Focus on Technology – Fearrington Cares

Includes but not be limited to computer safety, “wired for monitoring” homes, AI, etc. (Hoping someone in Mary’s group will take this one). Covers high- and low-tech ways to make it easier for seniors to enjoy life and/or to age at home.

Tech Tuesday’s November 05, 2019 Program on “Surveying the Cyber Threat Landscape”

Submitted by Mary Johnson

Attendees at the November 05th, 2019 FearringtonEdge Web Security Program, part of the Tech Tuesdays Series, learned best practices for staying safe on the Internet.

Network security professional and experienced OLLI instructor, Tom Foss explained vulnerabilities and mitigation techniques for email, internet shopping, and password protection. Tom’s presentation sparked lively discussions and pointed questions from among the 40 attendees about online behavior and avoidance of malware and bad actors.

This program followed Tom’s October 01st program on home network security. Links to both presentations are here:

The presentation file for the October 01st program “Covering Your Assets: How to Secure Your Home Network from Intruders“
The presentation file for the November 05th program “Surveying the Cyber Threat Landscape: You Never Send Me Your Money“

The Tech Tuesdays Series is produced by FearringtonEdge and is sponsored by Fearrington Cares.

Tech Tuesday’s November 05, 2019 Program on “Surveying the Cyber Threat Landscape” Jon Darling 2019-11-05T21:34:46-05:00

Fearrington’s Experienced Innovators & NCSU’s Graduate Students in Industrial Design

During March, April, and May 2019, a small group of Fearrington residents participated in a Fearrington Cares Experienced Innovators project under the leadership of Lee Anne McClymont, Fellow for the U.S. Southeast Region of The Global Institute for Experienced Entrepreneurship. Lee Anne designed the experience to be part of an innovative beta project to “reconsider the lifeline of multigenerational workplaces and learning communities.”

During these three months, this group of Fearrington Experienced Innovators worked closely with four graduate students in the NCSU Master’s Degree program in Industrial Design to evaluate their semester-long original design projects during the critical development stages.

The students met four times with the group at Fearrington Cares and a subset of the group also visited the NCSU’s College of Industrial Design in Raleigh, where they met all the other graduate students in the Industrial design class, toured the several well-equipped design labs where students work-up models of their projects, and spent 90 minutes reviewing the students’ projects, which had incorporated many of the suggestions the students had received during the earlier sessions back in Fearrington and making further suggestions for final refinements.

Near the end of the semester, the students returned to Fearrington to demo their finished products and to express their sincere appreciation for the valued contributions made by these Experienced Innovators. Overall, this was an amazingly productive beta project.

Visit this site to read Lee Anne McClymont’s wonderful overview of the project design and its significance for “restoring balance to the generation-stratified workplace” and to see samples of the results of the projects developed by the students.

Lee Anne is currently working with Fearrington Cares to design and launch the next Experienced Innovators group expected to be underway during the current fall term at NCSU. Watch for the forthcoming details!

Project participants included: STUDENTS: Sara Weir, Ryan Bolick, Yetong Xie, and Yimiao Xu. LEADERS: Lee Anne and Bill McClaymont, EXPERIENCED INNOVATORS (formerly known as Elder Innovators): Paula Easton, Gary Piontak, Diana Tasciotti, Jon Darling, Carl Angel, Dale Colson, Bob Colson, Cindy Kahler, John Tyrrell, and Amy Nullman.

Fearrington’s Experienced Innovators & NCSU’s Graduate Students in Industrial Design Jon Darling 2019-08-29T22:16:01-04:00

“Preserving and Sharing Your Family’s History” Resource Links

By Mary Johnson

The slide show accompanying the August 07, 2019 FearringtonEdge presentation of “Preserving and Sharing Your Family’s History” is available here. Over 50 residents learned about proper techniques for protecting old documents, photos, and other materials. Durham County librarians with specialization in digitization and preservation techniques demonstrated best practices and explained how to scan and store materials online. The presentation also provided sources for preservation materials and for learning more about saving our family histories.

