2615 Portland Rd NE • Salem, OR 97301 • 503-588-6303 www.cityofsalem.net/center50
JULY 2020
Highland Ave. NE
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Pine St. NE
2615 Portland Rd NE
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CITY OF SALEM AT YOUR SERVICE The Salem Fire Department is always looking for innovative and efficient ways to improve our service. We have researched, vetted, and selected Community Connect to be our crowd-sourced solution that allows Salem residents to share critical information with first responders about your household and voluntarily self-report COVID-19 information even if you are asymptomatic or tested negative. It is important to let first responders know your situation. Community Connect allows residents to include information about a high-risk family member or anyone in the household that has access or functional needs. Participants can also include any other information they feel is important for Salem Fire Department to assist them as we respond to
an emergency at your residence. A first responder’s responsibility is to ensure you and everything you care about is protected to the best of our ability. Data that you provide Salem Fire through Community Connect is 100% secure and is only used for the purpose of better serving you during emergency. Your information is never shared for any other purpose. As your Fire Chief, I am committed to our community’s safety and risk reduction. I thank you for supporting the Salem Fire Department Mission and your efforts in being better prepared for emergencies. Fire Chief Mike Niblock Link for registration https://www.communityconnect.io/info/or-salem
LEGAL MATTERS We are OPEN - phone & video conference appointments available! Visit us on the web: www.mcginty-belcher.com
McGinty, Belcher & HaMilton, attorneys, P.c. 694 High St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
503-371-9636 MEMBER - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.™
Q
It is hard to believe we have been closed since March 16th due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. While it has been an extremely challenging time for all of us individually and our community as a whole, is feeling the strains of loss and uncertainty, we have also seen an amazing amount of support for one another. Volunteers have worked tirelessly to make sure seniors received groceries, a friendly reassurance call, or a weekly personal note. Staff have continued to navigate the virtual world and have taken on the task of offering on-line courses, daily fitness demos, fitness challenges, and phone call Bingo. People have rallied to help one another and to help their neighbors. I continue to be in awe of the love people have for one another. Some of our patrons and staff have been trying to look for the positive in this challenging time. Some used the extra time at home to try a new hobby, or spend time reading to their grandchildren, mastering their gardening skills, baking, painting, cleaning, remodeling and more. This edition is dedicated to all the cool things people have managed to do during quarantine. I hope you find their stories and pictures enjoyable-I know I did. While it is so awesome the amazing things some of us were able to accomplish, we cannot forget those that did not have the physical, emotional, or financial means to turn this time of isolation into a positive. We have those that rely on Center 50+ for their socialization, their health and fitness, and even their daily hot meal. For them this has been a trying and difficult time. Although we have worked to let them know they are not forgotten, our outreach to them falls short to their heart’s desires--to be back together creating community, finding support from their peers, and receiving the hugs and closeness that comes from sharing a common interest and shared space. We want you to know we feel the same- we miss you and look forward to seeing you soon. We do not have a definitive opening date. The operational and programmatic changes caused by the pandemic require us to plan properly for our opening. We look forward to a smooth, well-executed roll-out plan. We will open when health authorities feel it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we are working on a schedule and room designs to insure proper physical distancing, we are implementing even higher cleanliness standards and frequency and are finalizing health and safety practices and proper signage for all staff, volunteers, and patrons to follow. We know that things will look a little different when you return but, we also know that our purpose remains the same--to provide a gathering place or virtual connections for older adults to socialize, continue to learn and explore personal enrichment and hobbies, remain connected to the community, volunteer, and make health and wellness a priority. Even after we open, we will practice physical distancing, but we will be doing it TOGETHER! We all look forward to that day. Until we see you again please keep connected to us and to one another. Sincerely, Marilyn Daily-Blair, Director
WE ANSWER THE QUESTION:
uestion: “Mom died a few months ago. Prior to her death she was living in an assisted living facility. Dad died two years ago. My sister and I are the only heirs. Mom’s Will says that the estate is left to my sister and me in equal shares. There is no house, just a few bank accounts and an investment account. My sister and I are having a hard time getting the investment company to turn over the funds. We have sent them the Will that says I am in charge of mom’s estate, but they keep asking for Letters Testamentary. What is this? Shouldn’t the Will be enough?”
A
nswer: ”Letters Testamentary” is a certificate from the county clerk which states that your mother’s Will has been admitted to probate, that the person to whom the Letters Testamentary is issued to is the person nominated in the Will as personal representative or is otherwise the official personal representative of the estate, and that the appointment carries with it full legal force and effect. Letters Testamentary usually bear the signature of the Probate Commissioner and the seal of the county issuing the Letters Testamentary. Probate of your mother’s Will is the only way to obtain Letters Testamentary. Once you receive these Letters, you are authorized and
required to fulfill your duties as personal representative of the decedent’s estate. These Letters authorize you to deal with all the facets of the estate, paying creditors’ claims, transferring bank accounts, and, in this case, receive the investment account proceeds from the investment company. It is unlikely that you will be able to convince the investment company to release the investment account proceeds without the Letters Testamentary. The investment company won’t release the funds because they do not want liability for paying the funds to the wrong person. They ask for Letters Testamentary to protect themselves, to insure that the Will you have presented is valid, and that you are the person legally entitled to receive the funds. Only after you have gone through the probate process and administered your mother’s estate according to Oregon law, will you be able to distribute your mother’s remaining assets between you and your sister. The probate process can be complicated and I would suggest that you contact an attorney to assist you with the administration of this probate. For more information or to update your estate planning documents, call Kathy Belcher or Christopher Hamilton at 503-371-9636.