Council on Aging, June 7, 2018
COUNCIL ON AGING
Louise Charbonneau, Director
HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Susan Sullivan, Faye Ellis, Wayne Howard, Maureen Locke, Rick Mansfield,
Rebecca Tornblom, Stephanie Bacon, Louise Charbonneau, Maureen Buffone.
The Meeting was called to order by Sue Sullivan at 8:15 a.m.
The minutes from the meeting of May 10, 2018 were unanimously approved.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT
Faye reported the account balances as follows:
Commerce Bank $17,793.18
Leominster Credit Union (furnishings acct.) $ 2,894.00
Leominster Credit Union C.D. $24,206.46
LCU Trip Account $ 7,642.75
Faye reported that the Friends met last Monday. The invoice for the Senior Prom was $676.50. Cindy Stark will be sending bills to the other towns asking them to pay their share of the cost. The Fair Committee will meet on Monday, June 11. The Friends’ website is up and running. Thanks go to Wayne Howard and his daughter, Suzanne Kasparson, for making this happen. The Friends are seeking a volunteer to photograph events for posting on the website and a web administrator to oversee the website.
The Pen Pal party will be here on Wednesday, June 13 at 1:30 p.m. The Friends paid for the buses to bring the children here to the Senior Center.
Two avenues of revenue that are in jeopardy are the cart and Holden Days yard sale. Cindy Stark is going to try to get someone to help with the Holden Days event. Louise suggested looking over the membership list and calling some members to help. Last year the yard sale brought in $300.00. A volunteer is being sought to take over the gift cart duties.
The Friends Board voted to give Clare $1000 for programs. This was done the last couple of years and it seems to work out well. If she requires more funding, she can come back to the Board and request it.
The Friends will be meeting again on Monday, September 10th at 9:00 a.m.
HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT
With the departure of Jim Robinson, the Board will need to determine a way to get financial reports. At this time, we don’t know who will be elected Treasurer of Help at H.O.M.E. Their next meeting is set for March. Louise will ask Jim to forward the forms he uses to give us his reports. The Sub-Committee has had several calls. One is to build a ramp for a handicapped child. Sue contacted the school department relative to informing Holden school nurses/parents about Help at H.O.M.E. The Administrative Assistant suggested putting a link on the school’s webpages.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Richard Mansfield
Rick Mansfield offered an informative synopsis of the last Elder Services Board Meeting. One area in particular that he covered was the HUD Colony Apartments Supportive Demonstration Project. This housing with services demonstration for low-income elderly to test models that demonstrate the potential to delay or avoid the need for nursing home care and expected to produce evidence regarding the impact of housing with services model on aging in place.
ESWA hired three Resident Wellness Directors for Colony I, II and IV. Colony I and II have 36 participants enrolled and 52 on a waiting list. Colony IV has 18 participants with 18 on a waiting list.
Rebecca Tornblom reported on a “power struggle” going on at Checkerberry Village which is overseen by the Holden Housing Authority. They should have a policy on bullying. The concern is that this can become a health and safety concern for the residents. Rick offered to call Protective Services to let them know what is going on.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
JUNE EVENTS
Monday, June 4 …1:00 p.m. … Medicare Fraud-Don’t Be a Victim … Healthcare errors cost consumers & Medicare billions of dollars annually! Join us at this free workshop when a representative of the MA Senior Medicare Patrol Program provides us with tools to become better educated and engaged health care consumers to help protect ourselves and our loved ones from Medicare fraud and deceptive marketing tactics.
Saturday, June 9 … Tea Time … 2:30-3:30 p.m. Grandparents bring your grandchildren for dessert and tea compliments of Girl Scout Ambassador Troop 30234 at the Holden Senior Center. We would love you to bring your favorite cup and saucer! No worries if you don’t have one, we will have one for you! RSVP needed by Wednesday, June 6th. Please call 508-829-9768 to reserve your place.
Monday, June 11 … 10:30-12:30 … Free Legal Clinic … Attorney Arthur Bergeron from the firm Mirick O’Connell will to offer free 15 minute appointments to answer your legal questions. Appointments are required. No walk-ins. To schedule your appointment, please call 508-210-5570.
Monday, June 11 … 1:00 p.m. … Arizona: Life in the Desert … Join us as you travel to Arizona right from the comfort of your chair! Gail Hansche Godin, an award winning photographer from the Audubon Society, will present this photographic presentation. Gail will show us the dramatic beauty of the desert landscape. See the strange animals and birds that only live in the desert. View the very unique plants that live with very little water. The program is free and open to all. Call 508-210-5570 to reserve your seat.
Wednesday, June 13 … 1:30 p.m. … Pen Pal Farewell … Our end of the year Pen Pal party will be held here at the Senior Center. Buses will bring the children here. Please come early or car pool with a friend as parking will be at a premium. Please, no refreshments per order of the school department. We will be giving each child a gift, so please refrain from bringing one. We’d like to thank the Friends of the Holden Council on Aging for providing the gifts and sponsoring the transportation for the children.
Wednesday, June 20 … 12:00 p.m. … Father’s Day Home-Cooked Lunch … Join us as we celebrate Dad’s with a home cooked meal. The menu will be grilled chicken quarters, baked potatoes, vegetable, with pie and ice cream for dessert. The gentlemen will be our guests and we are asking the ladies to pay $4.00. Reservations are a must & can be made by calling 508-210-5570. Seating is limited.
Thursday, June 21 … 10:00 a.m. … Book Discussion Group … The book discussion group will be reading The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
Thursday, June 21 … 12:00 p.m. … Hot Dog Bar … By popular demand, Sue is bringing back the infamous hot dog bar! Join us for a plump and juicy hot dog, a side, milk and dessert. Some of the toppings to choose from will be: chili; onions; sauerkraut; relish; shredded cheese; mustard, and ketchup. Reservations will be accepted through 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19 or until we reach capacity. Make your reservation by calling Sue at 508-210-5578 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
SCHEDULED SUMMER PROGRAMS
Here are some programs Clare has planned for July and August:
Monday, July 16 … 1:00 p.m. … Broadway Tunes with Dawn and Dick Kelly
Monday, July 30 … 1:00 p.m. … Wachusett Community Band Concert
Monday, August 6 … 1:00 p.m. … Steel Band Concert
Monday, August 13 … 1:00 p.m. … Rusty Guertin concert/Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, August 15 … 12:00 p.m. … Annual Senior Center Cookout
Monday, August 20 … 1:00 p.m. … Zentangle Class with Mary Shepherd
Monday, August 27 … 1:00 p.m. … Bill Sbrogna Concert
NUMBERS FROM MAY
Chocolate and Tea – 18
Two Old Friends Concert – 29
Who Was Bunny Mellon - 28
On behalf of the Staff, I wish you all a happy, safe and fun-filled summer.
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 6 at 8:00 a.m.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Rebecca Tornblom volunteered to be the Co-Chair of the Master Plan Committee. They are meeting tonight. Stephanie Bacon reported that that committee had met on Tuesday night.
CITIZENS ADDRESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone