The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 100

The Pittsburgh Press Thursday, May 2, 1985 Computer gives elderly a new program for relaxing "Patients begin to Jeel better about themselves Sharon Hassick John SaleThe Pittsburgh Press Gail Greenawalt learns how to use computer with help from Sharon Hassick words from the letters in a word presented by the computer. Patients also can learn to design banners and letterheads with printable material in the print-shop program. The computer provides recreation by giving patients another way to spend their free time, Mrs. Hassick said. Patients can play games on the computer alone or with another person, including visitors.

So far, however, only 10 of the center's 130 patients and residents have tried to use the $1,600 computer. Mrs. Hassick tries to initiate interest in the computer among patients by seeking out those people she feels will benefit most from it. "Patients can come down to learn how to use it any time," Mrs. Hassick said.

"My two staff members and I can show them how to use it, or they can watch someone else use it before they give it a try." Mrs. Friday said the computer helps round out the residents' lives. "The residents here, who live pretty much on their own, need something else to do because the planned activities don't take up their whole day," Mrs. Friday said. "The computer will provide them with stimulation for their minds." on taxes Richard Vidmer and Robert Miller would lobby in favor of a bill introduced by state Sen.

Edward Early, a Democrat whose district includes a portion of northern Westmoreland County. Early's proposal would exempt fire companies from property taxes. A similar bill, introduced by state Rep. Joseph tPetrarca, D-Vander-grift, passed the state House in a 197-0 vote April 17. March of Dimes to aid scholars The Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the March of Dimes is taking applications for the Pat F.

Lyon Memorial Scholarship Program. Three $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing careers in medicine, medical research, nursing, physical or occupational therapy or speech pathology. Scholarship forms are available by calling 391-3193. The deadline is May 31. Westmoreland gives fire social halls break method of therapy for the mentally alert but physically incapacitated, said Mary Friday, an auxiliary member.

Some patients aren't confident about using the computer at first, she said. First-time users of the print-shop program wanted to use the ready-made design of greeting cards, rather than design their own. With some encouragement from Mrs. Hassick, however, the new computer operators tried their own designs and, like Gail Greenawalt, 83, of Wilkinsburg, were "very pleased with the results," Mrs. Hassick said.

"After they try it a few times, they find out that the computer won't break if they hit the wrong key and that they really can use it independently." Spelling skills are tested with the Shifty Sam word game in which patients must try to construct 10 "It's the commissioners' view that if they use the money for those purposes, they should be exempt." "I think we have the best volunteer firemen anywhere," said Commission Chairman Ted Simon. "If they have social halls to raise funds and buy equipment, saving the taxpayers money, that property should be exempt like other charitable organizations." Simon said he and Commissioners to show er's attorney, Ken Burkely. After the hearing, Peck said that while he has copies of canceled checks that Mrs. Carter allegedly wrote to herself, his case rests on Dawson's testimony. In a 1977 divorce settlement, Dawson agreed to make monthly child-support payments of $250 to Mrs.

Carter. When county detectives interviewed Dawson last fall, Dawson said the sum of the child-support payments that Mrs. Carter received in 1983, $7,912, exceeded his gross earnings for that year. Tim Vercellotti More than 60 fire companies across the county received property tax notices in January for the first time, after a review of the tax rolls indicated the county was taxing some social halls, while letting others go. State law exempts fire departments from paying tax on their property, provided the companies use the property for training and other firefighting purposes.

Halls used for parties, receptions and in theft hearing again fails By Diane Marczely For The Pittsburgh Press What words can be spelled from the letters in "therapeutic recreation?" New configurations of the letters in those and other words are found each day by the elderly patients and residents at the Forbes Center for Gerontology in East Liberty while they play the "Shifty Sam" word game on their new Apple lie personal computer. The computer's word game and print-shop programs let patient participate in therapeutic recreation, said Sharon Hassick, director of the program at Forbes Center for Gerontology. Building self-confidence is the main therapy the computer provides, she said. "Patients begin to feel better about themselves when they discover they have learned to operate the computer successfully," Mrs. Hassick said.

"This self-esteem carries over into everything else the patients do." The computer was purchased by the Ladies Auxiliary of Forbes Center for Gerontology. The auxiliary wanted to buy the computer because it felt computers were an ideal licitor Nick Aretz to research the statute. Aretz pointed to a portion of the state tax code that exempts "associations and institutions of learning, benevolence or charity, including fire and rescue stations, with the grounds thereto annexed and necessary for the occupancy and enjoyment of the same." "The companies have found a way on their own to support their volunteer efforts," Aretz said. lawyer was unsuccessful in his attempts to return the call. Peck said he had "suspicions" that Mrs.

Carter tipped off Dawson. "He found out we were looking for him in Florida, and knew who the attorney was who was looking for him," Peck said. "I ask the court to look at the gravity of the offense and that there is some collusion between the defendant and this witness." "These are pretty strong statements, when they can sit here and say they've been diligent and they haven't been, and that there is collusion going on," responded Mrs. Cart COLLAGE Laffin of White Oak pledged Phi Kappa Tau. Karen L.

