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Wednesday, October 9, 2024

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Hurricane Milton's outer bands reach Florida as millions of residents race to prepare or flee the path; ME 'living shorelines' counter rising sea levels and stronger storms; NC moms speak out on medical neglect in high-risk pregnancies; TN grant program funds early health care career pathways.

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President Biden cancels international travel as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, Arizona's early voting brings a focus on Native votes, SCOTUS considers ghost guns, and Nevada gets ready to decide on a voter ID measure.

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Hurricane Helene has some rural North Carolina towns worried larger communities might get more attention, there's mixed feelings about ranked choice voting on the Oregon ballot next month and New York farmers earn money feeding school kids.

OR Andrus Award winner volunteering for social connections

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Tuesday, October 31, 2023   

A volunteer active in Ashland has been recognized for her service in the community with a prestigious award from AARP Oregon.

Anne Bellegia is the recipient of the 2023 Andrus Award for Community Service. The award is named for AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus. Bellegia said volunteering can play a vital role in the lives of older people.

"When you retire the issue is how to find identity, meaning and purpose if your work roles are no longer there, and I think that's something that people don't anticipate about retirement," Bellegia explained. "Definitely social connections are a big motivation for me in volunteering."

Bellegia is a founding member of the Ashland Senior Advisory Committee. She also co-chairs the Livable Ashland Alliance and volunteers with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Southern Oregon University.

Bellegia noted she was surprised to hear she was the award's recipient this year.

"It's sort of like getting an award, I don't know, for eating ice cream," Bellegia joked. "It's so inherently rewarding that external affirmation is not really a driver for me."

Oregon ranks third in the nation for its volunteering rates, according to AmeriCorps, with a rate of more than 43%.

Disclosure: AARP Oregon contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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