Hebrew Home gets new spokesperson

RiverSpring Living, home of the iconic Hebrew Home at Riverdale, has named a new vice president of communications. Laura E. Wilker, a 25-year communications and marketing veteran, replaces Wendy Steinberg, who has left for a similar position at Baruch College.

Wilker most recently served as head of communications at Success Academy Charter School, where she led a team of integrated communications programs to inform, engage and inspire internal and external constituents.

“We’re delighted to have Laura join RiverSpring,” said Daniel Reingold, president and chief executive. “She has broad and deep experience across communications and marketing, exceptional leadership skills and passion for helping people live their lives to the fullest.

“These will be integral to our success as we leverage our 100+ year legacy.”

Wilker has worked in a variety of agency and in-house roles, with organizations ranging from global financial services companies to small technology start-ups and not-for-profits.

“Joining the RiverSpring team is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” Wilker said. “I am thrilled to work with such a dedicated and innovative team and contribute to the mission of providing the highest quality of care to older New Yorkers.”

How to find gel
pens for checks

It was brought to our attention that the story last week on “check washing” did not include a description of gel pens and where to buy them.

After a quick Google search, we have found several places to purchase the gel pens online. As the story said, experts say using black gel pens can thwart would-be forgers from washing a check to erase the payee’s name and amount to replace it with their own name and a much higher amount. The theory says gel pens, which have thicker ink than a normal ballpoint, cannot be erased because the ink can permeate the check’s paper.

As for where to purchase the low-cost gel pens, a Google search showed they can be purchased through Amazon, Staples, Walmart and other similar retailers.