Council on Aging, June 2, 2016
HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Susan Sullivan, Faye Ellis, Wayne Howard, Eric Johansen, Rebecca Tornblom,
Louise Charbonneau, Maureen Buffone.
Non-Members: Rita Brennan Olson.
The Meeting was called to order by Sue Sullivan at 8:00 a.m.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT
Faye reported the June 1 account balances as follows:
Commerce Bank $14,325.15
Leominster Credit Union (furnishings acct.) $2,542.69
Leominster Credit Union C.D. $24,061.45
LCU Trip Account $5,046.34
The C.D. will be rolled over at Leominster Credit Union, as there are no better interest rates available.
There were about 55 people who attended the Friends’ 35th anniversary party held on May 15th. Maureen Locke gave the report that Sue Sullivan put together. Chuck Skillings put on a really good slide show and did a great job on that. Citations from Representative Kimberly Ferguson and Senator Harriette Chandler were presented. The 275th Anniversary Committee had a table with T-shirts and sweatshirts. All in all, it was a nice day.
The pen pal party took place yesterday at the senior center. The kids came in and did their presentation, they played their recorders, and played “Top It” with the seniors at the tables. It went well with not having food. There were 88 students from 4 classes. The Friends paid for ½ of the bus.
HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT - Jim Robinson
No representation. No report.
Sue asked Louise to forward any updated financial report that she may receive from Jim.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Richard Mansfield
No representation. No report. Rick had an emergency and could not stay for the meeting.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
JUNE PROGRAMS
Monday, June 1 … 9:30 … Pen Pal Party The children arrived by bus. We thank the Friends of HCOA for sponsoring the bus. The program with the children ran 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For any seniors who wished to arrive early, coffee and donuts were available at 8:30 a.m. All food was cleaned up promptly at 9:15 a.m. because of the new ruling by the School Committee that no food will be served at events such as these.
Monday, June 13 … 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. … Free Legal Advice
Attorney Arthur Bergeron from the firm of Mirick O’Connell will be here offering free legal advice.
APPOINTMENTS ARE MANDATORY.
Monday, June 13 … 1:00 … Two Old Friends Concert … Back by popular demand, Emery Hutchins and James Prendergast are among our most popular guests. These two lively performers will offer a terrific program of Celtic music, folk songs and ballads using at least 10 different instruments, including guitar, fiddle, concertina, mandolin, drums, tin whistle and others. Not to be missed! The concert is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.
Wednesday, June 15 … 12:00 … Homemade Lunch & Presentation with HFD
Our favorite chefs from the Holden Professional Firefighters will be sponsoring a homemade spaghetti and meatball lunch FOR HOLDEN ELDERS ONLY. After lunch will be a presentation on fire safety. Materials and staffing for the presentation are provided through a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Fire Safety. Firefighters and Paramedics will be here after lunch to answer questions. If you are wondering about your smoke or CO detector, fire extinguisher or other home situation this is your opportunity to ask our local professionals.
Thursday, June 16..10:00- Book Discussion Group will meet to discuss the book The Blackhouse by Peter May.
NEW CHAIRS
The light gray chairs which were purchased at the time of the original fundraising to furnish the building have started to give way. We have had 3 break while people were seated in them in as many months. We will be purchasing 57 new chairs to replace these, as it is a safety issue. Louise will more than likely fund 8 more of them in next year’s Formula Grant.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Mon., July 11 - Nutritionist Tricia Silverman talking about optimizing your health
Wed., July 13 – Home Cooked Lunch
Mon., July 18 – Wachusett Community Band Concert
Mon., Aug. 8 – Zentangle
Thurs., Aug. 18 – Annual Cookout
Mon., Aug. 22 – Frank Sinatra Program w/Bill Sbrogna
NUMBERS FROM MAY
Legal Presentation w/Atty. Bergeron – 51
Rusty Guertin Concert and Ice Cream Social – 42
The Haverston Mills Town Meeting Comedy Play – 40
Powerful Tools for Caregivers – 90 (15 participants over 6 weeks)
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
CITIZENS ADDRESS
Rita asked again about the needs assessment. She was glad to hear that it will be addressed again in September. Rita recognized Clare’s hard work on the pen pal party. She said Wachusett has a very strong allergy policy.
Rebecca Tornblom commented that the Memorial Day celebration was superb. There seemed to be many more people this year. A lot of people walked with the parade.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 a.m. Sue wished the board a nice summer.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone