Vista – Summer 2013

Vista
eystone
blind association
Serving
Mercer, Crawford, &
Lawrence Counties
Inside this issue:
2013
Vo l u m e m m x i I I • I s s u e 3 • S u m m e r
Lawrence County Country Music Festival
By Lauren Fister
1
Cover Story
2
From the President
3
From the Cover
News & Notes
4
Keystone Essentials
5
Get Involved
6
KBA Events
7
KBA Events
Our Industrial Projects
8
Keystone Kids
9
Tips From The Pros
10
Crawford County Corner
11
Lawrence County Corner
12
Keep in Touch
Keystone Blind Association of Lawrence County
is proud to welcome
county music artists
Morgan Frazier, Frank
Foster, and Bucky
Covington to Lawrence County this summer. Proceeds from this
concert will benefit blind and
severely
visually impaired children and adults in Lawrence County. We ask that you please support this event so that we can better serve the
people of Lawrence County and raise awareness for those with visual impairments all across
Pennsylvania.
The Country Music Festival will be held on
August 16, 2013 at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds. The show starts at 7:00 pm. Be sure to
arrive early!
The show opens with talented female
Texas star, Morgan Frazier. Morgan’s debut
single “Yellow Brick Road,” a cleverly written,
tongue-in-cheek tune,
has inspired an exclusive competition on
her social media sites.
Morgan has already achieved
some milestones that few artists reach in a
lifetime. Among the most significant is the
fact that she has already played on the Grand
Ole Opry three times. She has been featured in
Country Weekly Magazine and has been introduced at the ACM awards. In preparation for
her debut single “Yellow Brick Road,” Morgan
has been crisscrossing America for the past 4
months being introduced to radio programmers, including our own local Froggy 95.1. The
debut record was released to country radio
this past April.
The next act comes out of Louisiana. Oil
baby and down-home country boy Frank Foster sports his newest album called “Red Wings
and Six Strings”. Upon its release, “Red Wings &
Six Strings” soared to No. 2 on the iTunes CounContinued on Page 3
2013 Sizzler for Sight
By Tresa Templeton
The annual Perry Templeton Memorial Sizzler for Sight for Keystone Blind Association will
be held on October 3, 2013 at the Shriner’s in
Hermitage from 5 pm to 10 pm. The event started a number of years ago with the idea to get
some people together for a drink, good food,
and maybe even a cigar while raising awareness and funds for KBA.
The funds from the event are used for special
items for blind and visually impaired individuals,
not operating costs. The goal of the Perry Templeton Memorial Fund for KBA is to make life
better for visually impaired individuals. In the
past we sent a blind student to a month-long
rehabilitation program to learn independent
living skills. We are sponsoring the bus for the
Keystone Blind Association
|
Keystone Kids field
trip to Philadelphia
this summer. Most recently, we purchased
new technology for
Keystone clients to try
out prior to making their own purchase to see
if the device would be right for them.
The event is a fun filled evening. We have
a Chinese Auction, 50/50, reverse raffle, and
special auction items. Participants must be 21
years of age to attend. Different home brew
beer is available as well as other types of beer,
wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. The food
consists of a BBQ theme with meats hot off the
Continued on Page 3
k e y s t o n e b l i n d . o r g 1
F r o m
t h e
P r e s i d e n t
Networking is a commonly encouraged business strategy designed to
discover best practices and to increase knowledge about resources that
can have a positive impact on the ability to conduct business efficiently
and improve the bottom line. Networking involves meeting and getting
to know others who are in businesses that may at some time be of value
to your business.
We sometimes fail to realize that networking can be critically important
in our personal lives as well. When we meet with people who have similar
interests and similar problems, we generally find conversation easy and
share experiences.
The same is true for those who are blind or severely visually impaired.
The difference is in finding the opportunity to meet other blind persons. This
is especially true for children who are blind. They are most often the only
blind person in their family, church, classroom or even entire school system.
So the opportunity to meet another blind child is not common. This is why
the programs at Keystone can be so vitally important to those we serve.
When blind children come together at our Keystone Kids events, they
have the chance to meet and talk to another child who is experiencing
the world the same way they are. It is not uncommon for a blind student
attending one of our programs to be encountering another blind student
for the first time in their life. The experience can be profound. No longer
are they the only one. There is someone else like them...someone who
understands what is like to a member of this exclusive club.
Kids are not the only beneficiaries of gatherings of blind persons. Adults
also gain from the experience. Blindness tends to bring a sense of isolation,
especially as older adults encounter vision loss. Loss of the ability to drive,
problems in managing tasks of daily living, managing your finances, all add
to frustration levels. However, when participating in a support group, you
discover you are not alone, that there are others who are going through
the same experiences and feelings. There is a new opportunity to make
friends, especially friends who are and have been dealing with vision loss.
Many of those new friends will have great suggestions as to how to deal
with various issues surrounding vision loss.