Presenters recommended reviewing the information, which is highly detailed, available from Preservation Self Assessment Program (PSAP). Follow this link (https://psap.library.illinois.edu/collection-id-guide) for information on preserving items ranging from 8mm tape to slides, negatives, daguerreotype, and, among others, sheep-leather bound books! The photo below (attached as sample photo) is a small excerpt from the types of documents reviewed by PSAP.

Other recommended sources include the National Archives web pages (https://www.archives.gov/preservation/storage) and Gaylord Archival (https://www.gaylord.com/c/Preservation) as one sources for purchasing archival materials. Open the program link for the full description of best practices and sources.

FearringtonEdge expects to follow up on this successful presentation, possibly with group online classes and/or scanning demonstrations. Email fearringtonconnect@gmail.com if you would like to be kept up to date on future plans for this and other FearringtonEdge projects.

“Preserving and Sharing Your Family’s History” Resource Links Jon Darling 2019-09-29T16:55:22-04:00

FearringtonEdge Programming Updates

Our Recent June 04th Program

As part of its effort to facilitate neighbor-to-neighbor technical information sharing, FearringtonEdge presented a Generators & Batteries program session on June 04. The session was designed for residents to speak to other residents who have installed backup power solutions. Over 30 Fearrington neighbors joined the conversation about cost, installation experiences, and maintenance of various emergency power devices ranging from whole house generators to a lightbulb that stays lit when the power goes out, Participants shared their plans for dealing with almost inevitable power outages during summer storms.

Our Next Program on Wednesday, August 07th

FearringtonEdge continues its focus on how technology can enrich our lives with an August 07th evening presentation by Durham County document preservation specialists about preserving, digitizing and online sharing of fragile but valued documents, photos, and books. (Please note that the flyer distributed at the backup power session referred to an incorrect date.) Residents who have items they would like to have evaluated for proper preservation should email fearringtonlink@gmail.com. Time restraints may limit the number of items specialists can review.

Our Other Future 2019 Programs (More Detailed Information Forthcoming)

Tuesday, September 03rd, a program in association with the Fearrington Homeowners Association, will be presented by the Chatham County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Tuesday, October 01st, a session led by Tom Foss* on staying safe on the Internet (just in time for online Christmas shopping)
Tuesday, December 03rd, a program by Tom Foss* about home network security

*Tom Foss is an experienced OLLI professor and Fearrington resident.

If you would like to share your technology successes with our community or have ideas for future programs, email us at FearringtonEdge@gmail.com.

FearringtonEdge is sponsored by Fearrington Cares.

FearringtonEdge Programming Updates Jon Darling 2019-09-29T16:56:56-04:00

Free Seminar Raises Awareness About Scams & Fraudulent Schemes Targeting Seniors

Event Also Recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness Month

Each year North Carolina recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness Month from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. Increasing awareness of one of the most vulnerable populations is now more important than ever. The Adult Services Division of Chatham County Social Services Services, Cooperative Extension and the Council on Aging and NC Cooperative Extension jointly host a free event on the dangers of scams to bring awareness of elder abuse to you and your loved ones.

The seminar will be held on Thursday, May 30, 9:30 AM to Noon at the Council on Aging;-Western Senior Center at 112 Village Lake Road in Siler City. [MAP]

The program will include such topics scams and fraudulent schemes through the internet, sweepstakes, lotteries, home repairs, phone and telemarketing scams, reverse mortgages and Medicare fraud. Presenters include Hugh Harris with NC Department of Justice, Stephanie Bias with NC Department of Insurance, and the Chatham County Council on Aging.

