Ela Township Sponsors ‘Medicare 101'

Program aimed at helping to educate seniors and caregivers about crucial medical benefit information.

Ela Township and its “55 Plus” program will hold a free event designed to benefit seniors, and their caregivers regarding Medicare. The informational session will be held at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 2 at the Ela Township Community Center, 380 Surryse Road. An optional lunch for attendees will be served at 11:30 a.m. The event, ‘Medicare 101’ will be taught by a senior health insurance program specialist. Individuals will be given information to navigate the Medicare system, including benefit options, and how to make the best personal choices for the upcoming enrollment period from October 15 until December 7. Participants also will learn how to change plans if they were previously insured under the Illinois Cares Rx Program. Though the event is…

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Ela Township to Buy Post Office Building

Purchase price of $700,000 won't increase tax levy burden on township residents.

Ela Township officials are planning for the future as senior, youth, education and community programs continue to grow.  Included in those plans is the purchase of the 10,400-square-foot post office building at 380 Surryse Rd. for $700,000. “We have to think of the future as our contracted use of the Foglia YMCA will end at some point,” said Lucy Prouty, township supervisor. Prouty said programs provided by the township such as ‘55 Plus’ and space for the Omni Services will continue to utilize space at the YMCA. “This parcel became available and fits well into our future plans,” Prouty added. The $700,000 price tag for the building won't require any tax levy increase for Ela Township residents. “We have been fiscally responsible and did …

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New Director for Ela Township 55 Plus Program Officially On the Job

Susan Dillon brings fresh ideas to promote current programs and create new services for seniors in the community.

The new director of adult and senior services for Ela Township recently started her position  and is already brimming with new ideas and a fresh approach to promoting the program. “The 55 Plus program already has great opportunities; my predecessor Sue Nueschel built something very solid here,” said Susan Dillon, director of adult and senior services.  “I want to be able to promote all of these amazing services and programs to get the word out about them,” said Dillon. Dillon said she will be working on a web page to promote the many activities offered, in addition to reaching out to churches and other locations in the community where seniors go. “We have an amazing newsletter filled with information, and I am going to work to have it …

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May I Have Some Tea, Please? Why, Thank You!

The Ela 55 Plus group were among the special groups invited to the Teddy Tea at Seth Paine Elementary School.

Seth Paine Elementary School recently hosted its 11th annual Teddy Tea for students. The students learned about philanthropy, multi-generationalism, and manners.

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Ela Township Board Appoints Senior Services Director

Susan Dillon from the Foglia YMCA named to run 55 Plus program on Thursday, Jan. 27.

Susan Dillon is the new director of adult and senior services and will run the 55 Plus program at the Foglia YMCA as of Thursday, Jan. 27. Dillon is replacing Sue Neuschel, who retired at the end of the year. The Ela Township Board of Trustees named Dillon to the post at its Thursday night meeting. “Susan came highly recommended by the senior center staff, she is highly personable and has had a presence around the seniors for some time,” said Lucy Prouty, township supervisor. There were 20 applicants for the open position and those were narrowed down to six qualified applicants before Dillon was offered the position, Prouty said. Dillon has been employed at the Foglia YMCA in different capacities for the past five years, and has recently …

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Ela Township Board Searching For Successor To Take Over ‘55 Plus’ Senior Program

Applications for director of adult and senior services will be accepted until December 31.

Ela Township's hugely popular '55 Plus' senior program will soon be in need of a new leader, due to the retirement of current director of adult and senior services Sue Neuschel.  She will officially leave the position January 1, 2011. "We need someone with lots of energy and compassion, and someone who has experience working with seniors," said Lucy Prouty, Ela Township supervisor. The full-time position has a wide array of responsibilities ranging from administering a comprehensive program to supervising staff and planning events for township residents 55 and older.  "You not only need to be a good hostess, but also able to organize and execute events to strengthen participation in the program," said Neuschel. The Holiday Dinner Dance …

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