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It’s panic time. Christmas and Hanukkah are here and the frenzy of holiday shopping, checklists and bills is mounting. It’s a time of good cheer, smiling faces, and good will to all. Sorry folks, but it’s also time for the Grinch! The scammers are out and about spreading holiday gloom in a number of ways so let’s take a look at the short list of do’s and don’ts. (sorry if some of this may sound familiar but reminders do not hurt).

Every 2 seconds someone's identity is stolen! Sadly, older Vermonters are being targeted in great numbers. AARP Vermont and the Fraud Watch Network are working across Vermont to give you information and tools to protect yourself and your family from these cons. Free informational forums are being offered to community groups, senior centers, libraries, residential facilities and other organizations upon request. If you are interested, contact Elliott Greenblott at 802-254-4489 or egreenblott@aarp.org.

Tax season is underway. This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers across Vermont with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Tax-Aide, in its 49th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

Protect yourself from scammers! Hear the latest on how to avoid being the next victim.

Join us for a virtual job fair delivered to you online in the comfort of your home.

We often joke about memory loss but what happens when it becomes more than a senior moment? What is the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia – on the person, the caregiver, society, and the economy? And what can we do about it?

Today AARP applauds the quick, bipartisan action on S. 192, the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA), introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) with Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Patty Murray (D-WA), and also cosponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), John Isaakson (R-GA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

“Today we learned of yet another significant cost overrun on the Vermont Gas Systems Phase 1 pipeline project to the tune of $33 million. This comes on top of a $35 million increase announced this summer. AARP Vermont is calling on Vermont’s Dept. of Public Service and the Public Service Board to give close scrutiny to today’s announcement since it is current ratepayers in Chittenden and Franklin Counties that will be footing the bill. The public deserves to know what the additional costs are, how they are being justified, and if the project is still viable given that the projected cost has now gone from $86 million to $154 million in just a matter of months. The Department should also ask the utility to provide reliable and well documented projections on what the final costs will actually be, in order to make an informed recommendation to the Public Service Board on reopening the certificate of public good process. Current ratepayers – especially seniors – should not be expected to absorb ever rising costs for a multi-million project that will provide them no real benefit. Consumers need to be protected and if this overrun goes through it is a glaring example of how broken our regulatory system has become.”

The AARP Smart Driver® Program, a classroom driver refresher course, is offered regularly throughout Vermont. Program content addresses the changes that occur in vision, hearing, and reaction time as we age and provides useful driving safety tips for handling these changes. The course also reviews how changes in vehicles and roadways affect driving safety featuring new research-based content and information regarding Vermont motor vehicle laws. Updated content includes discussion of health and mental acuity as well as approaches to limit the need to drive in order to accomplish necessary tasks. A complete list of Vermont classes as well as other driver safety information can be found on the internet at www.VTdrivers.org.

As our state struggles with difficult budget decisions, it is essential that these decisions reflect the underlying values and priorities upon which a budget is built. How and where we spend money on health care and the needs of the poor and our vulnerable neighbors are directly and inextricably linked to economic challenges.