The Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP) is very busy these days. Marie Graver was appointed the new Administrator recently; she had been acting administrator for months during Bob Smith’s tragic last illness. She had been Assistant Administrator since 2000 and has logged in 9,500 hours since she joined RSVP almost 10 years ago. Marie says she has "some big boots to fill" and has been working daily to accomplish that. She thoroughly enjoys working with the men and women in light blue.

Give her a call if you want to know more about RSVP and/or the YANA Program ("You Are Not Alone.") Perhaps a ride-a-long could be arranged.

Marie says that more volunteers are needed, both in the office and as RSVP members. Call 538-8146 for more information.

Recently, Dick Hooper was promoted. He joins Jim Artherton and Richard Van Overmeiren in the job of Assistant Administrator.

"Stars" were given out at the recent RB RSVP monthly lunch meeting; each star represents one year of volunteer service and is added to a member’s nametag.

ELEVEN stars were given to members Virgil Calhoon, Roy Christensen, Stan Gingold and Richard Van Overmeiren;

EIGHT stars were presented to Lola Bellinger, Art Handell, Norm Gillespie, Bob Owens and Bob Steinhauser;

Jim Baker and Jack Loos received new nametags with FIVE stars;

FOUR stars were presented to Mary Herman;

New nametags with THREE stars were given to Garry Butterfield, Bob DeRenzy, Dick Hooper and Jim Lampasso;

A TWO star nametag was presented to Bob Hohberg;

David Cohen received a new nametag with ONE star;

Official RB nametags were presented to the three members who graduated from the RSVP Academy on February 5: Al Estabrook, Pete Lipe and R.J. Rochefort.

At the meeting, Officer Paul Lennon mentioned there was a series of crimes related to open garage doors recently. People accidentally leave their garage doors open which makes it very easy for the bad guys to walk right in and take anything from an unlocked car, such as purses, cell phones and the like. Or load up the car with your garage goodies and drive off. If a purse was left in the car, the keys to the car were probably there, too.

HOWEVER, a remarkable new product is on the market now for all you distracted and busy people who forget to close your garage doors - it’s easy – no real installation; it’s wireless and inexpensive. A clever friend of mine remembered seeing something like this when I told her I accidentally left my garage door open all night – AGAIN. It’s a Craftsman (a Sears brand), and it’s called Wireless Garage Door Monitor. It’s small, unobtrusive and really works. It has two lights – green and blinking red (if the door is open). You can place the very small receiver in any room in your house. Only $25.00. I think we will see far fewer crimes when we all purchase this, a brilliant answer to garage thefts. Can be purchased at Sears in the Mall or Online at sears.com/ It also works on more than one garage door. Check it out for your own safety