CCC volunteer earns Award

The Community Cardiovascular Council has presented Ira Pinkey Ford its Founder's Award as volunteer of the year during its annual meeting held July 26.

Cited for her work with the council's blood pressure screening program, Ford is a lifelong educator and coach who worked in several South Carolina schools before moving to Savannah. She continued teachig here and retired in 1986. She has been a volunteer with CCC for more than 20 years.

The award was established in 1989 to honor the volunteer efforts of CCC founders Dr. James C. Metts and the late Dr. John L. Elliott. The pair created CCC in 1969 to combat the high rates of stroke and heart attack death and disability in our community. Since, then death rates for stroke have fallen 72 percent and heart attack rates by 34 percent, according to the council.


Can you dig an Elderhostel program?

There are limited openings for commuter participants in the upcoming Elderhostel archaeology service program at the University of Georgia Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island.

The $245 fee covers the Dec. 1-7 program and all meals. The hand-on program requires physical agility. For more information or to register, call (912) 598-2447.


Mental illness group meets regularly

The Savannah Chapter of the National Association for the Mentally Ill meets from 4-6 p.m. the third Sunday of each month in room 226 of the Armstrong Atlantic Southern University Sports Education Building. Open to anyone affected by mental illness or who is caretaker for someone suffering from mental illness, the meeting usually has a guest speaker.

A weekly family support meeting is held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 12 Commerce Place, on Commercial Drive just east of Eisenhower Drive. For more information on either of these meetings, call (912) 353-7143.


Hospice Savannah needs immediate volunteer help

Hospice Savannah is in urgent need of patient care and administrative support. Volunteers will work directly with patients and families, or in clerical support areas. Training is required and completion results in national certification. There is no obligation to volunteer.

Training session are planned for Sept. 16-17, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Sept. 17-19, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Oct. 12 and 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Attendance at both days is required and lunch is provided at the daytime sessions. For more information or to RSVP call Volunteer Services at (912) 355-2289, ext. 109.


Grief therapy sessions planned

The Full Circle Grief and Loss Center, a program of Hospice Savannah, offers individual and group counseling to anyone who has loss someone due to death. All groups are offered as a community service at no cost to the public. Upcoming programs include:

Grief 101: A six- week group to help individuals begin their grief work.

Grief 102: An ongoing support network for adults who have completed a previous group but would like peer support.

Other groups available are Loss of A Spouse, Loss By Suicide, Children's Drop-In, and Children's Group.

Pre-registration is requested for all groups. For more information or to register call (912) 355-2289.


You could be Ms. Senior Savannah!

Care 65 is sponsoring a luncheon for women over 60 that are interested in entering the Ms. Senior Savannah Pageant. The luncheon is free and will be in the Marsh Auditorium on Sept. 16 at Candler Hospital. Attendance does not obligate you to become a contestant.

The pageant, sponsored by Vista Care Hospice and the Health Science Department of AASU, celebrates women with style, energy and charm, and helps promote positive sisterhood.

If you are proud to be a senior, enjoy an active life, come to the luncheon and learn about a positive image of aging. Make reservation with Jenny Koch at Care 65, (912) 352-4405.


Lowcountry Living Home & Garden Show

This informative event will be held at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center on Sept, 6-8. Hours are Friday, 2-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, Under 18 free - and one admission is good for all three days.

A $1 discount will be given off admission price with the donation of two canned foot items to America's Second Harvest.

There will be thousands of square feet of garden landscapes, how-to-clinics, and many other exciting products and services by professional exhibitors - pools, spas, home services, garden products, security systems, cooking supplies, building materials, cabinets, accessories, storage and much more.

Visitors to thw show can meet Michael Payne, designer and host of HGTV's "Designing for the Sexes." Payne will present a seminar, "The Most Common Design Dilemmas Between Couples," on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Learn how to build a beautiful, comfortable bed, and how to give your bathroom a face-lift in 60 minutes or less from the Bed & Bath Lady, Mary Grover, who will give her program Saturday at 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Help your garden thrive with advice from local gardening columnist and Master Gardener, Ed Poenicke. For more information, go online, www.showtechnology.com.


Ballroom dance and waltz lesson

The Moon River Dancers invite you to join them at the White Bluff United Methodist Church gymnasium, 11911 White Bluff Road, for an evening of dance, music and socializing Sept. 7, 7-10:30 p.m. DJ Music provided by Ebi Ilami. This casual affair will provide an atmosphere of good clean fun. There will be a waltz lesson by Ebi Ilami of Essi's Dance Studio from 7-8 p.m. for beginners or for those who wish to simply refresh an old step.

