Veterans Coffee perks up Saratoga Grove seniors

by Christian Schreiber, staff blogger

When Commander Woody Kawaters of the Downers Grove American Legion (Post 80) contacted Joan Lawson about hosting a "Veterans Coffee," she was thrilled. "He just wanted to do something to show respect to our veterans," says Joan, the Life Enrichment Coordinator at Saratoga Grove Christian Retirement Community. "I thought that was wonderful. These men deserve to be remembered."

So, this Saturday, June 27, Commander Kawaters and one or two other officers will bring donuts to the bistro at Saratoga Grove. They'll spend an hour or so visiting with the 6-8 veterans who currently live on campus. And they'll return, once a month, to fellowship again and keep developing those coffee-fueled relationships.

The Saratoga Grove veterans are already eagerly anticipating these monthly visits. "For one thing," says Joan, "the men are a little outnumbered here, so it will be nice to have this all-men activity they can be a part of!

"But also, it's nice to know their service has not been forgotten. We owe them so much."

If you want to express your appreciation for one of our veterans, feel free to send a card or stop by and visit. Saratoga Grove is located at 3460 Saratoga Avenue in Downers Grove. Call 630-971-1995 for more information.

ABC7's Tracy Butler visits seniors at Saratoga Grove

by Christian Schreiber, staff blogger

When a TV meteorologist agrees to help you celebrate your 20th anniversary, that's something to get excited about!

This Monday, June 22, Tracy Butler will visit Saratoga Grove, our Retirement and Assisted Living community in Downers Grove, Illinois. "I am so excited that Tracy agreed to come and share with us," says Francine Myers, our Community Relations Director there. "She's so gracious, and I'm eager to hear what she has to say!"

Francine originally reached out to the ABC meteorologist earlier this year. "This is our 20th anniversary of serving people here in Downers Grove," she explains. "I really wanted to celebrate, and I wondered if Tracy Butler would be able to help. She's a daughter and a mom, so I knew she could relate to our residents and their families."

With a presentation titled "Weather or Knot," Tracy Butler will share her story. The public is invited to enjoy the presentation at 1:30pm and stay for refreshments afterwards. Because space is limited, RSVPs are requested.

If you'd like to meet Tracy and hear her story, call Saratoga Grove today — 630-971-1995. Saratoga Grove is located at 3460 Saratoga Avenue in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Seniors, protect yourself against this phone scam

by Christian Schreiber, staff blogger

How closely do you look at your phone bill each month? A lot of the charges listed have names you might not recognize, and your tendency might be to assume they are legitimate. But an article in the Spring 2009 CUB Voice warns readers against a phone scam called "cramming."

"Cramming" is when a company other than the phone company adds a charge to your bill, usually after contacting you via junk mail or a telemarketing call. Often the charges are given vague names, like "Enhancement service," "Voice mail," or "Membership fee." Consumers who don't read their phone bill simply pay the total without questioning any specific charges.

The article in the CUB Voice describes the experience of Dorothy Denton. When she noticed a $16.00 "Enhancement service" charge, she called her phone company. They put her in touch with a separate company who had levied the charge. Dorothy tried for months to get more information about the charge. Finally, she called her phone company and told them she had contacted CUB (the Citizens Utility Board) and was planning to file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General if the charge wasn't removed. That did the trick. The charge was removed.

Dorothy was vigilant enough to not only notice the charge, but also investigate it, and get tough when she needed to! But she worries about senior citizens who might not look closely at their phone bills or might not know what to do with an unknown charge. If the charge is small enough, like Dorothy's, many people would rather simply pay it than question it.

If you'd like more information about "cramming," download the free fact sheet from CUB, "What is Cramming?" Don't let these companies line their pockets with your money!