Dale Tate, SaddleBrooke TWO Patrol Captain
Following the success of the 2023 season of the free SaddleBrooke Senior Safety Seminar Series (SSSSS), these educational and entertaining events are returning for a new season of sessions focusing on safety-related topics aimed at our 55+ active retirement community. Coordinated by SaddleBrooke TWO Patrol and SaddleBrooke One’s Safety & Compliance Officer, the discussions in 2023 covered a wide range of topics, including
• Living Safely With Our Desert Wildlife, presented by wildlife authorities Jerry Schudda, Jim Cloer, and Tom Dowell from Catalina State Park with displays and a slide presentation accompanying their advice for avoiding dangerous animals and the “personalities” of the different varieties of local wildlife.
• Scams, Fraud, and Identity Theft, presented by Secret Service Special Agent Laura Backner, U.S Attorney Jonathan Granoff, and Pinal County Sheriff Deputy Sergeant Roderick Harrison. Examples of the various types of malicious means of “phishing” for personal information and stealing your identity, methods of spreading computer viruses and malware, how to protect yourself, and what resources are available to victims.
• Home Fire Safety, presented by the Golder Ranch Fire Department. Excellent presentation about how to prevent and respond to fires in the home, including hands-on demonstrations of the proper use of a fire extinguisher and detection devices, as well as the various services provided to the community.
• Does Your Body Keep You Safe? Presented by Jeannette Pyle, SaddleBrooke TWO director of fitness. Jeannette provided instruction and techniques on movement and exercises to improve balance and personal safety.
• Driving and Traffic Safety, presented by PCSO Traffic Division Deputies Frank Sloup and Stewart Ferrin, Arizona Department of Public Safety Lieutenant Michael Hawkins, and SaddleBrooke TWO Patrol Captain Dale Tate. Local YouTube celebrity Deputy Sloup (Fridays with Frank) and the other presenters discussed statewide, Pinal County, and SaddleBrooke perspectives on traffic safety, the biggest problems they face, and what efforts are in place and in development to get more drivers to obey traffic laws.
• Home Technology to Keep You Safe (What I Want for Christmas), with David Loendorf from Senior Village presenting. A fascinating discussion on the various consumer products and services available on the market to help us be safer in our homes, including door locking and camera systems, security devices, fall detection devices, and other voice-activated, easy-to-use products that Senior Village can consult on and assist with setting up.
The first two 2024 spring sessions continued the success of last season’s topics with a return of the popular presentation on Scams, Fraud, and Identity Theft in January and Pet Safety, by Pinal County Animal Care & Control, SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue Network, the SaddleBrooke Dog Park, and a local veterinarian. Seminars on Pharmaceutical Safety, presented by Brianne Spaeth of Desert Life Pharmacy, will be on March 22, and Aging in Place and Elder Abuse by AZ Administration of Resources and Choices will be on April 26.
All sessions are held in the DesertView Performing Arts Theater from 2 to 4 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month through April. The series will break for the summer months and return in the fall. Watch the SaddleBrooke media (Monday Message, For The Record, The Communicator, video screens, etc.) for more information on these free educational, entertaining, and informative seminars. We look forward to seeing you there!