There will be light refreshments, the lesson and music all for $6 for members or $8 for nonmembers.

For more information please call Alice Blank at (912) 233-2726 or Jay Yost at (912) 352-7681. Singles, beginners, and general public are welcome.


SSO Women's Guild plans pre-events for opening of Pops and Masterworks series The Savannah Symphony Women's Guild in support of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra will host an opening night gala preceding the first program of the Savannah Symphony's Masterworks series for the 2002-2003 year. All ticket holders are welcome.

The black-tie, sit-down dinner with open bar will be held in the East Wing of Civic Center, Sept. 28 beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person and may be ordered by sending a check, payable to the Savannah Symphony Women's Guild. to Mrs. Robert Merritt, 108 W. Gordon St., Savannah, GA 31401. Deadline is Sept. 21. Information: (912) 897-4977 or (912) 233-8981

The Guild will hold it's first annual Pre-Pops Party, themed "88 Keys," preceding the first program of the Savannah Symphony's Pops series for the 2002-2003 year, which features Peter Nero. All ticket holders are welcome Planned for Oct. 5, the 6 p.m. event includes a pre-concert wine bar, dinner and entertainment beginning at in the East Wing of the Savannah Civic Center. Pops attire, tickets are $44 per person and may be ordered by sending a check, payable to the Savannah Symphony Women's Guild, to Mrs. Barbara McLaughlin, 13 Mainsail Crossing, Savannah, Ga. 31411. Ticket deadline is Sept. 25. Information: (912) 598-0971.


Free investing workshop at Bull Street Library

The Bull Street Library is offering a free "Investing 101" workshop beginning Sept. 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The sessions will be held every Tuesday in September in the auditorium. The course is offered to assist individuals in setting financial and investment goals. Topics include retirement planning, tax-free investments, portfolio asset allocation, IRAs, cash management, certificates of deposit, estate planning, life insurance, planning for college costs, mutual funds, preferred stocks, convertible bonds and more. Class size is limited to 30 people. To register, stop by the Bull Street Library or call (912) 652-3689.


Happy Geechee Reunion

The Happy Geechees 24th reunion will be held at the Wilmington Island Club Nov. 2 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sign-in and light refreshments begin at 10 a.m., followed by lunch at 1 p.m. Selections will be prepared by club chefs.

Dancing, with the Big Band sounds of the Gene Fox Group, will be held from 2-5 p.m. Door prizes will be awarded during the dance.

Cost is $25 per person. For more information, cll Logan Dixon (SHS '40) at (912) 920-3896.


Get a free fan

Senior Citizens Inc. is holding a fan giveaway program for seniors over the age of 55 who are without effective household cooling measures. Fans are free and can be picked up at Senior Citizens Inc., located at 3025 Bull St. Community partners who have donated fans include Savannah Electric and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, as well as several private individuals. For more information, or to request eligibility, call 236-0363 ext. 126.


Pfizer Share card available at Senior Citizens Inc.

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is offering a Share Card program to help seniors save money on prescription drugs. The Share Card can be used at the local pharmacy, when seniors fill a Pfizer prescription. With the card, Pfizer prescriptions cost only $15 for up to a 30-day supply of medicine. Senior Citizens Inc. will serve as one of the sites for distributing applications and assisting seniors with filling out the appropriate form.

To qualify, seniors must be enrolled in Medicare, have no prescription drug coverage, and have a gross income of less than $18,000 per year single income or less than $24,000 annual income if married.

Current MedBank clients should contact MedBank for assistance with this program. The card covers many Pfizer medicines such as Glucotrol, Lipitor, Zithromax and Zyrtec.


BRIDGE CLUB MEETS AT THE JEA

Drop in and enjoy playing Bridge with your friends at an ACBL certified Duplicate Bridge game at the Jewish Educational Alliance, 51111 Abercorn St., every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Fee $4. Call Lynn Pories at (912) 354-9739 for more information.


CCC cholesterol screenings

This organization offers cholesterol screenings the first Tuesday of each month, from 9-11:30 a.m., for $20. This is by appointment only. To make an appointment, call (912) 236-7666. The clinic is at 1900 Abercorn St., between 35th and 36th streets. The clinic is also seeking volunteers to greet and check in patients. Anyone interested in committing a few hours a week should call the number above and ask for Sydney Oetgen.


