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HomeMy Public PortalAboutDecember 20191673 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631 • (508) 896-2737 • Fax (508) 896-7587 Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday Denise Rego, Director Andrea Nevins, COA Board Co-Chair Marilyn Dearborn, FOBE President Sharon Tennstedt, COA Board Co-Chair December 2019 MISSION STATEMENT: To support and advocate for older adults and their families by providing programs, services and resources that promote independent living and quality of life. We Wish You a Merry Christmas! ...and a Happy Hanukkah, AND a very Happy New Year! The Brewster COA will be closing at noon on Tuesday, December 24 and remain closed until Thursday, December 26 for the Christmas holiday. We will also be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 for the New Year’s Day holiday observance. From all of us here at the Brewster Council on Aging, we wish you a warm, wonderful holiday season and a bright New Year filled with much happiness! Brewster Holiday Hope The Brewster Recreation Department runs Holiday Hope, a fund- raising drive, each year during the months of November and December. The events associated with the drive are: Breakfast with Santa and the Giving Trees located at the Town Hall and the Recreation Office. All of the proceeds from these events and from the sponsors involved are donated to the Brewster residents. Each year, the Recreation Department sponsors families and children of all ages in our town over the winter and holiday season. In collaboration with our Brewster Recreation Department, the COA is getting involved to help collect funds for our Brewster children. This year’s goal is to raise $3,000 for this program. No donation is too small. For more information, please contact Denise at 508-896-2737. Thank you for your generosity. Holiday Line Dance Showcase! Monday, December 9 2:00pm - 2:30pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Please join us at the Brewster COA for a festive, upbeat line dance showcase by students of Cape Sands Ballroom. The dancers will share their love of dance with you as they move and groove to tunes from the 50’s through today, including a few holiday selections. Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited and we will not be able to accommodate any drop-ins. Please be sure to give the COA a call at 508-896-2737 to reserve your seat. Hope to see you there! FREE! Holiday Program Line-Up Come join us for our upcoming holiday programs! We’ve got our talented Kindergarten performers from Stony Brook Elementary School, and the Nauset Regional High School Chorus. Please turn to page 4 for more information. Page 2 December 2019 Brewster, MA Computer Help Wednesdays & Thursdays: 9:00am - 12:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Do you need help using your computer? We have one-on-one sessions available to help you feel more confident in your computer skills. Sessions are one hour and FREE! Our knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer instructors are Del Borah on Wednesday mornings, and Pete Scheffer on Thursday mornings. For all appointments, please contact the COA at 508-896-2737. Computer Users’ Group Thursdays: 1:00 - 2:30pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Topics are solicited from program attendees at each meeting and discussed at subsequent meetings in a friendly atmosphere. Skill level is from beginner to intermediate. There’s no need to sign up ahead of time; just bring a desire to learn something new! Please note: No meetings on December 19 & December 26. Hearing Screenings Thursday, December 19 8:30 – 10:30am Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Advanced Audiology Associates offers FREE screenings here at the Brewster Council on Aging. These screenings are by appointment only and last approximately 15 minutes. They will include hearing screenings, ear inspections and hearing aid checks. Please call the COA at 508-896-2737 to set an appointment for this valuable service. W.O.W. (Wonderful Older Women) Tuesdays: 9:30 - 11:00am Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Are you sitting at home talking to yourself? Would you enjoy talking with others and feeling good about your day? Do you like to discuss books, movies, local events and issues? Then WOW would love to welcome you into our weekly discussion group. Join us whenever you can at the COA! You’ll find us to be a very friendly group with a positive attitude. If you have any questions, please call the COA at 508-896-2737. Brewster Men’s Coffee Club Thursdays, 2:00 - 4:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street The Brewster Men’s Coffee Club will be meeting on Thursday afternoons throughout December. Why not join us for a hot cup of coffee and some lively conversation? We’re always looking for new members. We’re also looking for guest speakers, so if you’ve got a topic of interest that you’d like to present, just let us know. Funky Fitness Wednesdays through December 11 3:30 - 4:30pm Eddy School Gym, 2298 Main Street This is an advanced workout program to address four major categories of fitness: endurance, strength, balance & flexibility. Music provides the backdrop and inspiration for all exercises in each 60-minute class. Frank Callahan will be your instructor. Class goes through Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the Eddy School Gym. The fee is $5 per session, and drop-ins are welcome. You won’t believe how much fun you can have while exercising! Holiday Theme Line Dancing with Karen Wednesday, December 11 8:00-8:45am Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street If you love line dancing and if you love holiday tunes, mark your calendar for this FREE Holiday Theme Line Dance class with Karen of Cape Sands Ballroom. The dances selected will be easy (meaning less time learning and more time dancing!) and would be the right level for most students with a little bit of basic prior line dance experience. Come and move your feet to the beat of holiday classics such as "Sleigh Ride", "Winter Wonderland", and "Jingle Bells". Please bring a water bottle and shoes to change into that are flat, closed, flexible and non-marking. Casual attire in your favorite holiday colors encouraged. See you on the dance floor! Brewster COA’s Inclement Weather Policy If the Nauset Public Schools are closed all activities, programs, and van transportation at the Senior Center are cancelled. If the Brewster Town Hall is closed, the Brewster Senior Center will also be closed. Page 3 December 2019 Brewster, MA Exercise your Options! The Brewster Council on Aging offers these Exercise and Wellness classes to help you have a healthy, active and enjoyable life! All classes are at the Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. Check us out! Keep Movin’ 9:45 - 10:45 am Mondays and Fridays This program is primarily strength- training for seniors. The classes are friendly, and a fun way to relieve arthri- tis symptoms while learning important strengthening exercises. Classes help to build strength, coordination and balance each week by using hand and leg weights, balls and bands. The cost is $50 for the 10-weeks (20 classes per session). To sign up, stop in any Monday or Friday and speak to the instructor, Linda Fraser. You may observe the class, but may not partici- pate unless signed up by the instructor. Yoga 9:00 - 10:30 am Tuesdays This class uses breathing techniques as a foundation for exploring gentle and safe stretching. It is appropriate for all fitness levels, and helps with relaxation and focus. $10.00 per class. Please bring a mat. No need to sign up in advance. Feel free to check out a class to see if it’s right for you! Our long-time instructor is Marilou Raposa. Please note: No Yoga on December 3. Chair Yoga 11:00am - 12:00pm Tuesdays This class is designed to teach begin- ners, as well as accommodating all levels. The students will learn to adjust the postures according to their own body needs, using a chair as support for the poses. Chair Yoga can be beneficial in terms of minimizing stress and boost- ing mental clarity, managing and coping with pain brought on by aging or an ill- ness, improving strength, and enhancing flexibility. If you would like to try Yoga but feel you can’t participate in traditional Yoga sessions, this class is for you! The cost is $10.00 per class. Please bring a mat. The class is taught by Araci Gomes, a certified Yoga instructor. Tai-Chi Tuesdays and Fridays 2:00 - 3:00pm Learn the many physical and spiritual benefits of Tai-Chi, a gentle, flowing, standing exercise. Classes will incorporate stretching warm-ups, and participants will learn the series of movements culminating in the beautiful 24-posture Yang form. These moves can improve flexibility, coordination and balance; build muscle strength, and provide a mind-body connection for stress release. Our instructor, A. Jay Zahn, is a long-time practitioner and has studied related martial arts, breathing exercises and meditation. Tai-Chi is suitable for people at all levels of physical conditioning. The cost is $10.00 per class and drop-ins are welcome! Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:00 - 8:45am Wednesdays This course is designed for students with some line dance experience who are accustomed to picking up new material with ease and are interested in learning technique. The “Fourth Wall” refers to the conceptual barrier between a performer and an audience. In this class we’ll explore how to push past the Fourth Wall and find a connection to an audience. Using only one-wall dances, we’ll start with foot placements and then embellish each dance with technique such as arm motions, spotting, Latin action and more. Whether your goal is to take your line dancing to the next level or perform with a team, this course will help you learn how to share the positive energy dance brings to your life! $4.00 per class when paid by the month. Karen Shackleford from ‘Cape Sands Ballroom’ will be your instructor. Please Note: Special class on Dec. 11. (see page 2) After Dec. 11, there will be no classes until Jan. 8, 2020. Line Dancing - Beyond the Basics (II) 8:45 - 9:30am Wednesdays Carry your dance experience forward! This intermediate class is for those with knowledge of jazz squares, grapevines, Charlestons, diagonal travel, box steps, and mambo steps. Prerequisite: good balance, good spatial orientation and ability to memorize 32-count patterns. $4.00 per class when paid monthly, $6.00 per class for drop-ins. Discount offered for those enrolled in Fourth Wall Line Dancing and Line Dance II - $3.50 per class! Come learn fun, mini dance routines to your favorite pop, rock and Latin music! Karen Shackleford from ‘Cape Sands Ballroom’ will be your instructor. Please Note: After Dec. 11, there will be no classes until Jan. 8, 2020. Qi Gong 9:00 - 9:45 am Thursdays The practice of Qi Gong dates back 3000 years and is an ancient Chinese method of exercising, meditation & visualization, and breathing to manage the Qi (life force energy) in your body. Movements are slow and rhythmic, to self-massage acupoints (meridians) and release blocked Qi. You will feel refreshed, nourished, energized and relaxed. Qi Gong can benefit everyone! $2.00 per class or $10.00 per 5-week session. Our instructor is Ray DiPietro. You’re welcome to come check it out! Meditation 10:00 - 11:00am Thursdays Is your world moving too fast? Do you sometimes wish you could stop, take a deep breath and stay still for a short period of time? This meditation class focuses on building internal awareness with an orientation toward the heart and breath. Our instructor, Carol Marcy, will also talk about the many benefits of meditation, and will use a guided meditation format. Cost is $2.00 per class and drop-ins are welcome. Come and relax with us! December Program Notes Check out the exciting and informative programs and events we’ve got planned for you this month! All programs take place at the Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. A Holiday Concert at Maplewood of Brewster Wednesday, December 11 2:30 pm Maplewood of Brewster 820 Harwich Road (Route 124) Join your friends and neighbors to hear the wonderful voices of the Nauset Regional High School Chorus, under the direction of Mr. Tom Faris. These talented young people awe us each year with their musical abilities. We are so fortunate to be able to get on their very busy schedule every year so don’t miss hearing them perform! Call the COA today reserve your seat: 508-896-2737 Refreshments will be served. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon during the holiday season! Enjoy the Holidays through the Eyes of Children Monday, December 16 12:15 pm Christmas is for children so join us as we celebrate with the Kindergarten students from Stony Brook Elementary. They will be singing some holiday songs, enjoy a treat and, most importantly, have a visit from Santa. Bring your friends, neighbors, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or just come by yourself. Hearing the children sing and sharing their joy at seeing Santa will add to your holiday season. Please call the COA to reserve your seat: 508-896-2737 Refreshments will be served. Let’s Go Shopping! Thursday, December 5 10:00am - 2:00pm Cape Cod Mall Join us for an adventure to the mall where shopping, enter- tainment, dining and the festive sights and sounds of the season unfold. Carolers roam the mall, shops have huge sales and the Spectacle of Trees is always a festive way to help local non-profits during the holidays. Creatively decorated and lavishly endowed trees are put on display and everyone has the opportunity to buy raffle tickets and win one of the beautiful trees and all the gifts underneath! Shopping is always a fun way to spend a few hours, and a few dollars, and now there are new stores to entice us to enter such as Target. So, let’s get together, share some laughs and kick off the holidays! Transportation is provided but space is limited. Please call the COA to reserve your seat: 508-896-2737 Food to Encourage Monday, December 9 & Monday, December 23 9:30 - 11:30am Lower Cape Outreach Council in partnership with the Barnstable County Public Health Nurses and the Brewster COA are looking to explore the impact of nutrition and healthy eating on diabetes and hypertension. This program is open to everyone. Health monitoring by a nurse, involving blood pressure and glucose checks, is available. Each participant will receive a bag of fresh fruits/ veggies every other week, along with free recipes! No need to sign up. Please bring your own bag and stop by at any point during the time period listed above! Crafts with Megan Thursday, December 19 10:30am - 12:00pm You’ll be creating an easy, fun new craft each month. All supplies are included. Meet new friends and indulge your creative side while our instructor, Megan, offers guidance in all projects. Each month’s project reflects the season and there is no crafting-experience required! FREE! Please contact the COA by Friday, December 13 to let us know you are interested: 508-896-2737 Beginning in January 2020 Tai-Chi Made Easy Mondays, 1:30 - 2:30pm Begins January 6, 2020 $10.00 per class This new class doesn’t require any prior experience or ongoing commitments, and there is no special equipment necessary; however, wearing loose-fitting clothing is recom- mended. Come learn about Tai-Chi and the many physical and spiritual benefits. Also known as “moving meditation”, Tai-Chi can help improve balance, core strength, flexibility, and provide a mind-body connection as a source for stress relief. This class will not focus on learning a particular form or sequence of movements. Instead, the essential elements of Tai-chi will be explored: breathing, basic stances, Tai-Chi postures, and the development and awareness of the life-force called Chi. Classes will also present Push Hands: a dynamic 2-person exercise aimed at cultivating awareness of our personal energy and that of another utilizing the circular movements inherent in Tai-Chi. Come check it out! Spanish for Beginners – Looking for Interested Students! We are looking to possibly have a “Spanish for Beginners” class. This would be a 1½ hour class for 6 weeks during the months of February and March. The fee will be $60.00. If you are interested please call Lisa Donovan, our Program Coordinator, at 508-896-2737 to ask any questions and to let us know if you would like to participate. Page 4 December 2019 Brewster, MA MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 2 9:45am Keep Movin’ 3 9:30am W.O.W. 10:00am Open Enrollment 11:00am Chair Yoga 1:00pm Bridge 2:00pm Tai Chi 4 8:00am Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:45am Line Dancing II 9:00am Computer Help 9:45am Keep Movin’ 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Open Enrollment 5 9:00am Qi Gong 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Meditation 10:00am Shopping Trip to CC Mall 1:00pm Computer Users 2:00pm BMCC 6 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:00am Open Enrollment 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 2:00pm Tai Chi 9 9:30am Food to Encourage 9:45am Keep Movin’ 2:00pm Holiday Line Dance Showcase 10 9:00am Yoga 9:00am Pedicare 9:30am W.O.W. 11:00am Chair Yoga 1:00pm Bridge 1:00pm SHINE 2:00pm Tai Chi 11 8:00am Special Holiday Line Dance Class 8:45am Line Dancing II 9:00am Computer Help 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Healthy Meals in Motion (Frederick Ct.) 11:30am Sight Loss/BLL 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm SHINE 2:30pm NRHS Concert at Maplewood of Brewster 12 9:00am Qi Gong 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Meditation 1:00pm Computer Users 2:00pm BMCC 13 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 2:00pm Tai Chi 16 9:45am Keep Movin’ 12:15pm Holidays Through the Eyes of Children 17 9:00am Yoga 9:00am Pedicare 9:30am W.O.W. 10:00am Legal Help 11:00am Chair Yoga 12:30pm Massage w. Sandra 1:00pm Bridge 1:00pm SHINE 2:00pm Tai Chi 18 9:00am Computer Help 9:00am Mobile Dental Hygiene Service 9:00am Massage w. Sandra 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm SHINE 19 8:00am Pet Grooming 8:30am Hearing Screenings 9:00am Qi Gong 10:00am Meditation 10:30am Crafts with Megan 1:00pm Financial Planning 2:00pm BMCC 20 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:30am BINGO 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 11:00am Rep. Tim Whelan 2:00pm Tai Chi 23 9:30am Food to Encourage 9:45am Keep Movin’! 24 9:00am Yoga 9:30am W.O.W. 10:00am BP/Glucose Testing/BLL 11:00am Chair Yoga CHRISTMAS EVE (The COA is closing at 12:00pm today) 25 CHRISTMAS DAY (The COA is closed) 26 9:00am Qi Gong 10:00am Meditation 2:00pm BMCC 27 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:30am BINGO 2:00pm Tai Chi No Swimming at Brewster Green today. 30 9:45am Keep Movin’! 31 9:00am Yoga 9:30am W.O.W. 11:00am Chair Yoga 1:00pm Bridge 1:00pm SHINE 2:00pm Tai Chi Page 6 Senior Happenings December 2019 Page 7 Brewster, MA Free Personal Hygiene Items! The COA still has a large quantity of adult disposable incontinence products in various sizes. If you or someone whom you know could use them, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 508-896-2737, or just stop by. Let us know what size you’re looking for. If we’ve got them we will be happy to give them to you! Healthy Meals in Motion This popular program serves all eligible Brewster seniors, providing a few full bags of groceries, fresh produce and paper products each month. Pre-order from a wide selection of food items and your order will be ready for pick-up! The program takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 11:00am to 12:00pm at Frederick Court, across from the Brewster COA. Our next date is Wednesday, December 11. Please call our Brewster COA Outreach Office to enroll at 508-896-2737. Come Join Us for Lunch! Simply call Maria in our Brewster COA Nutrition Center at (508) 896-5070 by 11:00am the day before and she will make sure your delicious, hot meal will be ready for you when you come the following day. The monthly menu is always available at the COA. Just ask us for one! Join us at 10:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays to play BINGO before lunch. Or, join us for some lively piano music on Thursdays, provided by our wonderful volunteer pianist! Requested meal donation is $3.00. Transportation can be arranged. This program is sponsored by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. You might enjoy the new friendships that you can make at the Senior Center! Senior Real Estate Tax Abatement Program The Senior Real Estate Tax Abatement Program matches municipal volunteer opportunities in the Town of Brewster with eligible senior citizens who are qualified and able to volunteer their services in exchange for a reduction in their real estate tax bill. In exchange for 78.5 hours of volunteer service, the Town will abate the annual real estate property tax by $1,000.* (*less mandatory deductions), OR in exchange for 39.5 hours of volunteer service, the Town will abate the annual real estate property tax by $500.* (*less mandato- ry deductions). You need to complete the volunteer hours by September 1, 2020. Application deadline is Friday, December 13, 2019. Applications can be picked up at the Council on Aging or found on the Town’s website. If you have any questions, please call Regina at the COA at 508-896-2737. Mobile Dental Hygiene Service Wednesday, December 16 Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Mobile Dental Hygiene Services offers friendly, convenient, and affordable preventative oral health care at the Brewster Council on Aging! The following services are FREE to eligible individuals with Medicaid/MassHealth: cleanings, screenings, oral cancer exams, fluoride treatments, denture care, education, and referrals. No dental insurance? They offer reduced private-pay options such as: cleaning - $80, denture care - $25, and an exam for $30. The price of a cleaning includes an exam and denture care. Please contact Mobile Dental Hygiene Services if you have any questions or you would like to make an appoint- ment. Their telephone number is 508-827-6725 or check them out at: smiles@mobiledentalhygiene.com Fuel Assistance Need some help with your winter heating bills? You may be eligible for fuel assistance. Please contact the Outreach Department at the Brewster COA at (508) 896-2737 for more information. Page 9 December 2019 BAYSIDE WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP & ACTIVITY GROUP for PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month ~ 1:00 - 2:30pm at Maplewood of Brewster, 820 Harwich Road (Route 124). The Caregivers support group and the Dementia support group run simultaneously. Drop-ins welcome. Dr. Molly Perdue, facilitator. Call (508) 896-5170 BANKING ASSISTANCE: For help balancing seniors’ checkbooks. By appointment only. Please call the COA at (508) 896-2737 to reserve. BINGO: Wednesday and Friday ~ 10:30 - 11:30am BLOOD PRESSURE & GLUCOSE TESTING/HEALTH COUNSELING: 4th Tuesday of the month at the Brewster Ladies Library, lower level. 10:00am – 2:00pm - On a drop-in basis. Provided by VNA of Cape Cod. BREWSTER MEN’S COFFEE CLUB (BMCC): Thursdays ~ 2:00pm BRIDGE (men’s and women’s groups): Tuesdays ~ 1:00pm CHAIR YOGA: Tuesdays ~ 11:00am $10.00 per class. Helps improve strength and flexibility (see page 3 for class description). COMPUTER HELP: Wednesdays & Thursdays ~ 9:00 – 12:00pm By appointment only. 1-hour sessions are hands-on, one-on-one, and participants choose their own pace and area of interest. Call (508) 896-2737 COMPUTER USERS GROUP: Thursdays ~ 1:00 - 2:30pm The first part of the meeting is usually for questions and answers, followed by instructions on topics solicited from program participants. Skill level is from beginner to intermediate. No meetings Dec. 19 & 26. DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICE: 4th Wednesday ~ 9:00am Mobile Dental Hygiene Service offers friendly, convenient and affordable preventative oral health care at the COA! To make an appointment, please call Mobile Dental Hygiene Svc. at (508) 827-6725 or visit their website at smiles@mobiledentalhygiene.com This month: Dec. 18 FINANCIAL PLANNING: 3rd Thursday ~ 1:00pm By appointment only. A knowledgeable volunteer answers questions and provides information concerning Long Term Care and Financial Planning. Call (508) 896-2737 HEARING SCREENINGS: 3rd Thursday of the month ~ 8:30am By appointment only. FREE. Includes ear inspections and hearing-aid checks if needed. 15-minute appointments. Call (508) 896-2737. KEEP MOVIN’!: Mondays and Fridays ~ 9:45 - 10:45 am. 10-week session/20 classes: $50.00. Strength training for seniors (see page 3 for class description). PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested, please stop by the class and speak with the instructor. LEGAL HELP: 10:00am on the 4th Tuesday of even months with Atty. Katie Wibby. Atty. Adam Dupuy still offers legal advice, but does not have scheduled dates at the COA. 1/2-hour FREE appointments. Call (508) 896-2737 This month’s date: Tuesday, December 17 FOURTH WALL LINE DANCING: Wednesdays ~ 8:00 - 8:45am For those with prior Line Dancing experience interested in learning a new technique (see page 3 for detailed information). $4.00 per class when paid monthly. Please note: No Dancing after December 11 until January 8. LINE DANCING (II): Wednesdays ~ 8:45 - 9:30am Some dance experience required (see class description on page 3). Cost: $4.00 per class when paid monthly. $6.00 per class for drop-ins. Please note: No Dancing after December 11 until January 8. MASSAGE with Sandra: 3rd Tuesday and Wednesday, beginning at 9:00am. Massages last 30 minutes and are offered for $15.00. By appointment only. Call 508-896-2737 MEALS ON WHEELS: Provided to each homebound elder who is unable to prepare nutritionally balanced meals. Call Brewster Nutrition at 508-896-5070. CHATTER WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: MEDITATION: Thursdays ~ 10:00 - 11:00am Guided meditation. $2.00 per session. Drop-ins welcome! (See page 3 for class description) OLD FASHIONED QUILTING BEE: Wednesdays ~ 1:00pm Fellow quilters bring in their quilting projects and enjoy the camaraderie of other quilters. Come join in with the ‘Brewster Basters’! OUTREACH ASSISTANCE: The Outreach Workers will answer any questions you have about resources and programs you may be entitled to, assist with assessing needs, file-of-life, fuel assistance applications, etc. Please call 508-896-2737 to make an appointment. PEDICARE: 2nd Tuesday of the month ~ 9:00am - 2:30pm (Diabetics must see a MD/Podiatrist). ½ hr. appointments - $29.00 Home Visit - $50.00 Please call (508) 896-2737 for appointment. PET GROOMING: Buttons & Bows ~ 3rd Thursday of the month ~ 8:00 - 8:30am Nail clipping for animals will take place in a mobile van at the back of the COA parking lot. First-come, first-served. The charge is $3.00 (normally $10.00). Stop by! QI GONG: Thursdays ~ 9:00 - 9:45am. $10.00 for 5 sessions. Chinese method for enhancing the immune system; utilizing posture and breathing exercises, along with focused intentions. Gentle and calming. (see page 3 for more information) REP. TIM WHELAN: 3rd Friday of the month ~ 11:00am - 12:00pm Offered on a drop-in, first-come-first served basis. SENIOR DINING: Hot lunches are provided Monday through Friday at the COA. Suggested donation is $3.00 per meal. 24-hour notice required. Please call 508-896-5070 no later than 11:00am the day before. Come at 10:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays to play BINGO before lunch! Live piano music on Thursdays at 11:30am. SHINE: Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone Scheduled appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, or call Brenda for an appointment on other days. Highly-trained volunteer counselors help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries understand their rights and benefits. Please contact the COA for an appointment at: (508) 896-2737. Appointments are FREE! SIGHT LOSS GROUP: September - June on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Brewster Ladies Library ~ 11:30am - 1:00pm. Call Sight Loss at 508-394-3904 for more information. SWIMMING: Brewster Green Pool ~ Fridays ~ 10:00am to 12:00pm NOTE: This is ONLY available for Brewster’s senior (60+) residents. You ALSO need to have your Brewster COA Swipe Card for admit- tance. A donation of $1.00 per swim is recommended and this is done by an honor system. Stop by the COA monthly/quarterly to support this activity. PLEASE NOTE: No Swimming on Friday, December 27. TAI-CHI: Tuesdays & Fridays ~ 2:00 - 3:00pm $10.00 per class Improves flexibility, balance, coordination and muscle strength while providing a mind-body connection for stress release (see page 3 for full description). Come join us! W.O.W.: (Wonderful Older Women): Tuesdays ~ 9:30 - 11:00am This friendly group of women review current events, talk about movies & books, give each other support & enjoy conversation. Stop by! YOGA: Tuesdays ~ 9:00 - 10:30am. $10 per class. Class uses breathing techniques as a foundation for exploring gentle & safe stretching. Drop-ins welcome! ADDITIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THROUGH BREWSTER RECREATION: Senior Striders Walking Program, Pickleball, Tennis, Gentle Flow Yoga. Please contact the Brewster Recreation office at 508-896-9430 for more information. A Message from Charles Altieri, RN Public Health Wellness Nurse, VNA of Cape Cod Home visits will occur on Mondays. Page 10 December 2019 Brewster, MA ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ Online: The ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ is available online each month and can be found on our website at: www.brewster-ma.gov. Search under ‘Departments’ and select ‘Council on Aging’. Scroll down to where it reads: ‘our newsletters are available online’ and click on the link! Happy Reading! Sit less, live longer! While no one is denying the importance of rest, too much sitting isn’t a good thing. In fact, research has shown that the more time spent sedentary, the higher the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers and earlier death. To minimize sitting time: Take breaks. Whether it means rising to get a glass of water, to take out the trash, or to do some squats or simple stretches, take a break from sitting every 30 minutes. Set an alarm if this helps you stay conscious of the time. Stand while preoccupied. While you’re on the phone or watching television, stand or move around rather than spending the time sitting on a couch or a chair. Using cell phones with ear pieces can help you take a walk outside while having a conversation. Try a standing desk at home or at work. Consider switching to a version that allows you to change between standing and sitting while using it. You can also improve with a high table or counter. Treadmill desks, which add physical activity, are another option. Take your meetings on the go, whether it’s a work or volunteer meeting or a coffee date with friends, suggest taking a walk when you talk. Invest in a fitness monitor. These devices can alert you when you have been spending too much time without moving. Setting a daily step count goal also may help you motivate to move than you normally would. Mayo Clinic, November 2019 BE WELL! LIVE STRONG! LIVE LONG! Charlie Altieri, RN, Public Health Nurse Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod Do you think it’s going to Snow this winter? Take control of your life and secure a person to snow-plow your driveway now! The COA gets many calls asking us to recommend someone but, legally, we are not allowed to do that. Therefore, call your carpenter, landscaper, ask your neighbor whom they use, or maybe they are willing to help do the job for you at an agreed upon price. Planning ahead will secure your comfort and safety in your own home, which will make for a happier winter season! Seeking Medical Equipment? The COA often receives donations of crutches, walkers, canes, shower/tub benches, commodes and wheelchairs that we lend out, free of charge, for indefinite periods of time. Simply give us a call at 508-896-2737. We may just have what you’re looking for! December 2019 Page 11 Disclaimer The Brewster Senior Center offers many legal, financial, recreational, medical screening or other services and/or activities by volunteer or nominal-cost practitioners. Seniors participating in these services do so with the understanding that the Brewster Council on Aging, The Brewster Senior Center, the Town of Brewster, Friends of Brewster Elders (aka FOBE) or its employees or agents DO NOT ASSUME ANY LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ADVICE OR SERVICES RENDERED BY SUCH VOLUNTEER OR NOMINAL COST PRACTITIONER. Any act, advice, or service by outside providers at the Council on Aging SHOULD NOT BE PRESUMED TO BE ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY THE BCOA. Brewster, MA Sightings from the Poop Deck Passaic High School - Circa 1954 “True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.” Kurt Vonnegut Dwight David Eisenhower was the U.S. president, the hourly minimum