Council on Aging, November 8, 2018
HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Susan Sullivan, Wayne Howard, Maureen Locke, Faye Ellis,
Stephanie Bacon, Louise Charbonneau, Maureen Buffone.
The Meeting was called to order by Sue Sullivan at 8:00 a.m.
The minutes from the meeting of October 11, 2018 were unanimously approved.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT
Faye Ellis reported the account balances from November 5th as follows:
Commerce Bank $18,299.74
Leominster Credit Union (furnishings acct.) $ 1,856.44
Leominster Credit Union C.D. $26,105.78
LCU Trip Account $ 8,283.75
There will be a follow-up fair meeting next Wednesday to discuss what went well and what did not. Calling seniors for baked goods made a difference this year, as the baked goods took in approximately $800.00. Seven Hundred Forty ($740.00) was made at the raffle table, and other tables did well, also. There was a good crowd, nice comments and different vendors. They even had greeters welcoming people as they entered the building.
Jim McCorkle will be looking into the yearly maintenance of the pool tables.
The Friends website has been lovingly and devotedly maintained by Suzanne Kasparson, who continues to do an outstanding job.
Faye had approximately 15 volunteers helping with the fair this year, whereas in past years, she usually had 5 people.
The Morning Glory Café celebrated its 3 year anniversary on October 19th. The café averages 32 to 40 people each week.
HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT
No representation.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Richard Mansfield
No representation.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Saturday, November 3 … Best of Friends Fair … 9:00-2:00.
Monday, November 5 … Do You Qualify for MassHealth? … 1:00 p.m. Attorney Arthur Bergeron from the firm Mirick O’Connell was here to present an informative talk on “To Qualify for Mass Health.” Following the presentation, there was time for questions and answers. This program was free and open to all.
Tuesday, November 6 … Election Day … No program … Office opened … Vans Run.
Wednesday, November 7 … What’s In Your Food? … 1:00 p.m. … Back by popular demand, Nutritionist Tricia Silverman gave an animated presentation to clarify what is really in your food. While we are all trying to eat in a healthy manner, there may be hidden things in the foods you choose. Tricia brought samples and showed us the significance of items listed on the label, and gave us lots of recipe ideas!
Monday, November 12 … Senior Center Closed in observance of Veterans’ Day
Wednesday, November 14 … Everyone’s Favorite House Plant … 1:00 p.m. … Join us when we proudly host violet specialists Sue Stafford and Joan Russo for a unique program on everyone’s favorite house plant, the African Violet. Both presenters show their violets on the state level and are Advanced Judges of the African Violet Society of America. After the program, there will be time for questions and answers. And yes, you can bring your violet to the show.
Monday, November 19 … Free Legal Clinic … 10:30-12:30 … Attorney Arthur Bergeron from the firm Mirick O’Connell will be offering free 15 minute legal appointments to help answer your legal questions. Appointments are required. No walk-ins.
Monday, November 19 … Harmonica Club Concert … 1:00 p.m. … We have invited the Harmonica Club from the Northborough Senior Center to perform for us. We are pleased to say that they have accepted our request! The group is under the direction of Dan Ginsburg and has been highly recommended to us. Please join us for this fun, first time event. The show is free and open to all. Please call 508-210-5570 to reserve a seat.
Thursday & Friday, November 22 & 23 … Senior Center closed in observance of Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 29 … Book Discussion Group … 10:00 a.m. … The Book Discussion Group will be discussing the book A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
MCOA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Louise and Maureen attended MCOA’s Annual Conference October 24-26 at the Seacrest Resort and Conference Center in North Falmouth. The conference was one of the better ones we’ve attended over the last few years. Notable workshops we found interesting was one on bullying, one about new laws relative to guardianship and adult children moving back with their parents and one that discussed downsizing and the best, easiest and most painless ways to accomplish it.
BUILDING ROOF
We will be having some work done on the roof soon that hopefully will prevent any more leakage in the dining room over the winter. Gary Kaczmarek was up on the roof this week and discovered that the roof is in seriously bad shape – cracks – broken shingles, etc. Once winter passes, we will be replacing the entire roof.
DECEMBER BIG EVENTS
Join the students and staff at Mountview Middle School for their Annual Christmas Breakfast on Thursday, December 6 at 9:00 a.m. at the school, 270 Shrewsbury Street. This event is for HOLDEN ELDERS ONLY! Reservations can be made by calling the Senior Center at 508-210-5570. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL TO MAKE RESERVATIONS! Reservations will be accepted until Wednesday, November 28 or until capacity is reached.
The Wachusett Area Rotary Club will host its Annual Christmas for Elders from the towns of Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling, West Boylston and Boylston on Saturday, December 8 at 8:30 a.m. at The Manor Restaurant in West Boylston. Elders from these towns must call the Holden Senior Center at 508-210-5570 to make a reservation. Reservations will be accepted through Wednesday, December 5 or until capacity is reached.
The Senior Center’s Annual Christmas Party will be held on Monday, December 10 at 12:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. We will enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch offered by Toupin’s Catering. This year our menu will include: Field Green Salad, Yankee Pot Roast, Mashed Red Bliss Potatoes, Whipped Butternut Squash, Rolls, Butter, Cream Puff Sundae, Coffee and Tea. Cost of the lunch will be $20.00/person payable at the time of reservation. Reservations will be accepted through December 5. We hope you’ll join us for a fun afternoon - we even expect a visit from jolly old St. Nick himself.
If you’d like to make reservations for any or all of these events, just leave your name with Maureen and we’ll add you to the reservation list.
NUMBERS FROM OCTOBER
HFD Presentation – 21
Medicare Information – 25
Public Power Luncheon – 95
Halloween Celebration - 20
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
CITIZENS ADDRESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 a.m.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,