Biz leaders back to serve seniors

Offering home safety help 

By Tim Hadac

For the second time this year, three leading businesses serving Clearing and Garfield Ridge are stepping up to serve the community’s elderly residents.

All Exterior Contractors, Mike Riordan State Farm Agency and First Rate Realty—all members of the Midway Chamber of Commerce—are teaming up to offer safety inspections of seniors’ homes, all at no charge.

Starting Dec. 15 and running until Jan. 20, senior citizens who live in the 60638 ZIP code are invited to call the Mike Riordan State Farm office at (773) 586-4448 and schedule a free safety inspection.

Local business leaders Geno Randazzo, Mike Riordan and Al Cacciottolo have teamed up on other community service projects in recent years, including a roof giveaway for military veterans and first responders. –File photo

In each home inspected, workers will ensure that smoke detectors are in place and working; that clean air filters are properly installed, that railings are in place to help seniors with limited mobility, and that clutter does not block exits or impair a person’s ability to move about safely.

They also will change light bulbs, inspect dryer vents; and if the home has no smoke detectors, workers will install them at no cost.

During inspections, seniors are asked to have a friend, relative or neighbor present in the home.

“This is all about safety, and this is the third year that Al, Mike and I–the Trifecta Businessmen–are doing this,” said Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors. “It’s simply a public service from business owners who care about the neighborhood and its seniors.”

Al Cacciottolo of First Rate Realty added, “This is all at no charge. No one will try to sell you anything. This is just something for our local senior citizens—a bit of a helping hand to help them live in their homes independently, for a long time.”

Mike Riordan agreed.

“As a man who has served our community—including senior citizens—for many years, I understand the importance of feeling safe in your own home,” he said. “This initiative is designed to help seniors do exactly that.”

Last spring, the team served several dozen seniors.

“The light bulb in the overhead socket in my garage had been burned out for months, making it a little scary when I’d come home at night,” said one elderly woman in Garfield Ridge. “Years ago, my husband would have climbed a ladder and replaced it. But we’re both a bit old and unsteady these days, so it went undone. Then Geno’s guy came out and put in a new one at no charge…wouldn’t even accept a tip.

“Then he noticed our dryer vent hood had blown off,” she continued. “He got a brand new one and put it on, again at no charge. I’ve lived in Garfield Ridge for 35 years and have never seen anything like this.”