Keystone is pleased to be able to foster networking opportunities for
adults and children experiencing vision loss. We know that by sharing
experiences and solutions to problems, participants come away with new
understandings and new coping skills. It is just another way Keystone Blind
Association helps to change lives. When you support us, you help too.
Vista
Vista is the official pub-
lication of the Keystone
Blind Association, and is
published four times per
year. A digital version is
also available at
www.keystoneblind.org.
Editor
Stephanie Finnegan
Editorial Assistant
Maureen Perod
Keystone Independence
Management
Senior Leadership Team:
President/CEO
Jonathan Fister
Vice President of Operations
Allen Connely
Vice President of Services
Ann Peterson
Vice President of
Human Resources
Tom Dill, Esq.
Vice President of Finance
Laurie Staph
Cordially,
To contact us, please
write, call, or email:
1230 Stambaugh Avenue,
Sharon, PA 16146
724.347.5501
[email protected]
2 Volume mmxiiI • issue 3 • Summer
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Vista
N e w s
&
F r o m
T h e
c o v e r
country Music Festival
Sizzler for Sight
try Charts and debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard Country Albums Charts. It also debuted at No. 1 on Billboards
South Central U.S. Regional Charts and stayed in the top
10 for months. For an unsigned, independent artist, this
was no small feat.
Since hitting the road in June of 2011, Frank has been
selling out shows all over the south. He’s played everything from 500 capacity bars to 5,000 seat arenas. Whether he’s opening for the likes of Jake Owen, Sawyer Brown,
Randy Houser or headlining a fair, festival, or farm party,
Frank is carving out his own path in country music.
Our Main act of the night is famous American Idol
star, Bucky Covington. With his first album, Bucky earned
a place in the forefront of a new generation of country
singers. He became the best-selling debut artist of the
class of 2007, with the best first-week sales and highest Top
200 debut for any male country artist in 15 years. He appeared on Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live,
and many other talk shows, became part of the Country
Sings Disney project, and appeared in Hannah Montana:
The Movie. Now, with his second album, he leaves behind
newcomer status and emerges as one of the true standouts in contemporary country music.
Bucky has been working very closely with an organization called Help The Good Guys, which provides immediate financial relief to injured or fallen firefighters and their
families. His newest single from “GOOD GUYS”, “Drinking
Side of Country,” is a duet with Shooter Jennings, which
Bucky wrote and produced. “GOOD GUYS” also features
several of Bucky’s recent radio singles including “I Wanna
Be That Feeling.”
We hope to see you at the show! Tickets for this great
night of country music are only $25! To purchase your tickets, please visit KBA’s offices in either Lawrence or Mercer
Counties, or order online at www.keystoneblind.org.
spit – beef, chicken, lamb, and pork, with all the sides –
cole slaw, baked beans, and potatoes. Chili and appetizers start the event, and a dessert table is available all
night long. Cigar smoking is available outside.
We are fortunate to be a part of a very generous
community. A lot of our items are donated. We also have
sponsorship opportunities available. For more information on the event and how you can participate, contact
Maureen Perod at 724-347-5501.
Remember… what happens at the Sizzler, stays at the
Sizzler. Hope to see you there!
Continued from Page 1
Continued from Page 1
Perry Templeton Memorial
Sizzler for Sight
I would like to:
_____ Be a $100 Smokin’ Sponsor
_____ Be a $250 Sizzling Sponsor (includes 2 tickets)
_____ Be a $500 Smokin’ Hot Sponsor (includes 4 tickets,
name displayed on all event flyers/mailings/t-shirts)
_____ Purchase tickets to the Sizzler @ $50.00 per ticket
_____ tickets x $50 $___________ total
_____ Donate a basket or item to be used in the
Chinese Auction
_____ Make a general donation to the Perry Templeton
Memorial Sizzler for Sight in the amount of $________
Tickets will also be available for purchase online at
http://keystoneblind.3dcartstores.com/
Follow us for all the latest updates!
N o t e s
New Employees
Braille Reader’s Digest
By Susan McKinnis
By Jonathan Fister
Welcome to both of our new hires: Aisha Tate, who
is working in the Sharon services department, and Amy
Cross, who is working at the Meadville Office as a driver.
Aisha moved to the Farrell area from Pittsburgh last
year with her husband and family. Amy is very familiar with
KBA as she is a “Lilly”! Her sister Jenn is a Certified Vision
Rehabilitation Therapist for us. Both Aisha and Amy are
VERY welcome additions to our KBA team!!!
The HR Department continues to recruit for many positions - seasonal and otherwise - across the Commonwealth. Visit our website at www.keystoneblind.org and
apply online!
We recently added an interesting item to our lobby showcase. It is a braille issue of the
Reader’s Digest from March of
1936. It was donated by Mary
E. Murphy of Sharpsville, PA. As
a point of reference, KBA was
not founded until 1947 as the
Mercer County Branch of the
Pennsylvania Association for
the Blind.
