Watch Your Step

by Jim Breen

Issues/Opinions Editor

Last week, a troubled resident hurried into The News office clutching page 2 of the June 23 issue of paper and bellowed:

“That’s what happened to me!”

She was referring to the Watch Your Step column (June 23) about how Susan Shaver survived an email message that froze her computer before experts cleared it.

This second, more recent incident was quite similar.

While scrolling through Wikipedia, a message flashed onto her screen to call an 800-number right away or her computer will crash.”

The LW woman, who preferred that her name not be anonymity, so she complied and paid $270 on her credit card.

However the cyberthief slipped up and lost his “steal”by asking her to call the bank to make sure that it cleared.

“That’s when I realized it was a scam,”she said.

So the woman unplugged her computer, bought a new one (“I need a replacement anyway”) and cancelled her credit card fast enough to avoid the $270 charge.

It was a fitting reminder to others who have unknowingly paid scam money with their credit cards: Report it immediately.

Although she avoided trouble, the incident took an emotional

Legion Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary will host a collection of school supplies for children in need, at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, at the Amphitheater.

Residents and their family members are requested to bring supplies to the tables outside the Amphitheater.  

Items needed are pens, pencils, boxes of 24 crayons, glue sticks, erasers, rulers, notebook paper, spiral notebooks and composition notebooks.Cash donations will also be accepted.   

The supplies will benefit children at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach, Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos and the homeless and low income veterans attending Golden West College.

All of the Auxiliary ’s service is done in the local communities.

Open Forum

The Open Forum will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, in Clubhouse 3, Room 7.

Mark Barnett, club president, and his wife, Lorna Barnett, will portray Socrates and priestess Diotim.

As Socrates, Mark Barnett will discuss how Greek heritage has shaped and how the democracies and republics of contemporary civilization were formed.

Handouts will be provided.

As Diotim, Socrates’ teacher and mentor, Lorna Barnett will discuss the ancient mystery schools of Babylon, Egypt, and Greece.  

Meetings are held at 10- a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month in Clubhouse 3, Room 7.

Everyone is welcome, there are no membership fees or dues.

Refreshments will be provided.

The Open Forum presents educational topics to the Leisure World community.

For more information, call the Barnetts at 430-2435.

American Legion

American Legion Post 327 will hold a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m.on Saturday, Aug. 20, in Clubhouse 2.

Pancakes and sausage or biscuits and gravy with sausage will be served. Tickets are $5 each.

The purpose of the event is to raise funds for needy veterans and their families.Food will be donated by Fantastic Cafe in Westminster.

Tickets are available by calling Lee Esslinger at 430-2891. They will also be sold at the door.

Children A Priority

Children-A-Priority (CAP) will meet at noon on Thursday, Aug. 4, in Clubhouse 4.  A hot catered lunch will be served, followed by a guest speaker afterwards. 

CAP is dedicated to helping the youth of tomorrow by raising funds for several worthwhile organizations. 

For reservations, call Maria Swift at 493-1924.