Senior Center News and Activities for September and October
From Linda Sottile, Assistant Director
Thank You and Goodbye, From Assistant Director, Linda Sottile
Thank you to everyone that I have met over the past five years. It is hard to say goodbye, but we are now settled into our new home in South Carolina and it is time for someone else to fill the seat that myself and many others have sat in before. I wish things were different, and we could say goodbye in person, but as part of the challenges of 2020, that is not possible, so please understand that I will miss you all and I hope to see you soon.
I have made so many new friends and look forward to continuing our friendships throughout the years. I will miss the daily visitors at my door and the daily visits I would make to the programs, computer room, reception area, and dining room. I will miss the phone calls and emails every day from people asking questions or just calling to say hello. I will miss cooking the lunches every Thursday and using the fresh produce and herbs from the garden in the backyard that the amazing volunteers plant and care for all year. I will miss the laughter and the tears shared with so many wonderful people. Let’s just face it I will miss it ALL!!
Now for the good part of this journey, we have moved into a home that backs up to a lagoon in South Carolina. We have at least 3 new pets, a young neighbor named the largest one Gary, but still looking for names for the other two, they are a little smaller, but they are still alligators!! Let’s just say the first thing we did was put up a fence to keep the kids and dogs safe. One of our daughters and her family live here and are actually moving closer so we see our grandchildren almost every day, which is wonderful to see the twins who are almost 5 years old and our newest granddaughter is 5 months old! We are only about 30 minutes from the beaches at Hilton Head Island or from the City of Savannah, so there is no shortage of things to do. Next step will be for us to each find jobs. It will be very difficult for me to find something with the love I have had from this job, and I know that the person that fills my position will also feel that acceptance and love that I have felt for the past 5 years.
I will miss you all and I hope that you stay in touch, I will leave my email with the Receptionist so feel free to reach out! Thank you for your acceptance and friendship, I will miss you all.
Lots of Love and Respect, Linda S
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SOCIALLY DISTANCED EVENTS TO ENJOY
(Please remember to wear your masks when within 6 feet of another individual)
Concert in your Car
(Along with a Boxed Meal)
“Jumpin’ Juba”
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 5:00 pm
(Rain Date of September 24th)
Come enjoy a boxed meal along with a fun concert from your car. There will be a limit of 40 people allowed to attend, so please reserve your space for each person in your vehicle.
Donation of $5.00 will need to be paid in advance for each person attending the concert.
Reserve your meal and parking spot now by calling the Senior Center at (508) 429-0622
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Drive-By Halloween
Cookout & Senior Trick or Treating
Tuesday, October 27, 2020; 11:30 am—1:00 pm
(Rain Date of October 29th)
By Reservation Only
Each participant will be given a time to pick up their food and treats to take home with them.
Donation of $5.00 will need to be paid in advance for each person.
Reserve your spot now by calling the Senior Center at (508) 429-0622
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**** NEW PROGRAM ****
SINGING FOR WELL BEING
Second and Fourth Thursday at 10:30 am; September 10th and 24th, and October 8th and 22nd
Improve your overall health in these fun and easy, stress-free singing sessions. These one-hour sessions will include:
- Tips for better breathing
- Learning relaxing mindful meditations
- Easy body warm-ups (seated or standing)
- Singing songs from around the world together
- All in the comfort of your own home on Zoom!
Meet new friends and have fun while improving your posture, breathing, relaxation and overall mental health and well-being!
Kris Adams has been teaching music and taking yoga for over 25 years and is a certified Singing for Lung Health facilitator.
Beginning September 10th (the first class is free) continuing each month. The suggested donation is $4.00 per class and payments will be made to the SSF.
Please call the Senior Center at (508) 429-0622 to sign up and make arrangements for payment. We will need to provide Kris with your name, phone number, and email for her to include you in her Zoom classes.
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Senior Support Foundation’s
“Outside Holiday Yard Sale”
Saturday, October 17, 2020, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
(rain date October 24, 2020)
Come get your Fall, Halloween and Christmas decorations.
Social distancing Rules Apply and Face Masks Will be Required.
(Event may be changed or canceled due to restrictions from Covid-19)
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Book Club
We welcome you to join us on the second Friday of the month at 1:30 pm to enjoy some interesting titles. In September, we will discuss “One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd”” by Jim Fergus. In October, we will discuss “Climate Justice” by Mary Robinson, and “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin.