Interracial Interfaith Community welcomes all

The Interracial Interfaith Community is open to all people of all faiths at its regular meeting the fourth Thursday of every month at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Anderson St.

Supper ($7) and discussion is from 6:30-8 p.m.

IIC takes an active role in exposing and confronting both personal and institutional racism, is a catalyst for healing and spiritual growth and offers a variety of educational and cultural programs.

Recent programs include Parent University, Can We Talk? Conferences, Friends Puppet Show and the Anti-Racism Conference at the Universalist Church.

For more information, call Jamie Maury, (912) 353-5262.


Seniors: get help with water bills

Water customers age 65 and older can get a $3 per month discount on their City of Savannah water bill if they are single with an annual income of $9,500 or less, or married with annual income of $15,500 or less. To receive the benefit, apply at Senior Citizens Inc. Call (912) 236-0363, Ext. 125.


Hal Holbrook in "Mark Twain Tonight!"

The Savannah College of Art and Design presents "Mark Twain Tonight!," starring Hal Holbrook, Sept. 14, 8 p.m., at the Lucas Theatre.

"Mark Twain Tonight!" is inspired by the speaking tours of author Mark Twain, who became internationally renowned for his wry anecdotes, wittiness and cynicism. Holbrook has been performing this piece since 1948, when it began as a class project at Denison University. He continued "Mark Twain Tonight!" as a true theater piece in 1954 and has performed it at least once every year since.

Holbrook is a veteran actor of the stage, television and screen. His performance in "Mark Twain Tonight!" garnered him a Tony Award and a New York Drama Critic's Circle Special Citation in 1966. He has also won five Emmy Awards for various television performances, and has appeared in several films, most recently in "The Majestic" with Jim Carrey.

Reserved seating tickets are on sale now and are $25, $30 and $35, available at the Trustees Theater box office or charge by phone (912) 651.6556.


Alzheimer's support group meeting

The Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Caregivers Support Group meets monthly on the first Monday from 10:30 a.m.-noon at the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Causeway. However, due to Labor Day, the next meeting will be Sept. 9.

A resource library of articles, books and videos on Alzheimer 's disease is available at the church.

The free group is for caregivers, loved ones and friends of victims of Alzheimer's and related diseases. Information: (912) 598-9905 or (912) 598-8516.


Speech and hearing center seeks volunteers

The Savannah Speech and Hearing Center needs volunteers to conduct hearing screenings on children and adults and nurses or retired nurses to do eye, ear and dental exams on preschool children. A flexible time commitment is possible.

For more information, call Jane Medoff, volunteer coordinator, (912) 355-4601.


foster grandparents need volunteers

Volunteers are being sought to share their time and talents through the Foster Grandparent Program.

If you're age 60 or over and can share 20 hours a week at local schools, day cares and social service agencies, you could be eligible to participate. A small stipend and transportation costs are provided.

For more information, call Linda Fields at (912) 234-7842 or (912) 238-2960, ext. 123.


Jazz Fest this month

The 22nd annual Savannah Jazz Festival will offer a feast for the ears from Sept. 26-29. The festival will be held in Forsyth Park; this year's event will celebrate women's contributions to jazz with "Divas in Jazz."

The festival schedule:

Blues Night: Sept. 26
7 p.m. EROK trio, featuring Kristina Beaty
8 p.m. Denise LaSalle
9:30 p.m. Doreen Ketchens

Sept. 27
7 p.m. University of North Florida -- Student Jazz Ensemble
8 p.m. Ingrid Jensen Quintet
9:30 p.m. Rene Marie & the Savannah Jazz Orchestra

Sept. 28
3 p.m. U.S. Army Ground Forces Band
4 p.m. Laura Friedman Quartet
5 p.m. Kim Thompson Quintet
6 p.m. Jazzberry Jam Quintet
7 p.m. Rachel "Z" Trio
8:30 p.m. CJA All Stars with Ben Riley featuring Irene Reid
9:45 p.m. Savannah Jazz Orchestra featuring Marlena Shaw

Sept. 29
2:00 PM Children's Jazz Festival featuring CJA All Stars, Ronald McDonald, & the Savannah Arts Academy Skyelite Jazz Band

For Additional information, please call Ike Carter, (912) 356-2399, or Cynthia Collins, (912) 756-3575, or online at www.coastaljazz.com.


Your news for the active senior community can be a part of Senior Notebook. Fax information by the 15th of each month to Tim Rutherford (912) 236-8989, e-mail to surfnsenior@yahoo.com or mail to: Coastal Senior, P.O. Box 1088, Savannah GA 31402.