Keystone Blind Association
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k e y s t o n e b l i n d . o r g 3
K e y s t o n e
E s s e n t i a l s
Talking with Tulip
Planning Your
Estate
By tulip, dog guide
Have you heard – we’re having
a Fair! It is a music festival at the
Lawrence County Fair being held
August 16th; the proceeds will benefit
the Lawrence County office. Sounds
like a paw tapping, tail wagging
good time.
Plans are also under way for the
Sizzler this coming October. There
will be food, opportunities to win
wonderful prizes, food, and drink and
did I mention – FOOD.
Watching the little white balls roll across the greens
during the golf scramble was just as thrilling as it always is
for me. Being a dog, the chance to play is always in the
back of my mind; being a Guide Dog, guiding my Sandie
safely is foremost in my mind. My Sandie gives me plenty
of opportunities to play and to chase balls.
Sandie and I are looking forward to seeing you at the
functions being offered by the Keystone Blind Association
and its affiliates, come on out and support a good cause!
We are Shredding Specialists!
KEY’s professional document destruction team has
provided secure and reliable shredding services for
over 25 years. Providing shredding service for both
individuals and businesses, KEY offers a comprehensive, secure disposal service that protects your privacy.
Open Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4 PM
981 Division Street, Sharon, PA 16146
Phone: 724-347-3711
Donate Online!
Visit us at our website:
www.keystoneblind.org
We offer a secure online donation
service that accepts MasterCard and Visa.
If you’d prefer to mail your donation, please
send your check or money order to:
Keystone Blind Association
1230 Stambaugh Avenue • Sharon, PA 16146
4 By Thomas A. Dill, Esq.
Do you have a will? More than half of Americans die
without a will, leaving it up to the courts to decide how
their assets are distributed to those who are left behind.
Why have a will? For one thing, it ensures that your
money, property and other assets are distributed to those
who mean the most to you in the way that YOU, and not
the courts, specify. Furthermore, you may wish to show
your love or appreciation to a close friend or caregiver not
related to you, or even others related to you but perhaps
not a “direct” relation (cousin, aunt or uncle, for example).
You would designate part of your estate to be distributed
to these people whom the courts would not take into
consideration if they were to make the decision when the
time comes.
If you have a will, how long has it been since it was
updated? Times change and you should periodically
check what has been written to ensure that it reflects your
current wishes.
A favorite charity like Keystone Blind Association is also
worth considering when making your estate plans. Whether
you have been involved with Keystone Blind Association
and have an ongoing relationship with us or just agree with
our mission, your estate gift of any size makes a significant
difference to us. We have established an endowment fund
through the Shenango Valley Community Foundation so
that gifts such as yours are expertly managed; thus your
name will forever be associated with the good work of the
Keystone Blind Association.
To ensure that your will reflects your wishes, we
recommend that you talk to an attorney who specializes
in estate planning. He or she will be able to put into
action what you want to do through a bequest of a
specific amount of money, a percentage of your estate,
or a specific property. If you wish, you may also restrict
the use of this gift so that you can fund or help to fund a
specific part of our mission. If you let us know that you are
considering including Keystone Blind Association in your
estate plans, we will be happy to work with you to ensure
that, together, we can create a legacy of which you will
be proud and, with proper planning, may save on estate
taxes..
Please contact Jonathan Fister at Keystone Blind
Association at 1230 Stambaugh Ave. Sharon, PA 16146
724-347-5501 for further information.
Rest Area Ramblings
By Marie Ditz
Welcome Thomas Huffman, who has
accepted the position of Assistant Supervisor for District 12. This covers Site A on
Interstate 70 and Site D on Interstate 79.
Volume mmxiiI • issue 3 • Summer
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Vista
G e t
I n v o l v e d
KBA Calendar of Events
LSE: Life Skills Education | TIC: Technology Information Club | KBA: Keystone Blind Association
July
1 - Tech-Share Support Group; KBA;
1:00 - 2:30 PM
4 - Independence Day (Agency Closed)
7 - IDEAL program begins at CBVI!
8 - TIC Meeting w/ Mike at BCAB
9 - Support Group/FLIP Bingo; KBA;
1:00 - 3:00 PM
9 - TIC/Support Group Meeting w/ Mark
and Mike; Lawrence Co. Office;
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
10 - “Useful Tips 2” LSE program w/
Kathy B.; Crawford County Office
10-12 - Young Explorers Day Camp;
McKeever Center
11 - Low Vision Clinic open
15 - TIC Meeting w/Mike; Crawford
County office; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
16 - Coffee with Christy; KBA;
1:30 - 3:00 PM
18 - “Useful Tips 2” LSE program w/
Kathy B.; Mercer County Office
18 - Food bank (Prince of Peace)
23 - Support Group/FLIP Bingo; KBA;
1:00 - 3:00 PM
24 - Board Meeting; KBA; 12:00 PM
25 - Food Bank (Salvation Army)
Did
You
?
