November 2015
Volume 3 • Issue 11
Explore geological history at Dry Falls
Master Gardener’s Waterfall Classroom complete
Artists invite locals into their studios
DON’T MISS IT Sat., Nov. 7 9:30 a.m. Regional Veterans Day Parade West Richland
Volunteers spread warmth locally for three decades By Elena Olmstead for Senior Times It’s hard to imagine the impact Project Warm Up has had on the communities throughout Benton and Franklin counties over the past three decades — the number of babies wrapped in warm blankets because of this group of volunteers; the homeless touched by the gift of toiletries and warm gloves; and the school children who have warm hats to wear in freezing weather. Since 1983, the volunteers who make up Project Warm Up have done nothing but help. While the organization doesn’t quite resemble the operation it was in the 1980s, its goal is the same. It’s a group of dedicated volunteers who make the lives of people in their communities just a bit better and a bit warmer. Holli Calder-Cox, the director of Project Warm Up, joined the nonprofit 17 years ago. Cox said over the years the organization has been headed by several different groups. It was started in 1983 by the United Way, but also was run by the Retired Senior Volunteer Project (RSVP) group. Cox started volunteering by helping with paperwork with Project Warm Up when it was being run by the RSVP group. It didn’t take Cox long to go from volunteering a few days a week to running the program. “It’s evolved over the years,” Cox said. The first year of Project Warm Up, the organization handed out 800 hats. Last year the organization donated more than 25,000 items to those in need throughout community. This year, they’ve already handed out more than 3,500 blankets alone. uWARM UP, Page 2
Sherel Webb, administrator at the Franklin County Historical Museum, reads from a pamphlet during Ghosts of Franklin County, a tour stop for paranormal investigators Bob and Renee Chamberlain, shown in background.
Ghosts of Franklin County lecture draws a packed house at Historical Museum By Elsie Puig for Senior Times Bob and Renee Chamberlain, nationally renowned ghosthunters, drew a standing room-only crowd to the Franklin County Historical Museum as part of their Ghosts of Franklin County lecture and tour. The Chamberlains are founders of Northwest Paranormal Investigations and the couple travels throughout the Northwest giving lectures on ghost hunting and paranormal activity. The Chamberlains have been featured in dozens of TV shows including Top 10 Scariest Places, Paranormal State, My Ghost Stories, and Ghost Adventures and books, including Chuck Palahniuk’s book Fugitives and
Refugees. They have also appeared on national TV in channels like Fox TV, Travel Channel, History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Sci-Fi Channel, A&E, and the Food Channel with Rachel Ray. Homeowners, businesses, cemeteries, mansions, and historical sites often contact NWPI members to conduct investigations into possible spirit and paranormal activity. They conduct audio and video recording and document findings. Their main goal is to engage in learning and teaching paranormal investigation and ghost hunting in a safe and intelligent manner. uGHOSTS, Page 14
Cyber crime against elderly is on the rise By Loretto J. Hulse Computers, smart phones, email, free Wi-Fi and social media sites make keeping in touch with family and friends as simple as a few clicks. They also enable us to do online shopping and conduct business from anywhere at any time. But, unless you take precautions, thieves hack into those computers, tablets and cell phone and gain access to personal, credit card and even banking information. A new survey of Washington web surfers done for the AARP shows the freedom and convenience of wireless access may
come at a cost. Nearly half of Washington’s internet users failed a quiz about online and wireless safety, while many admit to engaging in activity on their mobile devices that could put them squarely in the sights of hackers hoping to steal their personal information said Doug Shadel, AARP’s Washington state director. Shadel spoke to about 200 seniors and Baby Boomers at a Cyber Safety workshop sponsored by the AARP, the State Attorney General’s office, Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission held in early October at the Three Rivers Convention Center. uCYBERSECURITY, Page 11
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