreal

Paula Thomas

Nutritionist: Janet Brown

Resource Specialists: Patty Dahley

Jill McCall

Kassie Emanuel

Sheena Nelson

Karleen Wyum

Administrative Assistants: Em Janes

Chrissy Nelson

If you are qualified, your rights to receive the

services provided by this organization without

regard to race, color, religion, sex, national

origin, age or handicap are protected by

Federal Law. If you believe you have been

discriminated against, please contact: Brian

Arett, Valley Senior Services, P.O. Box

2217, Fargo, ND 58108. (701) 293-1440.

Statement of Identification - Silver Quill

Published Monthly by: Valley Senior Services, Inc.

2801 32nd Ave. S, P.O. Box 2217, Fargo, ND 58108

To receive the Silver Quill call 293-1440 or

toll free 1-877-827-1916

or e-mail us at:cnelson@valleyseniors.org

December 2017 2

Giving Hearts Day 2018 It is almost that time of year again… We are happy to share that Valley Senior Services will once again be participating in Dakota Medical Foundation’s (DMF) Giv-ing Hearts Day. This year, Giving Hearts Day will take place on Thursday, February 8, so be sure to mark your calendar! In addition, Dakota Medical Foundation has agreed to provide matching funds to Valley Senior Services. This means that any donations given to Valley Senior Ser-vices on February 8 will be matched by DMF. Last year, our generous donors were able to raise over $42,000 for the Meals On Wheels program. Giving Hearts Day is a joint project of Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation and the Alex Stern Fam-ily Foundation. This day is designed to assist non-profit organizations in raising funds to support their services and cause.

Every donation matters and helps provide hot meals to

seniors who need them. Please consider donating to

Valley Senior Services on Giving Hearts Day 2018!

#EveryMealCounts

Valley Senior Services 3

December

Blood Pressures

Faith Lutheran - 127 2nd Ave E, West Fargo

Tuesday, December 12 11:00 a.m.

Ed Clapp Park Center - 2801 32nd Ave. S, Fargo

Tuesday, December 12 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Get On Our Mailing List!

Would you like to receive this newsletter in your mail-box every month? It is free of charge and full of infor-mation geared towards peo-ple age 60 and over in Fargo and Cass County. To request to be placed on the mailing list, call our office at 701-293-1440 or send an email to: cnelson@valleyseniors.org.

December 2017 4

Pushing Pumpkins Janet Brown, Dietitian for Valley Senior Services

December is the perfect time to promote and push pumpkin. No longer should we only think of pumpkin as just Jack-o-Lanterns and pie. Pumpkin has countless other uses and a ton of nutrition. Pumpkin is a winter squash considered a fruit because of the seeds but more of a vegetable because of its nutrient content. The orange color gives a strong indication it is nutrient dense. The nutrients in pumpkin can aid in the following: Immunity: Beta-carotene (converts to Vita-

min A) – an antioxidant, Vitamins C and E, Iron and Folate = all help to fight infections and strengthen intestinal lining.

Eye Health: Beta-carotene, zinc, Vitamins C and E, and copper – can decrease chances of macular degeneration.

Healthy skin: Beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E – protects skin from UV rays.

Heart Health: fiber, Vitamin C and Potas-sium – lowers blood pressure and choles-terol.

Metabolism: Beta-carotene and fiber – im-proves the way the body metabolizes.

Pumpkin seeds: 1 ounce (~140 seeds) – protein, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phy-tosterols – lowers cholesterol and risk for certain cancers, decreases prostate size and risk for bladder stones and may de-crease risk for depression.

Creative ways to include pumpkin in your everyday menu: Add it to your pancake or muffin mix. In-

stead of banana bread – make pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin soup. Use pumpkin in lieu of oil when baking. Add pumpkin to your yogurt, oats,

mashed potatoes, chili and shakes or smoothies.

Use pumpkin seeds in granola. Make pumpkin butter or a dessert dip. Or… try this simple recipe –

Easy pumpkin cookies: Ingredients: 1 (16.5 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, 2 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 ½ cups canned pumpkin Instructions: Break up the sugar cookie dough into a mixing bowl. Add the pumpkin pie spice and canned pumpkin. Blend with electric mixer until well-blended. Drop by round-ed tablespoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 14-16 minutes. Cool on pan for 5 min then move to a cooling rack. Cool completely if you desire to frost these cookies.

Valley Senior Services 5

Storm Policy Whenever Fargo Public Schools or West Fargo Public Schools

are closed, the congregate sites will not be serving meals and

no Meals on Wheels will be delivered. In the event of a winter

storm and conditions are such that we cannot provide our

services, we will broadcast our closing announcements on the

following radio and TV stations:

Radio: KFGO, WDAY

TV: WDAY,KVLY, KVRR

If weather conditions are bad and you are not sure if we are

open, please call our office or center before going out.

December 2017 6

December

Foot Care

Sanford Home Care will

provide a nurse to cut and file

your toenails at the following

locations:

Trollwood Center

3105 Broadway, Fargo

Tuesday, December 5

Wednesday, December 6

Thursday, December 7

Tuesday, January 2

Wednesday, January 3

Thursday, January 4

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Call 234-3204 for appt.

University Drive Manor

1201 2nd Ave. N, Fargo

Monday, December 12

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Call 232-6364 for appt.

Ed Clapp Park Center

2801 32nd Ave. S, Fargo

Wednesday, December 20

Thursday, December 21

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Call 234-3204 for appt.

West Fargo High Rise

230 8th Ave W, West Fargo

Monday, December 18

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Call 282-3443 for appt.

Appointments should be made

by the day before the

scheduled foot care clinic. The

fee for foot care is $18.00 at

senior centers and $70.00 per

hour for a nurse to come to

your home. To arrange a home

visit you can call 234-4900. A

24-hour notice is required if you

need to cancel your

appointment.

Cass County Law Enforcement Center

1612 23rd Ave N, Fargo

Fargo Police Department

222 4th St. N, or 1230 25th St. S, Fargo

West Fargo Police Department

800 4th Ave. E #2, West Fargo

Medical Pharmacy South

4151 45th St. S, Fargo

Dakota Clinic Pharmacy

1702 S University Dr., Fargo

InHealth Specialty

2345 25th St. S, Fargo

Thrifty Drug Southgate

1532 32nd Ave S, Fargo

Dakota Clinic on 32nd

3000 32nd Ave S, Fago

Sanford Pharmacy

737 Broadway or 1720 S. University, Fargo

Southpointe Pharmacy

2400 32nd Ave S, Fargo

Valley Senior Services 7

Rural Cass News

Congregate Dining: Page Cafe, Page, ND (668-2254): T,Th, F 11:30-12:30 (for senior center information,

see page 8); Leonard Cafe, Leonard, ND (645-2240): M,W,F 11:00; Hunter Cafe & Bakery, Hunter, ND

(874-2253): M,W,F 11:00. Please call one day ahead to sign up for a congregate meal.

Cass County Council Meeting: Christmas party Monday, December 18th at 10:00 a.m. in Arthur.

Cass County Rural Bus Schedule:

Routes: North Cass Co. Central Cass Co. South Cass Co.

Hunter 8:00 a.m. Tower City 8:10 a.m. Leonard 8:00 a.m

Arthur 8:20 Buffalo 8:25 Kindred 8:30

Casselton 9:00 Casselton 9:00 Horace 8:45

Fargo 9:45 Mapleton 9:20 Fargo 9:15

Fargo 9:40

North route runs December 5,12,19 & 26. Central route runs December 15. South route runs December

6,13,20 & 27. Please call 356-7433 or 1-877-827-1916 for more information or to schedule your ride. For

Page residents: you can use Steele County bus to Fargo on December 11 & 22. Please call 1-800-845-

1715 to reserve a ride and pick-up information.

December 2017 8

SENIOR CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

Trollwood Senior Center 3105 N Broadway, Fargo Nancy Summers 298-3975

Dec. 5-7 - 10:00-2:00 Foot care Dec. 5 - 1:00 Noteables Singers Dec. 15 - 1:00 McKinley choir & chimes Dec. 19 - 10:00 Washington choir & chimes Every Monday - 9:30 Bone Builders in Rosewood Rm; 12:30 Whist & games Every Tuesday - 12:30 Pinochle; 1:00 Grocery bus Every Wednesday - 9:30 Bone Builders in Rosewood Rm; 10:45 Fargo Library; 12:30 Pinochle, bridge & dominoes Every Thursday - 12:00 Church (1st & 3rd Thursday only);12:40 Bingo Every Friday - 12:30 Bridge

Ed Clapp Park Center 2801 32nd Ave S, Fargo Kim Ingebretson 298-3976

Dec. 8 - 1:00 Movie Dec. 12 - 10:00-11:30 Blood pressures Dec. 13 - 12:30 AARP driving class Dec. 19 - Holiday dinner Dec. 20 - 10:00- 2:00 Foot care Dec. 21 10:00-2:00 Foot care; 2:45 Birthday & anniversary lunch Dec. 25 - Center closed Every Monday - 12:45 Pinochle; 1:00 Cards or dominoes Every Tuesday - 9:30 Free exercise; 1:00 Whist, cards or dominoes Every Wednesday - 1:00 Mah jongg, bridge, cards, dominoes Every Thursday - 9:30 Free exercise; 1:15 Bingo Every Friday - 9:00 Mah jongg; 9:30 Art class ; 1:00 Bridge, cards or dominoes

Faith Lutheran Church 127 2nd Ave E, West Fargo Marlene Batterberry

Dec. 5 - 12:15 Bingo Dec. 7 - 12:45 Speaker TBA Dec. 11 - 12:15 Cop Talk Dec.12 - 11:00 Blood pressures; 12:15 Birthday party Dec. 14 - 1:00 Movie “Scrooge”@WFLib Dec. 19 - Christmas meal & carolers; 12:15 Bingo Dec. 22 - 12:15 Cookie exchange Dec. 25 - Center closed Dec. 26 - 12:15 Mexican Train Dec. 28 - 1:00 Movie “Christmas in Yellowstone” @WF Library Every Monday - 8:30 Faithfully Fit; 8:45 Bone Builders @Rustad Rec; 7:00 Bingo @VFW Every Tuesday - 8:45 Bones Builders @ VMA; 10:00 Bone Builders @ Veterans Memorial; 6:30 Twisted Stitchers @WF Library Every Wednesday - 1:00 Cards @VFW Every Thursday - 8:45 & 10:00 Bone Builders @ Veterans Memorial Every Friday - 8:30 Faiithfully Fit; 7:00 Bingo @VFW Every Saturday - Noon - 4:00 Genealogy; 7:00 Bingo @ VFW

All activities are at 12:15 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church unless otherwise noted. Call

433-5460 to register for Library events.

To reserve meals, please call 356-2047 at least

one day in advance.

Broadway Station 1461 Broadway, Fargo Em Janes 232-7936

Dec. 19 - Holiday dinner (ticket required) Dec. 25 - Center closed Dec. 26 - 3:00 Birthday celebration Every Tuesday - 1:00 Bingo Every Wednesday - 12:30 Pinochle Every Thursday - 9:00-3:00 Sewing/Craft day; 1:00 Open activities Every Friday - 1:00 Bingo

University Drive Manor 1201 2nd Ave S, Fargo Kimm 232-6364

Dec. 12 - 9:00-Noon Foot care Dec. 13 - 12:00- 1:00 Library Dec. 19 - Holiday dinner (ticket required) Dec. 25 - Center closed Dec. 27 - 12:00-1:00 Library Every Tuesday - 8:00 Grocery bus Every Thursday - 2:00 Bingo

Page Senior Center Mary Burgard 668-2909

Dec. 1 - 1:00 Club meeting & election; Cards following Dec. 21 - 11:00 Foot clinic Dec. 27 - 12:00 Birthday dinner; cards & bingo Every Tues-Thurs-Fri - 11:30-12:30 Congregate Dining @ Page Café - call 668-2254 Every Friday - 1:00 Card playing