Know
August
2 - Labor Day (Agency Closed)
2 - No Tech Share Group this month
8 - Grandparents’ Day
9 - TIC Meeting w/Mike at BCAB;
10:00 AM -12:00 PM
10 - Special LSE: “Hunger Symposium”;
KBA; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
10 - No Support Group today
10 - TIC Meeting w/Mark and Mike;
Lawrence Co. Office;
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
12 - Low Vision Clinic open
19 - Food Bank (Prince of Peace)
22 - First Day of Autumn
24 - Support Group/FLIP Bingo
26 - Food Bank (Salvation Army)
Return with your donation to
Keystone Blind Association
1230 Stambaugh Avenue
Sharon, PA 16146
Enclosed is my donation:
 $100.00
 $50.00
 $25.00
 other ________
Your eyes are an important part
of your health. You can do many
things to keep them healthy and
make sure you’re seeing your
best. Follow these simple guidelines for maintaining healthy eyes
well into your golden years.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Know your family’s eye health history.
Eat right to protect your sight.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Wear protective eyewear and sunglasses.
Quit smoking or never start.
Give your eyes a rest.
Clean your hands and your contact lenses
properly.
• Practice workplace eye safety.
September
5 - Tech Share Support Group; KBA;
1:00 - 2:30 PM
8 - Low Vision Clinic open
12 - TIC Meeting w/Mike at BCAB;
10:00 AM -12:00 PM
13 - PICNIC in the Park/Life Skills/FLIP
Bingo; 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
13 - TIC Meeting w/Mark and Mike;
Lawrence Co. Office;
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
15 - Food bank (Prince of Peace)
16 - KBA Lawrence County Country
Music Festival; Lawrence Country
Fair; 7:00 PM
19 - TIC Meeting w/Mike; Crawford
County office; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
20 - Coffee with Christy; 1:30 - 3:00 PM
27 - Support Group/FLIP Bingo; KBA;
1:00 - 3:00 PM
29 - Food Bank (Salvation Army)
Courtesy of www.cdc.gov/visionhealth
Make checks payable to
Keystone Blind Association or charge my
 MasterCard  Visa
Card #______________________________________
Expiration Date ____/____
Signature___________________________________
Name______________________________________
Address_____________________________________
____________________________________________
Phone______________________________________
E-mail_______________________________________
Funds Designation:
 Crawford Co.  Mercer Co.
 Lawrence Co.
 I would like more information on KBA’s programs
and services.
 I would like more information on volunteer
opportunities at KBA.
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be
obtained from the PA Dept. of State by calling toll free, within PA,
1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Please remember us in your will.
Keystone Blind Association
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k e y s t o n e b l i n d . o r g 5
K B A
E v e n t s
Thank you to our Golf Scramble sponsors!
Elite Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Commercial Turf • DeSantis Janitor Supply Co. • Minuteman Press of Hermitage • NLMK of PA
• Paper Products • Reinhardt’s Insurance • RFC Sharon • Salem Tube, Inc. • Sanico Incorporated • Specialty Metal Products Co., Inc. • Stan Alfredo Insurance Agency •
UPMC Horizon Community Health Foundation • Whalen Law Office • Wolcott Group LLC
Hole Sponsors
American Legion Post 159 • Anderson Coach & Travel • Anonymous Donor • Ben Bissett Chevrolet • Bertram Tool & Machine
Co., Inc. • Black, Bashor, & Porsch, LLP • Blackshear Automotive, Inc. • Cianci’s Motel • Conneaut Lake Lions Club •
D&G Mechanical • Dean’s Dairy • Donghia Environmental Services, Inc. • El Arriero Mexican Restaurant • ELG Metals •
Farrell Sportsman Club • Finnegan Computer Services • First General Services of Western PA, Inc. • The Fister Family •
Fredonia Lions Club • Dr. Paul Freeman • Frengel Painting • G. A. Boggs & Associates Advertising • George White Properties
• Greenville Savings Bank • Hermitage Lions Club • Hersh Exterminating • HHSDR Architects/Engineers • It’s Still All About You,
Perry • Jamestown Coating Technologies • Jamestown Lions Club • JFS Wealth Advisors • Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace,
LLP Attorneys at Law • Joy Cone Company • Kiwanis Club of Hermitage • Kralj Electric • Kurtanich Engineers •
Lawrence County Eye Associates • Lewis & Ristvey • M&R Power Equipment • MedExpress • Mobile Optical Services, Inc. •
Chip & Kathleen Mastrian - Penn State Shenango • The Medicine Shoppe • Mercer County Judicial Employees • The Nugent
Group • Oil Services • O’Neil Coffee • PIBH • Adolf & Cyndy Reichenbacher • Richard G. English & Associates, Inc. •
Rien Construction • Sharon American Legion • Sharon Regional Health Systems • Sisterhood of Erin • Strimbu Trucking •
Sunbelt Transformer, LTD • Walsh Equipment • Wendell August • Wesex Corp. • Winner International • Winslow Engineering
Golf Teams
Raffle Donors
Black, Bashor & Porsch • First National Bank • Holko
Enercon • KBA • Kralj Electic • Minuteman Press • NLMK •
Oil Services • Perod Financial • Precision Steel •
Reinhart’s • Sharon American Legion Team 1 • Sharon American Legion Team 2 • Sharon American Legion Team 3 •
Sharon American Legion Team 4 • Sharon American Legion
Team 5 • Sheetz • Specialty Metal Products • Stoneboro
Lions • Sylvan Learning Center • Team Templeton 1 • Team
Templeton 2 • Wesex Corp. • Wheatland Steel Processing
Au c t i o n D o n o r s
Clear Channel Radio • KBA • Pittsburgh Penguins
Advance Auto Parts • Anderson Coach and Travel •
Andy Warhol Museum • Avalon Golf and Country Club •
Carnegie Museums of Art and History • Citizen’s Bank •
Faraone Brothers • Hickory VFW Golf Course • Julia’s Bed &
Breakfast • KBA • KEY Enterprises • King’s Jewelry •
Mahoning Valley Scrappers • Susan McKinnis and Alan
Mucha • Mohawk Trails Golf Course • Our Gang’s Lounge
• Philadelphia Candies • Pine Lakes Golf Club • Pittsburgh
Opera • Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra • PNC • Quaker
Steak & Lube • Reyers • Shenango Valley Cinemas •
Springfield Restaurant Group • Washington Wild Things •
Willow Woods Golf Course • YMCA
W i n n e r s o f t h e D ay
Thank you to everyone who participated!
1 st Place: Team Ferrara - 54
2 nd Place: Oil Services - 57
3 rd Place: NLMK - 57
4 th Place: Holko Enercon - 59
Closest to the Pin #8: Mike Battles
Longest Drive #11: Kyle Lynch
Longest Put #17: Scott Anderson
6 Winning Team
TEAM FERRARA:
John Doughton Jr.,
Cpt. Mark Ferrara,
Johnny Doughton III,
Greg Powell,
Joe Beeson
Volume mmxiiI • issue 3 • Summer
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Vista
K B A
E v e n t s
18th Annual Golf Scramble
By Maureen Perod
It was sunny skies and a cool breeze as we kicked off
the 18th Annual Keystone Blind Association Charity Golf
Scramble on June 3, 2013 at Tam O’Shanter of Pennsylvania! Twenty-four teams tee’d up to compete for 1st place.
It was Team Ferrara that walked away with the honors with
a final score of 54. Following in second place with a score
of 57 was Oil Services. Third place went to NLMK with a
score of 57, and rounding out fourth place with a score
of 59 was Holko Enercon. KBA would like to acknowledge
Team NLMK for generously donating their team winnings
of $500.00 back to the agency. Thanks also to “anonymous” Steve who donated his 50/50 winnings back to the
agency. Thank you to those special donors and congratulations each of the winning teams! And last but not least,
everyone enjoyed a delicious steak dinner prepared by
the Tam O’Shanter staff.
Every golfer in the field helped to make this outing a
success with their entry fees, side-games, auctions, and
raffles that went on throughout the day. This year, we
Ready for a fun day at
Tam O’Shanter Golf Course!
Al Boland,
Board Chairman
had 3 Elite Sponsors who donated
$1,000, 15 Major Sponsors who donated $500, and 64 Hole Sponsors
who each donated $100. Through the
generosity of all of the golfers, sponsors, donors, and staff
at Tam O’Shanter, this year’s annual golf scramble was a
huge success with an estimated profit of $18,000. Thank
you so much to all of our contributors. We would also like
to send out a GIANT thank you to the KBA “crew” of staff
and volunteers who helped to plan and coordinate the
event and made the outing a complete SUCCESS!
We hope to see everyone back next year! Please
mark your calendars for Monday, June 2, 2014, when
we will again come out to support KBA’S Mission of promoting independence for children and adults who are
blind or visually impaired, promoting eye health and eye
safety, and promoting employment for all persons with
disabilities.
Team KBA and Lauren Fister,
Lawrence County Manager
CEO Jonathan
having some fun!
Golfers gather to find out the raffle
and auction winners.
O u r
I n d u s t r i a l
P r o j e c t s
Blind Workers Help Keystone Strike a Deal!
By Karen Bly
Since, 2009, Keystone has been working with Pennsylvania Industries for the Blind and Handicapped under the
State Use Law to provide a line of industrial-grade digging
and striking tools to our state agencies. In January 2013,
Keystone Vocational Services opened a new chapter in
the sale of our tools as we began “striking deals” with the
federal government! Assembled by blind and visually
impaired workers here in Sharon, PA, we are now proud
to offer a line of 11 striking tools and 21 digging tools on
the Federal Procurement List. Working with major distributors like Grainger, MSC Direct, and LC Industries, Keystone
can provide our quality tools to customers worldwide.
Keystone Vocational Services employees receive
fiberglass-handled components from our partners at Seymour Manufacturing Company and assemble each tool
to specification. Keystone has designed special jigs and
developed detailed processes to ensure that the quality
Keystone Blind Association
|
of our tools is superior. Tools currently provided by Keystone include: sledge hammers, cross peen hammers,
axes, mauls, shovels, scoops, scrapers, lutes, rakes, hoes,
and tampers. A fiberglass-handled posthole digger and
6 more fiberglass-handled hammers are projected to be
on the Procurement List by October 2013. With competitive pricing, Keystone continues to seek assignment and
expand our tool line to meet the needs of customers.
As we move forward in our mission to provide employment for the blind and disabled, we hope to be able
to provide more employment opportunities within our
community. We are proud to provide a variety of quality blind-made products to our local community. Do you
need a good, quality tool for your home or business? For
more information, please call KEY Enterprises at 724-3473711 or visit our facility at 981 Division Street in Sharon, PA.
k e y s t o n e b l i n d . o r g 7
K e y s t o n e
K i d s
Keystone Kids Enjoy Spring Activities
By Kimberly Paglia
In March the Keystone Kids enjoyed a day at the theatre. The group met up in New Castle for dinner and a
show at the New Castle Playhouse. At the restaurant, 2
Tomato, kids practiced ordering from the menu and using
appropriate dining etiquette. This included proper manners
as well as an understanding of which fork to use for each
course. After dinner, the group crossed the street to the
New Castle Playhouse to see the Youth Theatre production
of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Immediately following the
performance, the stars of the show came out on stage to
meet and have their pictures taken with the kids. Everyone
enjoyed this fantastic performance!
The Keystone Kids gathered at Sim’s Lanes in Beaver
for the April bowling event. They enjoyed several hours
of bowling and lunch at the bowling alley. Some students
took advantage of the ramp to help them aim and roll
their bowling ball, while others preferred to make the approach on foot. Sighted helpers were on hand to offer tips
and work with the kids on their technique.
The annual Lock-In in May found a group of students
who were ready for anything but sleep! The night began
with dinner and a couple of art projects. Volunteer Gina
Cashbaugh, who is an art therapist, led the students in making tissue paper butterflies. They also worked on designs for
the new line of greeting cards we will be selling as a fundraiser. Next, they divided into two teams for a scavenger
hunt in the building. This gave them a chance to use their
knowledge of cardinal directions and orientation & mobility
skills. Following the scavenger hunt, the teams competed
in a series of “Minute to Win It” challenges. Toilet papering
their teammates, sorting coins while blindfolded, trying to
land a ping pong ball in peanut butter, and eating copious
amounts of marshmallows were just some of the challenges
that had everyone in stitches. Next was free time for the
kids to enjoy games and snacks before getting ready for
bed and a movie. After a few hours of sleep, it was time
for the breakfast crew to get to work. Pancakes, sausage,
eggs, and fruit were on the menu. During the course of the
lock-in each student had to help either prepare or clean
up from a meal, so everyone had the chance to practice
their independent living skills. The Lock-In is always a favorite
event and this one didn’t disappoint!
“Minute TO win it” challenges
TOP LEFT
Brett Sherbine, Shayna
Wimer, and Brittnee
Brown attempt to
polish off a bag of
marshmallows.
TOP RIGHT
Dusting Boyle and
Natasha Brown try to
empty a box of tissues
in less than a minute.
BOTTOM LEFT
Natasha Brown assists
her team in “mummifying” Dustin Boyle.
BOTTOM RIGHT
Brett Sherbine, Shayna
Wimer, and Brittnee
Brown use large print
and braille letter tiles
to spell their target
words in under a
minute.
8 Volume mmxiiI • issue 3 • Summer
|
Vista
T i p s
F r o m
T h e
P r o s
Is Bigger Always Better?
By Paul B. Freeman, O.D.
For most folks who are visually impaired, one of the
best ways to help to see better is to magnify. To obtain the
optimum magnification, a systematic assessment should
be done, including eye health, then refraction, then a
magnification calculation. Some, however, feel that just
making things bigger is all that is necessary. Let’s take three
examples to see if that’s true.
First, imagine taking a camera with no ability to adjust
the focus, and bringing it very close to a target and
snapping a picture. As you can imagine, the picture would
be out of focus. To help make it easier to see, you might
think about enlarging it, but what you would see would
be an enlarged, out of focus, picture. If there was enough
contrast, you might make out some details, but it would
be at the expense of working really hard to try to interpret
the picture. Too often, patients feel that when they have
difficulty seeing, simply making objects bigger is all that it
takes. In fact, it is a bit more complex than that.
To arrive at a clear magnified image requires two steps
after an eye health assessment. The first step is a complete
refraction to determine if a prescription for nearsightedness,
farsightedness, or astigmatism is needed. The second step
is to determine the appropriate lens, over and above
that prescription, which will compensate for the distance
between the person viewing a task and the task itself,
keeping it in focus. This is what happens when a “normally
sighted” person gets a bifocal. The only difference is that
for someone who is visually impaired, often a stronger lens
than a “standard bifocal” is needed, but the concept is
the same. Magnification calculation determines where the
target should be held, based on the level of vision for that
individual, but the appropriate
lens prescription that corrects for the
focal length to the target is what keeps that target clear.
The second example addresses another point of
confusion in determining whether bigger is better:
separating comprehension from magnification. Suppose
you are viewing text in a foreign language with which
you are unfamiliar. Even given the above appropriate
evaluation and prescription, the written foreign language
would be no more understandable even if it were enlarged
to fit a billboard. Size alone cannot compensate for
cognition. A verbal analogy would be yelling in English to
someone who speaks no English with the hope that the
louder you get, the better the chances of understanding; in
neither situation is bigger or louder going to help. Analyzing
the situation can go a long way toward minimizing
frustration.
The third example is potentially the most dangerous.
Suppose you get a 4X hand magnifier that satisfies all your
near point needs. Then one day it seems that it doesn’t
work anymore. What to do? Getting a stronger magnifier
to make the image bigger helps for a while but then it, too,
seems like it is not enough. Increasing the power keeps
making the target bigger, but the root problem is not
being resolved; vision may be changing due to a medical
condition which caused the decrease in vision in the first
place or some other undiagnosed condition. With all of
the advances in ophthalmic medicine, sometimes these
disease changes can be slowed, stopped, or even in some
cases reversed... providing the window of opportunity does
not close by a delay in treatment.
How to be a Sighted Guide
By Luann Cade
Sighted Guide is a technique that is taught to our clients, when independent travel is not a safe option. It is
a technique used when a visually impaired traveler takes
the arm of a guide to help assist with safe travel. It may be
used at night-time, or when vision is poor.
First, please ask the person with the visual impairment
if he needs help. If they would like some assistance, lightly
touch the person’s arm with your hand. The person should
then slide their arm to just above your elbow. He should
maintain a firm grip, with the fingers on the inside of the
arm and the thumb on the outside. This grip ensures the
highest level of safety for both people. When walking,
the guide should be about one step in front. Never push
the individual in front, as this puts them at risk for danger.
Remember, they are relying on you for information about
upcoming obstacles and drop-offs. Walk a natural pace.
Pause when approaching steps, curbs, doors, or uneven
surfaces. Verbal prompts are welcomed, and sometimes
Keystone Blind Association
|
necessary for safe travel.
When approaching stairs, always pause before proceeding, and let the individual know you are going up or
down. Always place the opposite hand on the railing for
balance support. When maneuvering through doors, the
guide should always go through first, telling the person
which way the door opens. Narrow spaces should be
traveled single-file, with the guide placing their arm behind their back as a signal. Straightening one’s arm puts
distance between the guide and the individual. Finally,
always place a person’s hand on the back of the chair,
and encourage them take a sweep of the chair for misplaced objects before sitting.
Please remember that sighted guide is teamwork. We
encourage our clients to teach others the proper way of
guiding. Now, you are ready to offer your arm as a sighted guide!
k e y s t o n e b l i n d . o r g 9
C r aw f o r d
C o u n t y
C o r n e r
eystone
blind association
Crawford County Office
We Say Thank you, Up and Down the Hall!
By Bob George
The Keystone Blind Association offers its sincere thanks, up and down the
hall, as well as up the steps! We, here
in the Meadville office are blessed to
have such kind and helpful neighbors.
To help us accommodate our clients for life skills education, a B.S. with
Bob meeting, or an after the hike for
sight luncheon, Pam or Vicky, of the
Senator Bob Robbin’s office across
the hall, kindly allows up to invade the
Republican Meeting Room down the
hall, which gives us the space and the
tables needed to meet with our clients.
When I am setting the room up,
I often have to set-up or tear down
some tables. It is not unusual for the
former mayor to peak in the door and
say, “Hey, would you like some help”?
Richard is always willing to step in and
help, as is his assistant Deni.
Upstairs, our landlord Wes, or his
secretary Liz, has also provided us
with suitable space on the 3rd floor,
when we have had a conflict with
the Republican Meeting Room.
The assistance we receive from
our neighbors helps us to provide the
services we offer to our clients, and
is greatly appreciated.
Meadville Office Welcomes a New Driver
By Bob George
As a new season begins, we have
a new driver. Amy Cross has come
on-board to help with transportation
of our clients. Amy is the daughter
of Lori Lilly, one of our current clients,
who once was an employee of the
Keystone Blind Association, working in
the Meadville office. Amy’s sister, Jenn,
works together with Dr. Freeman in the
Sharon office.
Amy has a very positive attitude,
and brings with her, firsthand experience assisting individuals with visual
impairments. Although she has experi-
ence, she is looking forward to receiving
sighted guide training, which she feels
will serve her well when assisting our clients, and also when helping her mom.
Amy is also interested in helping to
increase the visibility of the Meadville
office throughout Crawford County. We
have discussed getting more involved
with activities at the Chamber of
Commerce and working together
with other agencies in the area,
such as The United Way.
I was very excited when Amy
told me that her husband has offered to provide a truck and a
trailer, enabling us to enter into
the Meadville annual Halloween
parade.
I am glad to have Amy with us,
and look forward to working together with her. With her help, I believe
we will take the next step forward!
Crawford County Calendar of Events
TIC: Technology Information Club | LSE: Life Skills Education
July
4 – Independence Day (Agency Closed)
11 – LSE; Republican Room; 10:00 AM
11 – Food Stamp Day
15 – TIC Meeting; Wesbury in the Chapel;
10:00 AM
24 – B. S. with Bob; Republican Room;
10:00 AM
August
7 – LSE; Republican Room; 10:00 AM
12 – Food Stamp Day
19 – TIC Meeting; Wesbury in the Chapel;
10:00 AM
21 – B. S. with Bob; Republican Room;
10:00 AM
10 September
2 - Labor Day (Agency Closed)
4 – LSE; Republican Room; 10:00 AM
12 – Food Stamp Day
16 - TIC Meeting; Wesbury in the Chapel;
10:00 AM
25 – B. S. with Bob; Republican Room;
10:00 AM
Volume
Volume
mmxiiI
mmxii
• issue
issue
3 • 4Summer
Fall
|
Vista
L aw r e n c e
C o u n t y
C o r n e r
eystone
blind association
Lawrence County Office
Our Services
By Lauren Fister
The Keystone Blind Association has been providing services to Lawrence County for over twelve years. In 2012,
Keystone Blind received two new contracts for services in
Lawrence County. We now provide Specialized Services
and Prevention of Blindness Services to the area as well. If
you or anyone you know needs services in Lawrence County, please contact the Keystone Blind Association at the
Lawrence County location. Our services include, but are
not limited to, transportation to medical appointments and
other essential places, talking books, life skills education
and support groups, mail reading, check writing, form
completion, housing advocacy, in-home and community mobility training, assistive devices, rehabilitation education, prevention of blindness programs and education,
vision screenings, assistive technology training, and children and young adult programs. Stop in or give us a call
Monday through Thursday between 7:00am and 4:30pm
to hear more details about our services.
Thank you for supporting Keystone Blind Association in
Lawrence County!
Don’t Miss seeing these artists on August 16!
Visit http://keystoneblind.3dcartstores.com/ to purchase
tickets online, or stop by our office in New Castle, PA!
Morgan
Frazier
Bucky
Covington
Frank
Foster
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Stay up to date with all of our latest events and programs!
www.facebook.com/KBALawrence
@KeystoneBlindLC
Lawrence County Calendar of Events
TIC: Technology Information Club | LSE: Life Skills Education |
KBA LC: Keystone Blind Association Lawrence County
July
9 - TIC Meeting; Crane Room;
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
11 - LSE; “Useful Tips” with Kathy
Buskirk; KBALC
August
13 - TIC Meeting; Crane Room;
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
16 - Country Music Festival; Lawrence
County Fair; 7:00 PM
22 - LSE; “Laughs at Lawrence”;
KBALC; 11:00 AM
Keystone Blind Association
|
September
10 - TIC Meeting; Crane Room;
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
19 - LSE; “Laughs at Lawrence”;
KBALC; 11:00 AM
k e y s t o n e b l i n d . o r g 11
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SHARON, PA
PERMIT #82
eystone
blind association
1230 Stambaugh Avenue
Sharon, PA 16146
The Keystone Blind
Association Mission:
To promote independence for children
and adults who are blind or visually
impaired, to promote eye health and
eye safety, and to promote
employment for all persons
with disabilities.
Proud Member of:
of Mercer and Crawford Counties
K e e p
i n
T o u c h
KBA - Mercer County
1230 Stambaugh Avenue
Sharon, PA 16146
Phone: (724) 347-5501
FAX: (724) 347-2204
Email: [email protected]
KBA - Crawford County
312 Chestnut Street
Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: (814) 333-3121
FAX: (814) 333-3124
Email: [email protected]
KBA - Lawrence County
2304 Wilmington Road
New Castle, PA 16105
Phone: (724) 856-3527
FAX: (724) 856-3291
Email: [email protected]
We’re on the Web!
www.keystoneblind.org
Scan the QR code
into your smart
phone to go to the
KBA website.
(app download
required.)
Let’s Be Social!
12 $ALE
CORNER
Bring this coupon in to the KEY
facility* and get
20% OFF
ANY SINGLE INDUSTRIAL-QUALITY
RAKE, HOE, OR SHOVEL!
Open Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4 PM
981 Division Street • Sharon, PA 16146
Phone: 724-347-3711
*Restrictions may apply, contact store for details.
(Prices good through September 30, 2013. Price does NOT include shipping.)
Volume mmxiiI • issue 3 • Summer
|
Vista