Livingston Catholic Charities still providing several services; office open
    Livingston Catholic Charities is open and providing mental health and substance abuse counseling, foster care and adoption services, Elder Abuse Neglect & Exploitation Prevention assistance, Substance Abuse Prevention and senior services - Community Liaison (connecting seniors to critical resources) and Volunteer Caregiver program.   
    Our open times at the office are:
    --Tuesdays 12 noon-8pm
    --Wednesdays 9am-5pm 
    --Fridays 9am-5pm  
    Program staff or Directors can be reached by calling the main office at 517-545-5944 or visiting www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org/contact-us for direct e-mails.  As many program staff are working remotely, e-mails may be the quickest way to receive a response.  
    LCCC's Substance Abuse Case Manager can be reached 24/7 at 517-375-1652.
    In addition, the following program closure updates are listed below:
    --Be Our Guest Adult Day will remain closed through and including May 1, 2020.
    --Special Ministries of Livingston County will remain closed through and including May 1, 2020.
    If you have any questions on the above information, you may contact Mark Robinson, Executive Director, at mark@livingstoncatholiccharities.org.   LCCC continues to provide updates and information on both our web site Corona Virus page and FaceBook page.

Fowlerville Family Fair still on; Youth Show to be offered

By Steve Horton

    Barring a government order to the contrary or the current COVID-19 pandemic making it unfeasible, the annual Fowlerville Family Fair will take place as planned this summer. The  six-day event is scheduled July 27-August 1.
    The fair will also offer as close as possible all of the livestock and still-exhibit judging, special activities, and auctions that normally are put on by 4-H, only they’ll come under the heading of Youth Show.
   This change is due to the MSU Extension Service, under which the youth organization operates, cancelling all 4-H activities until September, including participation in the fairs.
    The fair board, upon learning of this decision by MSU Extension, met last week to decide whether to put on the fair without any 4-H participation or provide this alternative. 
    Since those youth activities—centered in the back end of the fairgrounds—make up such a large part of the local fair, not having it would have made it a challenge to even stage the event, a fair official said.
    Dr. Tim Tersigni, a member of the board, explained that it was a unamimous decision to proceed with the fair, unless ordered not to by the state, and to include a Youth Show. He added that the offerings will mirror as much as possible what is done by 4-H during fair week and that participation in the different classes and activities will be open to “all area youngsters,” not just those who belong to 4-H.
    “Given what’s now going on with the shelter-in-place that is confining many people to their homes, the business closures and lay-offs, and the disruption and hardship this is causing, the board felt that putting on the fair would be a way of helping get things back to normal,” he said. “We also didn’t want to take away this opportunity for our young people to bring their animals and other projects to the fair and to have the judging and other activities.”
    Tersigni noted that a plan will be created for the Show, with details to be announced as soon as possible.
   Updates and information will be available on the fair’s website: www.FowlervilleFamilyFair.com, on its Facebook page, and through area media.
   “The board realizes that the spread of the disease and how long it lasts may change our current decision,” he said, “but since the fair doesn’t take place until late July, we felt it was worth proceeding with it and to have the event be as normal as possible.”

Fowlerville High School Alumni Banquet cancelled due to COVID-19 
   The Fowlerville High School Alumni Banquet, like many other early-summer events, has been cancelled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
    FHS Alumni President Judy Recker was notified last week by local school officials that due to the spread of the novel coronavirus that has resulted in the closure of school buildings for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, the annual event would need to be cancelled.
    The banquet was scheduled this year for June 6.
   “The Alumni Board will be meeting to discuss how to recognize classes that were going to be honored during the 2020 program and plan for 2021,” Recker said. “Four members of the Fowlerville High School graduating class will receive schoalarships as planned. Donations to this scholarship fund are accepted throughout the year by the Alumni Association.”
   Donations can be send to: Fowlerville Alumni Association, PO Box 446, Fowlerville MI 48836. Recognition of donations made for 2020 will be reconized in the 2021 banquet program.

Social Security benefits will be paid on time; other updates related to pandemic
    Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, reminds the public that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The agency also reminds everyone to be aware of scammers who try to take advantage of the pandemic to trick people into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain Social Security benefit payments or receive economic impact payments from the Department of the Treasury.
     “Social Security will pay monthly benefits on time and these payments will not be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Commissioner Saul said.  “I want our beneficiaries to be aware that scammers may try to trick you into thinking the pandemic is stopping or somehow changing your Social Security payments, but that is not true.  Don’t be fooled.”
     The Department of the Treasury will soon provide information about economic impact payments under the recently enacted law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.  Treasury, not Social Security, will be making direct payments to eligible people.  Please do not call Social Security about these payments as the agency does not have information to share.
     The agency continues to direct the public to its online self-service options whenever possible.  Local offices are closed to the public but are available by phone.  People can find their local field office phone number by accessing the Field Office Locator. 
     To allow available agents to provide better phone coverage, the agency is temporarily changing the National 800 Number hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time to 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time.  The agency is experiencing longer than normal wait times on the 800 Number and asks the public to remain patient, use its online services at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call their local office.
     Please visit the agency’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ for important information and updates.

Family Impact Center’s Food Pantry here to help those in need
    Family Impact Center’s Client-Choice Food Pantry is here to help you during these very difficult times.  On any day of the week, please call 517-223-4428, listen to the recording and then leave a clear message along with your phone number.  
    Upon returning your call, we will read a list of available items from which you will choose and then set up a day and time for you to come.
    Pick-up options will be from within the following days and times:  Tuesdays (10:00 – 3:00 p.m.), Thursdays (10:00 – 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) and Fridays (10:00 – 2:00 p.m.)
    Whether you are in need of assistance or are wanting to make a donation, please call first so that arrangements can be made. 
    The following verse is prominent on our Pantry wall along with the beautiful mural painted by Sheila Wise: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised." (Psalms 113:3)  
    We praise and thank God continuously for His protection, love, grace and mercy; and we pray that you have the same peace that comes from knowing and trusting Him. Thank you all so much for your continued help and support!  And know that we are praying for you and your family.

Williamston Area Senior Center

APRIL 2020 EVENTS

    Because of circumstances beyond our control (the Covid-19 Virus) the Williamston Area Senior Center has been closed since March 17, 2020 and will be closed until this emergency is over.
    On March 23, 2020 Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmore issued Executive Order 2020-21 “Suspending all activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life.”  This Order is in effect through April 13,2020 and could be extended if the Covid-19 Virus continues.  During this period of time our Senior Center will be closed.  Please check our website williamstonseniorctr.com or our Facebook for any announcements as to when we will resume our normal activities.
    During this temporary closure any Williamston area senior who may need meals can pick up a seven-day supply of frozen meals here at the Williamston Center every Wednesday. To participate in this temporary meal program please contact the Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1393 to set up a time to pick up your meals at the Williamston Area Senor Center on any Wednesday during this emergency.
    Please take the advice of our medical experts and wash your hands often, avoid gathering of over 10 individuals, practice social distancing and if you feel ill please state home and, if you believe your illness is serious, please contact your personal physician. 
   Finally, we ask that you be a good neighbor and keep in contact and/or phone your seniors neighbors to make sure they are ok and not in need of any service. 

Livingston County Sheriff Dept. to help delivery groceries, medicine 
    Deputies with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office are helping bring groceries and prescription medicines to higher risk persons who request their assistance due to concerns about coronavirus exposure and/or a lack of transportation.     The program, at this time, is restricted to residents 65 and older, or for those who have a documented medical condition that puts them at greater risk of harm from COVID-19 exposure. Residents must be able to order their food or medicine online from a Livingston County-based grocery store or pharmacy. They must also not have any other means of securing these essentials, and an exterior door to which the products may be delivered.      Livingston County residents meeting these criteria can call the Sheriff’s Office tipline at (517) 546-8477 and leave a message to make arrangements.