October was a busy month for the Grand Portage Elders, preparing for the Grand Portage Halloween Carnival. Above: Elders who decorated the delicious cakes for the carnival cakewalk were (L-R) Bernice LeGarde, Ellen Olson, Carol Conrad, Eddie Hertzberg, Bob Hertzberg, Carol Hackett. (Not pictured: Patty Winchell- Dahl). Left: Marie Spry received a gift and a heartfelt Thank You for her nine years as chairwoman of the Grand Portage Elder Advisory Committee.
An election was held for the Elder Advisory Board on Monday, October 21. Miigwech to all the Elders who stepped forward to run. They were Polly James, Dido Swader, John Note, Gale Carlson, Tom Jack, Bill Meyers, Tamarie Oberg and Carol Hackett. The new board members are Chair Dido Swader; Vice chair; John Note; Secretary Bill Meyers and Treasurer Carol Hackett. Congratulations and welcome!
We wish to say Chi Miigwech to Marie Spry for her years on the board as the chair. She did an outstanding job and we know she will continue to volunteer and support Elder activities. The new board will be jumping right in as there is the 8th annual Chili Cook Off & Meat Bingo on November 14 at the Grand Portage Lodge at 5:00 p.m. Please come and enter a chili, play bingo and vote for the Best Chili. Volunteers needed. Contact Carol Hackett for more information.
Several Elders, with help from the ENP cooks, made and decorated over 50 cakes for the Halloween Carnival. This year the youth also got into the act making another 30 cakes for the cake walk as well as donations from community members. These cakes were scary, yummy, tasty creations. Once again this was a very busy game enjoyed by young and old.
Marjori Bottila was here to work with those Elders signing up for Medicare and choosing their Medicare Part D Plan. Those eligible Elders needing more information can contact the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433.
Also, Brian from Navigator Financial will be in Grand Portage November 5 to talk about MN Care insurance, which is the plan currently used by many Elders and other available plans. Please call the ENP to set up an appointment.
We had a representative from Northland Fire performing fire extinguisher checks for Elders and offering a simple demonstration on the proper use and operation of an extinguisher. October was Fire Safety Month. Please remember to have your furnace cleaned and checked and replace your filters. You can change your smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries this month or next month on November 3 when Daylight Savings Time ends.
The ENP will be offering a 4-hour Driver Refresher class for those Elders 55 years and older who have already completed the eight-hour class and are in need of the update. This class is sponsored through AARP and will be Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5:00 pm in the ENP. Cost of the class will be $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. A light supper will be served. Please contact Patty at 475-2655 or 2002 for more information. Upon completion of the class you will be eligible for a 10 percent discount on your auto insurance. Watch for flyers.
The ENP will be closed for Veterans Day, Nov. 11 and Thanksgiving, Nov. 28 & 29.
Elders who are eligible for the ENP programs and services under Title VI will be receiving a Needs Assessment in the mail. The director is in the process of writing the three-year grant for Title VI. One of the requirements is to have completed a needs assessment for this grant. We have used other models in the past but this year we will use the recommended one from the National Area Agency on Aging. This survey was designed by the National Resource Center on Native American Aging at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota. The survey will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. All information is confidential. No names will be shared. All surveys will be numbered with the director who will enter returned surveys for a drawing for a night stay for two with breakfast at the Grand Portage Lodge. Once scanned all the information will belong to the Grand Portage Tribal Council and stored by them. This information will be used for future planning of resources, programs and services for the Elders. Miigwech in advance to everyone who returns their survey.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Patty at 475- 2655 or 2002.
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