The Holliston Public Library can help you get books for the meetings and will be available for curbside pickup. Call the Library with any questions (508) 429-0617.
Please sign up at the Senior Center (508) 429-0622 to be added to the Zoom meeting. Conference call is also an option for those who do not have internet/camera access.
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Massachusetts Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
We are again this year offering discount coupons to local Farmers’ Markets to qualifying seniors. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of Massachusetts and sponsored by Bay Path Elder Services. The coupons are good until October 31st. Please call Marty if you think you might be able to take advantage of this program
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Grief and Loss Support Group
Second Tuesday of the month; September 15 and October 13th; 1:00 to 2:00 PM
“At every milestone, there will be gratitude and grief in equal measure. Even as we recover, we will also see what has been lost. Allow gratitude and grief to reside in your heart together.” Angela Blanchard
If you have experienced grief and loss and would like to join us in community, friendship and support please join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. We’re going “Zoom”!!! So if you are interested and have access to a computer and the internet please call and register with our receptionist to get the Zoom invite.
Feel free to call Marty with any questions you might have regarding the group.
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Legal Hour with Attorney Jay Marsden
Helping clients plan and secure their legacy for future generations.
Attorney Jay Marsden continues to meet with individuals for a complimentary 30-minute consultation. This meeting will be done via Zoom or telephone on the 2nd Tuesday of each month between 10:00 am and noon.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Jay, please call the Senior Center at (508) 429-0622 to sign up for your personal consultation.
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Legal Advice with Attorney Bergeron
Attorney Bergeron will continue to offer a free 15-minute legal advice through the Senior Center on the 4th Monday of the month from 10 am – 12 pm.
You have the option of either talking with him over the phone or virtually using Zoom video conference.
Call the Senior Center at (508) 429-0622 to sign up for your 15-minute meeting with Attorney Bergeron to discuss legal questions or concerns.
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Holliston Public Library
Finally, some GOOD NEWS! Holliston Public Library is open to the public! Hours are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 am—6:00 pm, Wednesday: 10:00 am—8:00 pm and Saturday: 10:00 am—4:00 pm until. We still offer curbside pickup for those who would prefer it. Order as you normally would (delivery is still on the slower side) and give us a call when you get notification of your items being ready to ask for curbside pickup. And if you are staying at home these days, call us at (508) 429-0617 and we will arrange a porch-side delivery, thanks to our awesome volunteers!
In addition, we offer e-books and downloadable audiobooks through Libby and Hoopla. If you haven’t tried them already, we recommend their collections, available with your library card. We are happy to help, so come in with your device or give us a call with questions. Libby has the latest bestsellers, but you may have a wait to start reading. Hoopla is ideal for beginners: its eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, movies, TV, and music are always available, no waitlists, through the Hoopla app, see our website hollistonlibrary.org for details. Currently we are offering 6 downloads per person per month.
Let us know if you have questions about the library’s services by emailing tpage@minlib.net, we are happy to help!
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SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone…on Medicare)
Medicare Open Enrollment!
SHINE is still available to help – by phone! It’s that time of year again! If you are enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO/ PPO), you should be mailed an information packet from your plan by the end of September. It is important to understand and save this information because it explains the changes in your plan for 2021. Premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and the drugs covered by your plan can change significantly!
Trained SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone…on Medicare) volunteers offer free, confidential counseling on Medicare options. Call soon to schedule your phone appointment for any time from October 15th through December 7th.
To schedule a phone appointment with SHINE Counselor, Pegg Rowe, please call the Senior Center at (508) 429-0622.
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Homemade Face Masks
Special shout out to Carolyn, Diane, Martha, Bea and Pooja and friends for the donations of the beautiful handmade facemasks!!! We have been so appreciative and because of their generosity and talent we have been able to outfit a number of Holliston Seniors with reusable, washable face masks. We still have a few left here at the Center so if you are in need of one, please feel free to call Marty at the Center.
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Fuel Assistance
Applications for Fuel Assistance are on the way. This program runs through April 30, 2021 and is available for both homeowners and renters. We, here at the Senior Center, can assist any resident of Holliston (regardless of age) with this application.
If you think you might qualify, need more information, or to set up an appointment, please call Marty Schneier at (508) 429-0622.
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