Free Seminar Raises Awareness About Scams & Fraudulent Schemes Targeting Seniors Jon Darling 2019-05-06T13:26:04-04:00

Follow-Up Report on “Cutting the Cord” Program

A Follow-Up Report on a Very Popular Program

FearringtonEdge & Fearrington Cares Presented “Cutting the Cord” on April 9, 2019

Repeated by Popular Demand on April 24, 2019!

FearringtonEdge and Fearrington Cares presented a “Cutting the Cord” program on April 9th for an audience of 94 residents. Focusing on streaming services and internet and equipment requirements, Fearrington resident Mark Asman (with the collaboration of Tom Foss) explained options to conventional cable. While no one service exactly mirrors Spectrum or DISH packages, most offer access to major networks. Mark reviewed options for taking advantage of free trial versions of various streaming services and websites that compare channel availability and DVR services.

You can use this link to view and/or download and print a PDF file version of the slides used during this presentation.

Send Email comments and suggestions about this presentation, or other topics you would like us cover, to Fearringtonedge@gmail.com.

Follow-Up Report on “Cutting the Cord” Program Jon Darling 2019-05-01T22:01:22-04:00

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It’s Flu Season — Remember to Get Your Senior Flu Shot! The cost is covered by Part B Medicare coverage. The season has gotten off to an early start especially in the South and the strain that is spreading fastest is a very serious one. It’s still not too late to get vaccinated. Monitor the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) influenza website for up-to-date incidence and prevalence reports, symptoms, and warnings. This is a health issue to be taken seriously.

New Transportation Terms Beginning in 2020. Fearrington Cares volunteers will take villagers to the grocery store, the bank, an attorney or to a medical appointment. Our services are well utilized and the increasing number of requests is challenging our drivers many weeks of the year. Beginning in 2020, we have 2 important requests of those we assist: we ask that grocery shopping be completed in 90 minutes and going forward we can no longer provide either next day or same-day rides. Ride requests for medical appointments may be made as much as 2 weeks in advance; please call the Center with no less than 2 days’ notice to request transportation assistance from our volunteers.

A NEW SUPPORT GROUP: Living with Loss meets at 1:00 – 2:30 pm on Thursdays, January 09 and 30, 2020 in the Fearrington Cares Center. This new Support Group is open to people who are dealing with the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or friend and will meet twice a month. Led by Fearrington residents John and Judyth Branson (John a minister and Judyth a psychotherapist), this will be a confidential group where it feels safe to talk about the feelings of loss. Call Judyth (203-451-0383) or Karen (919-542-6877) if you have questions.

See the FearringtonEdge TECH TUESDAYS Series new dedicated content page, which displays recent and upcoming program information, including (when available) the presentation files associated with each program in the series. Following all programs, visit that page to see and download the associated program file(s). Next program February 04, 2020. See their dedicated page for details.

Let’s Talk Dementia. 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at The Gathering Place. Understanding dementia, possible treatments and the course of the disease are challenging. Dr. Rosanne Tiller of the UNC Geriatrics Specialty Clinic will explore what we know, the role of medication, the need for caregiver education and support and what the future holds. Dr. Tiller completed medical school at Duke, is board-certified in Internal Medicine and is pursuing her fellowship in Geriatrics.

Chatham Public Library FREE Computer Classes for JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2020:

Drop-in Computer Assistance: January 8, Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:00 PM (no registration required)
Getting Started with eBooks: January 15, Wednesday, 3:00, 3:30, or 4:00 PM (30-minute, one-on-one sessions)
Microsoft PowerPoint Basics, Part 1: January 29, Wednesday, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Microsoft PowerPoint Basics, Part 2: February 5, Wednesday, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Drop-in Computer Assistance: February 12, Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:00 PM (no registration required)
Intro to Facebook: February 20, Thursday, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the library’s events calendar. Sign up to receive automatic email notifications when a new class is added. (Be sure to select Library Adult Events.)

Duke Energy encourages everyone to have a plan should another severe storm cause extended power outages. You can sign up for outage alerts by texting REG to 57801 or enroll online.