Liz Mensing

The month of May is sure to be an exciting and busy month for our Latino Cultural Diversity participants.  Starting on May 5^th we will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a celebration at the Fitchburg Senior Center.  The event takes place from 11 am-12:30 pm at 5510 E. Lacy Road in Fitchburg.  Together individuals from various cultural backgrounds will come together to celebrate the holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Following this celebration NESCO will hold our annual Multicultural Senior Health Fair on May 14^th from 9am-12pm, with Healthy Lunch from 11:45am-12:15pm, and Healthy Bingo from 12:30pm-1:30pm.  The event features many different health screenings and information.  Many of the vendors at the health fair will have bilingual staff (English/Spanish) and informational materials in English and Spanish.  Interpreters will also be available for Spanish speaking Seniors.  Please come and enjoy the free health screenings and free healthy snacks!

Our final May event will be the Senior Prom on May 20.  The prom will take place at Black Hawk Middle School on 1402 Wyoming Way in Madison from 6:30pm-8:30pm.  This year’s prom is themed as a 50’s Sock Hop and promises to be a rockin’ good time!  Be sure not to miss the music, dancing, refreshments, and fun and games that will take you back to the 50’s!!

As always, our regular monthly events, including Bilingual Bingo, the Monthly Discussion Group, and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group will take place.  Please call NESCO at 243-5252 to inquire about participating in the special events of May or any of our regularly scheduled Latino Cultural Diversity Events.  For Spanish speakers, ask to speak with Liz Mensing or Yolanda Salazar.

Cortney Doescher-Hino

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection is notifying consumers about an unusually high number of complaints to the Social Security Administration from Wisconsin residents about “phishing” phone calls.

According to the SSA, Wisconsin residents have been reporting phone calls from people claiming to work for the SSA.  The caller asks for private information, such as the person’s social security number, in order to “re-issue a Medicare card” or some other similar excuse.

“The Social Security Administration does not need to ask you for your social security number” explains Janet Jenkins, Administrator of the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection’s Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection.  “Alarms should go off in your mind anytime someone contacts you out of the blue and asks for personal or financial information.  Governmental agencies and legitimate businesses simply don’t do that” Jenkins stated.

Do not trust what your caller ID says, either.  It can be made to give whatever name and number the caller wants to display.

The SSA reminds consumers that except for employers and financial institutions that need your social security number for tax reporting purposes, you are not required to give out your social security number.  Before giving any confidential information, first verify that the organization or business that is calling is legitimate.  That can be done by looking them up in the phone book or online, and call the business to verify any requests.

If you suspect “phishing” is taking place or if you inadvertently gave out confidential information, contact the WI Office of Privacy Protection at 1(800) 422-7128.