Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020197
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
According to the Virginia affiliate of the NATIONAL SOCIETY TO PREVENT BLINDNESS, glaucoma is a serious, irreversible eye disease that offers little warning in the early stages. It usually can be controlled with oral medications, eye drops, laser treatments and surgery. Because there are few symptoms in its early stages, it is important for people over 60, a high risk group for glaucoma, to have periodic eye examinations.
The most common cause of blindness, however, is age-related macular degeneration, which afflicts more than 13 million people, compared with 3 million with glaucoma. Signs of AMD begin to appear around age 40, but the disease most often strikes people 60 and older, starting with a loss of central vision, usually in both eyes.
Like glaucoma, AMD tends to run in families. For more information on eye disorders, prevention and treatment, call the society office in Richmond at (804) 355-0773 or write the National Society to Prevent Blindness, Virginia Affiliate, 3820 Augusta Ave., Richmond, VA 23230.
On March 15 at 10 a.m., Betty Blakemore, state director of consumer services, will discuss "FRAUD AGAINST SENIORS." At noon, Nancy Root of Home Health Care, Inc. will talk about home health care. The meeting will be held at the Blacksburg Recreation Center on Patrick Henry Drive and is sponsored by the Blacksburg AARP chapter 2613. Participants should bring a brown bag lunch; soda, coffee and tea will be available, and all seniors are invited.
A special one day conference on "QUALITY OF LIFE AT THE END OF LIFE" will be held at Virginia Tech on Thursday March 24. Attendance is free. The program will take place at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. More information will be available in this column next week.
The Blacksburg Retired Citizens group is planning a TRIP TO CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH, April 11-15. For details, call Catherine Edwards at 552-2510.
The New River Valley SENIOR OLYMPICS will be held in April, and the registration deadline to be eligible for a medal is Tuesday March 22. Bridge, canasta, rook and bowling events will take place on Monday April 18. Walking, horseshoes, croquet, checkers, frisbee, jump rope, basketball, shotput, discus, riflery, casting and softball hit and throw competition is scheduled for Tuesday April 19.
For registration forms and details, call Betsy Lane in Giles County, 921-2037; Betty Moles in Floyd County, 745-2102; or Vicki Scott in Montgomery County at 382-5775.
The Radford Senior Center is taking reservations for a WATERCOLOR CLASS for adult beginners. The class will be taught by Radford artist Lyndall Mason, and will meet on Mondays, April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the senior center, 27 First St.
Interested people must register at the Radford Recreation Department, 29 First St., by Monday March 28. Cost is $35, and checks should be made payable to the Radford Senior Center.
For more information, call Mary Jane Harmon at 731-3634.
The RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, 1 Franklin St., Courthouse Annex, Christiansburg, 382-5775:
The Christiansburg morning group will have a meeting at 10 a.m. today March 2 with lunch after, and the afternoon group will have a meeting following lunch out.
On Monday, March 7 the Shawsville luncheon will be held at White Memorial Church at noon. All persons 55 and over from the area are invited to this covered dish meal.
A covered dish luncheon in Christiansburg will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church on Tuesday March 8 at noon. All volunteers and would-be volunteers are welcome.
The PULASKI SENIOR CENTER, 106 N. Washington Ave., 980-3969:
The Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Service meetings on Thursdays mornings at 10 a.m. will cover falls on Thursday; food preparation on March 10; home safety on March 17 and medications on March 24.
The next round table discussion and luncheon will be on Tuesday March 15 at 11 a.m. Lunch is $2, and reservations must be made by Monday March 14.
Tax assistance is available on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. throughout March. Appointments are required. Call 980-3969 or 980-1000 to schedule your time, and gather last year's return and materials for this year to bring with you.
The CHRISTIANSBURG SENIOR CENTER, 655 Montgomery St., 382-8173:
Representatives from Social Security will be available to answer questions and offer assistance on Thursday and March 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the National Guard Armory. Officials from the Veterans Administration will be available on the same days between 1 and 3 p.m.
Members of the Walk-a-Roos Senior Walking Club walk regularly and individually, but meet formally each Thursday at the Hardees on U.S. 460 at 8 a.m. Their current destination is Puerto Rico, 1,606 miles.
Several card games are played on the second and fourth Monday evenings each month. That's March 14 and 28 this month, 6:30-9 p.m.
The GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, 1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, 921-3924:
The American Association for Retired Persons chapter 445 will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
"Roots of our Nation" by Peter Marshall will be shown on Tuesday March 8 at 2 p.m.
The center is closed on Thursdays for cleaning.
The RADFORD SENIOR CENTER, 27 First St., 731-3634:
On Thursday March 10. a class will be held to design a spring or Easter shirt from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Materials cost $4 and participants should bring a prewashed, 100 percent cotton shirt and a sandwich for the lunch break.
If you're stuck inside again because of the cold, start your spring cleaning, saving anything you don't want for the spring rummage sale, May 10-17.
If you're not stuck inside, join the van group going to the Mercer mall in West Virginia on Friday March 4 at 9:30 a.m. Transportation fee is $2, and lunch is on your own at K&W Cafeteria.
Joanne Anderson is an editorial assistant in the New River Valley bureau.
by CNB