wage was $0.85, the average home $10,250, a gallon of gas was $0.22, a gallon of milk $0.92, a loaf of bread $0.17 and a movie ticket $0.70. The year was 1954. Our Passaic High School Class of 1954 celebrated its 65 year reunion on October 27, 2019. We have had our reunions every five years, so this would be our thirteenth. Joanie Carfora and I, classmates, have attended every one, as have many others. Our class had 323 graduates, close knit friends. I like to think we were somewhat unique and a melting pot of Italians, Polish, Asians, African Americans, Irish, Native Americans, Russians, Jews, and Hispanics. Our numbers have shrunk over the years. We have lost track of some, many have passed on, some who did not have a good high school experience do not attend and the expense of travel keeps some away, since we have spread out over the country. As octogenarians some of us don’t travel well, although many walkers, wheelchairs, canes, crutches and hearing aids were in abundance and prove otherwise. We joked about when our next reunion would be and agreed that we could not wait five years for obvious reasons, so we have settled on 2021 as our next date. In the meantime we keep in touch via the social media network, i.e., Facebook, email, text messages, Instagram, tweets, phone calls, etc. Our time together passed quickly and parting was bittersweet. We were happy to be together, and saddened to be saying goodbye as we thought about the next couple years and the fact that we are mere mortals. It wasn’t always like that, but we’re older, much older, and wiser now. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this unique and wonderful Passaic High School Class of 1954. Peter R. Scheffer (“Life is Good!”) - “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss P.S. Lest I forget, Merry Christmas & a Happy & Healthy New Year!! poop deck, n., a deck above a ship’s main afterdeck BHT - BOSTON HOSPITAL TRANSPORTATION Enjoy comfortable and safe transportation from Cape Cod DIRECT to Boston hospitals on a wheelchair -accessible van. MONDAY thru FRIDAY SCHEDULE 7:30a.m. Orleans (Shaw’s) 7:45a.m. Harwich (Route 124 Commuter Lot) 8:00a.m. Barnstable (Route 132 Commuter Lot) 8:15a.m. Sagamore (Rotary Commuter Lot) RESERVATIONS are a MUST!!! (Reserve no later than 11a.m. the day before) $30.00 Round Trip/$15.00 One-way Cash or Checks (Payable to CCRTA) accepted For reservations call 1-800-352-7155 Monday – Friday: 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. Schedule your medical appointments between 10am & 2pm. The van will leave Boston by 3pm. Please visit the website for more information: www.capecodrta.org TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION COA VAN – Scheduled trips include: Monday – Friday to nutrition site and home after lunch: This is FREE!! Grocery Shopping in Orleans: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am - 1pm. Post office, banking & pharmacy trips: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays The suggested donation is $2.00 for these errands. Please contact the COA at (508) 896-2737 to schedule your ride. MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS – Volunteer drivers are available for transport to medical appointments in their personal cars. Please call the COA at 508-896-2737 as soon as you make an appointment or at least four business days (Monday thru Friday) in advance so that we can find a volunteer to provide your ride. Please notify the COA if you can’t keep your appointment so we can notify our drivers. Donations are accepted for this service. WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL VAN – Transportation to medical appointments is provided on a volunteer basis, Monday through Friday. A one-week advanced reservation is required. Donations are accepted for this service. Call the COA for more information at (508) 896-2737. Page 12 December 2019 Brewster, MA Std. Mail US Postage PAID Permit #100 Orleans, MA 02653 DART - DIAL-A-RIDE TRANSPORTATION Service: CCRTA provides a daily general public demand response service that is wheelchair-accessible, door-to-door, and ride-by-appointment. This service is available to all Cape Cod residents and is available Monday through Saturday in all towns, with limited Sunday service. The D ART does not run on holidays. For available times in Brewster please call Customer Service toll-free at (800) 352-7155, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. OR CURRENT RESIDENT TOWN OF BREWSTER - COA 1673 MAIN STREET BREWSTER, MA 02631 This agency and its programs are funded (in whole or in part) by the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Federal Administration for Community Living by a contract from Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands.