Senior crowd welcomes season at MaineStreamers Swing into Spring

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Maine Township MaineStreamers signature event Swing into Spring Senior Expo is an annual production of the MaineStreamers. Staff and volunteers shown here from left are: Therese Tully, Assistant Director; Peggy and Ed Brizzolara, volunteers; and Marie Dachniwsky, Director.

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The Advocate Lutheran General team was on hand at Maine Township Maine Streamers Swing into Spring Senior Expo April 20, at Golf Mill Shopping Center.

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Maine Township elected officials Peter Gialamas, Clerk; Susan Moylan Krey, Assessor; Laura Morask, Supervisor; Walter Kazmierczak, Highway Commissioner; and Kimberly Jones, Trustee, welcomed the opportunity to greet seniors who attended the 12th Annual Maine Township MaineStreamers Swing into Spring Senior Expo April 20.

Just like a county fair, people count on the return of Swing into Spring Senior Expo as a harbinger of the season and this year was no exception. The 12th Annual Maine Township MaineStreamers Swing into Spring Senior Expo drew one of the largest crowds ever to Golf Mill Shopping Center April 20 and was a hit with attendees and exhibitors alike.

Lil Hutchins who has attended every expo since the event came to Golf Mill in 2006 says, “I came to play Bingo and of course to see Vito Zatto. He’s great. I love MaineStreamers and all the activities the organization provides.”

Gwynne Chovanec, Director of Older Adult Services and Senior Advocate—Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, says that she wouldn’t miss this outstanding senior expo which is one of the best. “It gives us a chance to connect with the folks that we need to reach.”

According to Nancy Arnold, Director of Business Development for Brookdale Senior Living, hundreds of seniors visited the Brookdale table. “We are in the process of scheduling follow up visits with multiple people who were interested in more information about Brookdale Niles and Brookdale Des Plaines,” she said. “Brookdale will gladly participate next year.”

Other exhibitors echo that feeling. For example, Richard Glover, Director of the Reverse Mortgage Division of American Fidelity Mortgage Services, looked forward to meeting seniors and helping them understand how to leverage their home equity with a reverse mortgage that could give them a better quality of life. Andrew Wayda, a physical therapist with Athletico in Des Plaines, and Shawn Abraham, a physical therapist with Athletico in Park Ridge, were on hand to talk to seniors about how physical therapy can address chronic pain or help with recovery from an injury or surgery.

Many more seniors were able to visit the Illinois Secretary of State Mobile Driver Services Facility which was on hand for renewal, replacement and corrections to driver’s license/state identification cards, vision screening with a driver’s license renewal, vehicle sticker sales, motor voter registration and organ/tissue donor information and registration.

Entertainment, health screenings and dozens of exhibiting organizations and companies, highlighted the day that featured Vito Zatto in his high-energy Las Vegas-style nightclub show. Early Bird Bingo, Get Up and Go Stretches with Athletico, magician Marco the Magnificent, a MaineStreamers Zumba Gold demonstration and raffles throughout the day rounded out the action.

“Our expo continues to be a signature event with our Maine Township senior population," said Township Supervisor Laura J. Morask who also sponsored the popular Early Bird Bingo. “And this year was no exception.”

Designed to link seniors who need services with vendors who provide them, the expo was sponsored by Maine Township, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, The Journal & Topics Newspapers, Senior News 50 and Better, Suburban Resource Guide for Seniors and Parkway Bank.

The Senior Expo may welcome spring, but that is just one activity that is part of MaineStreamers broad array of educational programs and recreational activities that enhance the quality of life for Maine Township residents 55 years of age and older. For more information about Maine Township and its MaineStreamers department, call 847-297-2510 or visit the Maine Township website at www.mainetownship.com.