West Fargo High Rise 230 8th Ave W, West Fargo

Dec. 2 - 10:00 Breakfast Dec. 9 - 9:00-2:00 Bake sale, craft & rummage sale Dec. 13 - 2:30 Library Dec. 11 - 3:00 Club meeting Dec. 14 - Commodities Dec. 15 - 1:00-4:00 Crochet creations; 2:30 Birthday party/bingo Dec. 16 - 5:00 Potluck & cookie exchange Dec. 18 - 10:00-2:00 Foot care Dec. 19 - Christmas dinner Dec. 28 - 6:00 Kappa Psi dinner Every Thursday - 8:00-10:00 Grocery phone-in Monday-Friday - 5:30 Games

To reserve meals, please call 356-2047 at least one day in advance.

Please Note:

To reserve a meal at one of our senior centers, please call the site by 1:00 p.m.

the day before you would like to eat.

Valley Senior Services 9

Are You Eligible for Fuel Assistance?

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible individuals and families pay part of

their home heating costs. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2018. LIHEAP can help pay for the

fuel you use to heat the home you live in from October through May if you buy your heating fuel from a fuel

dealer or a utility company (fuel oil, propane, natural gas, electricity, wood, coal or kerosene), or if your rent

payments include heat and you do not receive a rent subsidy. The amount of benefits you may be eligible for

depends on your income, the type and size of your home and the type of fuel used to heat your home.

To be eligible, the total income of all persons living in your household must be counted. Total income must

be below these limits:

1 person household: $28,313 per year 2 person household: $37,025 per year

Note: There is no longer an asset limit to qualify for Fuel Assistance.

You can get an application from Cass County Social Services or our office. If you have questions regarding

Fuel Assistance, please call the Fuel Assistance office at 241-5761 or one of our Resource Specialists at 293-

1440 or toll-free 1-877-827-1916.

December 2017 10

ND SMP Scam of the Month

Do You Throw Empty Prescription Bottles?

You may have no need for an empty prescription bottle once you’ve finished your medication, but an empty pill bottle with the label intact is a gold mine for an identity thief or someone who wants to fill a prescription fraudulently. There is a growing trend of using information contained on the label of medicine bottles to gain access to medical benefits and to gain access to identities that the public needs to be aware of. Unlike other forms of identity theft, medical iden-tity theft can sometimes take longer to catch on-to. Criminals realize most people do not pay at-tention to the information printed on their pill bot-tles. Details printed on prescription bottle labels usu-ally includes your full name, address, phone number, medication name, prescription number, the number of pills and number of refills, so someone digging through your trash could use this information to steal your identity or attempt to get the medication refilled under your name. According to a spokesperson from the American Pharmacists Association, it doesn’t happen of-ten, but it can and does happen! To combat this new trend of medical identity theft, be as protective of information on medical receipts and pill bottles as you would be with any other item that contains personal information. Some tips to prevent information from falling in the wrong hands: Peel off labels from bottles prior to disposal. Shred all labels and papers that come with

the prescription from your pharmacy. If you are unable to remove the label from the

pill bottle, use a permanent marker to blacken out all the information on the label before dis-carding.

What can you do to protect yourself from fraud? Keep your personal and financial infor-

mation private. Keep your personal numbers (Medicare,

Social Security, and bank account num-bers) personal.

Contact the ND Attorney General Consum-er Protection office at 1-800-472-2600.

Call the ND SMP office if you have ques-tions about Medicare fraud.

Source: HGTV Magazine, June 2017. Mohamed

Jalloh, PharmD., American Pharmacists Association.

North Dakota Senior

Medicare Patrol Phone:

800-233-1737 or 701-858-3580

For more information, or to locate

your SMP, visit

www.ndcpd.org/smp

For information on discarding unused medica-

tions, see the article on page 6 of this newslet-

ter.

Valley Senior Services 11

$100.00 and Above

Kari Stoner - $400

Thank You To Our Contributors!

We appreciate the many donations we have received and thank each and every one

of you for your support. All contributions can be sent to:

Valley Senior Services,

P.O. Box 2217, Fargo, ND 58108

Janis Claus

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FARGO, ND 58102 PERMIT NO. 1123

Valley Senior Services, Inc. P.O. Box 2217 Fargo, ND 58108