Fox of Greensburg, a student at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, received the first-place award of the James A. Finnegan Fellowship Foundation. Eight students from across the state were chosen for the fellowships, which gives them the opportunity to serve summer internships in various state agencies and to meet state officials to learn about state government operations. Christopher Fox, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Keith Fox of Greensburg, recently presented a recital at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, where he is a sophomore. The tenor is a regular soloist at Greensburg First United Methodist Church and a member of three campus singing groups. OPIAJf AJG By Tim Vercellotti The Pittsburgh Press Westmoreland County officials have extinguished the controversy surrounding taxation of property owned by volunteer fire companies. The county commissioners announced last week that all social halls owned by fire departments would not be assessed and would be exempt from real estate taxes. Witness "For the second time in four weeks, a key witness failed to appear for the preliminary hearing of a former Westmoreland County employee charged with the theft of nearly $20,000.

Greensburg District Justice Michael Moschetti Friday Yefused to grant Assistant District Attorney John Peck Jr. 15 additional days to produce Helen Carter's ex-husband. Mrs. Carter, 39, of 337 College Greensburg, is charged with taking $19,088 in child-support payments while working as an accounts clerk in the county Domestic Relations Office. County detectives filed the I Randy V.

Rocco, son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rocco of 2320 Columbia Swissvale, appeared as Capt. Andy Hawks in the Clarion University production of "Showboat." Diane F. George was elected president of Theta Alpha Pi at Grove City College.

Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Charles George of Forest Hills. Jennifer Higgs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

William Higgs of 215 E. Fairmont Trafford, was a dean's list student for the spring semester at the West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. At Thiel College, Greenville, Victor J. Harp of 1031 Wallace Wilkinsburg, pledged Lambda Chi Alpha. High school seniors Patricia Del-rosso, daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Vincent Delrosso of Churchill, and Lauren L. Hauser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William L.

Hauser of Penn charge March 18, and she turned herself in the next day. Moschetti continued a March 29 preliminary hearing when Mrs. Carter's ex-husband, Charles Dawson of Fort Myers, did not appear to testify. During Friday's hearing, Moschetti agreed to stay a motion to dismiss the case, allowing Peck the chance to appeal to Common Pleas Court for more time to find Dawson. By the end of the court day Friday, Peck had not filed an appeal.

Peck said at the hearing that Dawson did not show up for the March 29 proceeding on the advice Hills, were awarded Elizabeth Stewart Scholarships. Patricia J. Gose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Gose of 832 Locust Drive, North Huntingdon, is a member of the David Lipscomb College A Cappella Singers, which is making its annual spring tour through the southeastern United States.

Annette Tangelos of Penn Hills was elected vice president of the Panhellenic Council at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa. Susan A. Hornicek, also of Penn Hills, was elected secretary of the student government. Three local students were among those who received awards during the annual ceremony at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. They are Rebecca A.

Kasparek, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kasparek of Jeannette, Beta Beta Beta President's Award; Clayton J. Stahl, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Albert bingo are taxable. Members of 16 fire companies, including seven from the Alle-Kiski Valley, filed appeals in February and March, arguing they used the social halls to raise funds for their operations. Members of the county Board of Assessment Appeals said they, were simply complying with the law, but the commissioners, at the urging of local firefighters, asked county So of his attorney. Peck subpoenaed Dawson under the Interstate Rendition of Witnesses Act and sent copies of the order via certified mail to the state attorney's office in Fort Myers on April 3. A judge in Fort Myers issued a summons for Dawson, but police were unable to locate him.

Peck said Dawson runs Youra Maintenance Service, a condominium maintenance business on nearby Sanibel Island. He noted that Dawson tried to contact a lawyer in the Florida state attorney's office April 23, but the COLLEGE Stahl Jr. of Greensburg, Kappa Delta Rho Outstanding Senior Award; and James P. Waite, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Raymond M. Waite of Irwin, Programming Board Programmer of the Year Award. Kathleen Depree of Greensburg and Janet Getz, Kelley Lynch and Linda Reynolds, all of Monroeville, are members of the Pennsylvania State University Choir. At Westminster College, New Wilmington, Kenneth J. Romig of Penn Hills was elected treasurer of Omicron Delta Epsilon.

New members are Barbara J. Strange and Laura L. Van Sickel, both of Churchill; Timothy E. Walters of Plum; and Iris M. Galimberti of Greensburg.

Romig and Andrew J. Chomos of Greensburg also joined Tau Pi Phi. Daniel J. Phillips of Penn Hills pledged Theta Chi and Michael B. GRAND UCKEYE BARNS lmEKOM! 30 OFF 0) Qtulity I Seme SrnctM Next to Tongue 240 2 Options OPEN You'll get a boot out of Press and Post-Gazette want ad results.

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