The April meeting of the Council on Aging (CoA) was held in the mostly refurbished Holliston Senior Center Great Room on Wednesday the 14^th.

Retiring Director Linda Marshall worked closely with Emergency Management Director, Chief Michael Cassidy to confirm the room could hold up to twenty people and stay within State and local COVID limits.  Linda effusively praised Cassidy for his assistance / guidance to the Senior Center throughout the pandemic saying, “Chief Cassidy has been my guiding star through this time.”

Tables and chairs were arranged to always maintain safe distances.  The seats were quickly filled by the Council members and Sr. Ctr. Staff.

Here’s what it looked like when the meeting began.  The arrangement required a loud and clearly enunciated voice to reach all the participants.

The primary focus of the meeting was to welcome the new Senior Center Director, Lisa Borchetta (right above).  Lisa assumed her new role on April 5^th following Linda Marshall’s retirement at the end of March.  This was a symbolic ‘passing of the baton’ witnessed by the Council.

Holliston Reporter scheduled a separate time with Lisa to get to know her. Below we’ve ‘spliced in’ our interview with Lisa.  The remainder of the CoA meeting report will follow the interview summary.

Meet Lisa Borchetta, the Senior Center’s New Director

Upon opening our Zoom meeting with the new Senior Center Director, Chris and I excitedly greeted Lisa Borchetta.  But when she greeted us, her voice was garbled beyond understanding.  A few minor adjustments failed, and we imagined our time together cut short, but Lisa persisted, and we were soon “meeting” with a Zoom visual and an iPhone conversation.  This type of tenacity and creativity will go far for the Senior Center, still in the midst of COVID restrictions and regulations, with a clientele anxious to return to friends and programs at the Center.

With only a few days on the job, Lisa’s been very impressed by the small staff that works very hard.  She loves the breadth of the programs offered.  She’s met the Council on Aging and the Senior Support Foundation members, the receptionists and some seniors.  “I’m so impressed by Linda Marshall [former Director} who is acting as a consultant. She has a great wealth of knowledge and I appreciate her.”  She also enjoys working as a part of a team.

Lisa’s affinity for the senior population began early in her career, when at the age of16 she volunteered for a crisis counseling center.  This volunteer opportunity was a test of her nascent active listening skills, as she conducted reassurance calls to seniors.  But she got more than she bargained for.  “I got a lot from the calls, as they were interesting and great people who had been marginalized,” said Lisa.  These calls paved the way for Lisa’s college studies.

Creating her own college major, Lisa studied psychology, Women’s Studies, and Gerontology.  After graduation she was interested in serving older adults and found agencies and non-profits in the Boston area where she could share her talents.  Following time managing a United Way program, Lisa earned her graduate degree and moved on to Wellesley College for an internship and the eventual management of a $3 million grant supporting new mothers at risk of depression.  It was here, Lisa noted, that “I worked with my idols.” 

Married and the mother of two 20-something sons, Lisa noted that her career wasn’t completely a straight line.  Sometimes a graduate student, sometimes a working mom, she is also a chef and an artist.  She has been a trainer for an international training program and a “positive psychology” mentor coach of many soon-to-be retirees.  Developing a “positive aging world” is one of Lisa’s important refrains in her work with adults.

Beacon Hill Village in Boston began when neighborhood friends wanted to age at home.  A virtual village was created that offered programs, services, and opportunities, run by those among the village with the help of a small staff.  Lisa joined the Beacon HIll Village staff in member services, and eventually felt ready to take on a bigger role.  It was the advertisement for Holliston’s Senior Center Director that caught her eye. 

Before settling in Westborough, where she now resides, Lisa had explored Holliston.  She had been attracted to the community but could not seem to find a house.  But the trip from Westborough to Holliston is not far.

For now, Lisa is observing what works at the Center and trying to identify sticking points. She has hopes of the center being more integrated into and noticed by the community.  In addition to working with Youth and Family Services and the public library, Lisa feels there are other great ways to meld with the community and become a more visible department for the whole of the town.  She concluded by stating, “I’d like to fight ageism and its stigma…to shift people’s ideas on aging.”

Note:  The Senior Center is holding a series of meetings with Lisa (limited to 15 people each) to allow the community to meet her. Dates are May 11, 18, and 25, at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM.  Sign up in advance, as space limitations are regulated by COVID guidelines.  Call 508.429.0622 to reserve your spot.

Returning to the CoA meeting:  CoA Chair Bob Malone thanked Linda for her dedication to Holliston’s elder adults “leaving a strong foundation” for Lisa as she takes the reins.  Malone provided Director Borchetta with a brief overview of Town in what might be described as a state of the Town summary.

Linda Marshall delivered her last monthly Director’s report to the Council.  Some highlights are captured below:

• There is a remainder of about $10,000 from the refurbishment budget (paint, carpeting, new ceiling tiles).  Marshall suggested that the CoA authorize the Director to request a line-item transfer of up to $4,500 to augment the remaining funds to replace the decaying tile floor in the Great Room.  The Council approved the request.
• Another $400 donation from Superette patrons was received.  Marshall estimates that a total of about $4,000 has been donated from this source in the past three years.
• The Senior Center has applied for a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation in the amount of $9,500.  The request is to purchase a 20ft X 30ft tent, two smaller tents and outdoor chairs so the Center can conduct activities outdoors.  The awarding of the grant (or not) is expected soon.  Marshall asked that the Council approve a request for $9,500 of CARES Act funds if the grant does not come through.  The Council approved this request.
• May 4^th will be the Hello / Goodbye Drive by Cookout to say farewell to Linda and welcome Lisa.  Sign up deadline is April 28^th.
• The annual “Summer Sizzler” will be held as a drive by event on June 21^st at noon.  Sign up is required and the donation is $7 / person.
• The Senior Support Foundation is hopeful that it can hold its annual fall sale. The plan at this time is to hold a scaled back yard sale on September 11^th.
• Big News – The very popular monthly breakfast will return on May 11^th.  Please sign up so the “chefs” will prepare enough food. This will be a to-go affair.
• 98% of Holliston citizens over 75 and 90% of those over 65 are partially vaccinated.  The Sr. Ctr. staff and volunteers contributed significantly to these numbers.

Chair Malone led a discussion of a proposed Article for the upcoming Town Meeting.  Mary Greendale proposes a town-wide committee to develop a comprehensive long-range plan for Holliston.  After lengthy discussion of the pros and cons – especially related to Holliston’s elder citizens – Chair Malone offered to prepare a written summary to send on to Mary.

A nominating committee was appointed to develop a slate of officers for the Council’s 2021-2022 year.  The committee’s report will be presented at the CoA’s annual meeting in June.

Mr. Malone wrapped up the meeting by commending Linda, Bryan, and Marty along with the part-time staff and volunteers for the “magnificent job of meeting our Seniors’ needs” during the past year.  He went on to say that they demonstrate a tremendous “spirit of camaraderie.”

Just to get everyone drooling – the dining room (below) has a new coat of paint, new carpet, and new ceiling tiles.  Now we just need to get to a time when it is safe for everyone to enjoy the new décor.