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HomeMy Public PortalAboutJuly 20201673 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 July 2020 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. Dear Friends, This July Bayside Chatter went to the publisher on Friday, June 5th. Therefore, the information contained in this newsletter is subject to change based on the current status of the COVID -19 pandemic. Be sure to check the town website, www.brewster-ma.gov, for the most current Town infor- mation or call the COA at 508-896-2737. We don’t know if you noticed, but we did not print a June newsletter. There were too many uncertain- ties so we didn’t want to confuse anyone with the status of our daily activities. The purpose for us to do this July newsletter is to inform you of what has been going on and what we hope to be doing in the near future. At this point, we do not know if and when we will be able to reschedule the Volunteer Luncheon, but we certainly want to thank all 119 people who have given us 6,736 hours of their valuable time. The COA could not function without you! We would like to give a BIG thank you to several people in our community for providing us with 252 hand-made masks. They are Linda Turner, Trish Graham and her sewing group and the NRHS students of Mrs. McGown’s sewing class. Also, Lorraine Westcott of our Quilter’s group made several masks for COA staff when the pandemic first started. We have been distributing them all around town, delivering them right into your mailbox. If you are in need, please call us at 508-896-2737. After experiencing a Spring like no other, we are happy to be enjoying the warmer Summer weather. Please call us if you have any questions, including help with food and/or prescription pick-up, in need of a face mask, in need of medical equipment from our shed, looking for a new book to read from our COA library, or just want to say “Hi”. Regardless if we are answering the calls from a cellphone remotely at our homes or in the COA office, we would love to hear from you. Team COA Holiday Closing Notes: The COA will be closed on Friday, July 3rd in honor of Independence Day. Enjoy your holiday! THANK YOU, BOB DELOYE! We want to take this time to thank Bob Deloye for serving on the COA Board since July 2011. He served as our Board Chairman for 3 of the 9 years. His energy, enthusiasm and contributions to this committee were outstanding. Although we will miss him on this committee, Bob will continue to volunteer as a Meals On Wheels driver and Medical driver. Page 2 July 2020 Brewster, MA NOTES FROM LISA - PROGRAM DIRECTOR Hi everyone, I hope this brief, yet scintillating message, finds you in great health and happiness as the sunny days of summer are finally upon us. To bring you up to date:  We have cancelled/postponed all our special programming and I will be working on rescheduling them and/or adding new programs in the future.  Some of our instructors have been holding their classes via Zoom or YouTube. These are primarily the current Tai Chi and Meditation classes that met weekly and they will continue until we are able to all join together in person again.  If you would like to join Tai Chi classes, please contact our instructor, A.Jay Zahn, at capecodtaichisociety@gmail.com  If you would like to join Meditation, please contact Carol Marcy at drcarolmarcy@gmail.com Going forward with our programs:  We are looking at alternative rooms/spaces within our building to conduct our programs safely with proper social distancing.  We may need to split classes or restrict the number of attendees.  Relocating some programs to an outdoor area, such as our front and side lawn, the ballfield behind the COA or possibly at Drummer Boy Park. In the meantime, if you wish to travel safely from your home, please copy and paste the following links into your browser to tour National Parks, check out the dunes of the National Seashore, explore the Smithsonian National Zoo, take a nice boat tour of Pleasant Bay or visit Niagara Falls. Have fun, stay well and we sure are looking forward to being together soon! ● https://earth.google.com/web/@34.7325599,- 94.20828246,312.21005962a,12000000d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=Ci0SKxIgMzVhNjc1YmQ0Nj VjMTFlOTg0Yjg1NTMyNWRjMDk2MzQiB3ZveV90b2M ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOembyqkKFE&feature=youtu.be ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYBQHl0WjRM ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YesOeA2nRZ4 ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sP4WBAXXH0 Let’s Party! We are looking forward to a splendid celebration to welcome you all back as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. We miss you and our center is very lonely without you! Page 3 July 2020 Brewster, MA NOTES FROM REGINA - DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT Hello, It’s been a busy time trying to keep track of the many phone calls requesting information. Always feel free to contact me at 508-896-2737 and I’ll do my best to provide answers to your questions. We miss seeing you! Here’s what’s currently happening:  Program Update: While we are closed, some of our services are available to you in your home or over the telephone. ● Pedicare: Please call Janet Tinney at 508-776-3092 ● Massage: Please call Sandra Smith at 508 -237¬0458 ● Hearing Screening: Please call Advanced Audiology Associates, Inc. at 508-385-5222 ● Legal Help: Please call Attorney Katie Wibby at 508-775-7020 x2113 or Attorney Adam Dupuy @ 508-775-3433 ● Mobile Dental Hygiene: Please call them at 508-827-6725 for updated location and availability ● Pet Grooming: Please text (preferred) or call Karen Duble of Buttons & Bows at 508 -360-2596 • AARP Tax Program: This program has been terminated due to lack of volunteers and location to perform the work. • Transportation: All 3 vans have been deep-cleaned and we are hoping to provide individual rides to grocery stores and doctor’s appointments, but have not settled on a start-up date as of yet. Rest assured that once we are able to provide these rides, we will be practicing social distancing, masks will need to be worn and a cleaning program will be in place to make sure all seniors are safe.  Beach Wheelchair: We have 1 PVC beach wheelchair that is available to use thru the COA. The rental fee for the chair is $10.00 for 2 days. You will need a truck to move this wheelchair. Natural Resources Department is building 2 sheds (1 at Breakwater Beach and the other at Paines Creek) to house the floatable beach wheelchairs. For more information on any of these wheelchairs, please call me at 508-896-2737.  Medical Equipment: If you are looking for Medical Equipment, please contact the COA and tell us what you are looking for. We’ll see if we have it and get back to you with instructions on how you can pick it up. Simply give us a call at 508-896-2737.  Senior Shellfish License: Although we cannot process your license in person, you can mail us a copy of your Driver’s license, a copy of your latest Brewster tax bill, and a check for $5.oo payable to “Brewster COA”. We will process it and mail your shellfish license back to you. Please send your check to: Brewster COA, 1673 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631. COA Board Members Needed As a COA Board member, you will be given the stewardship of assessing the needs of the elders in this community, developing and carrying out the programs and services that meet those needs, supporting the Director of Brewster COA and working towards a possible move to a more senior-friendly building. The Board meets every 3rd Tuesday at 12:30pm at the Brewster Town Hall, where our meeting is taped. For more information on how to volunteer, please call Denise at 508 -896-2737. Page 4 July 2020 Brewster, MA NOTES FROM LAUREN - SENIOR DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT Hello everyone, I hope you are well. I’d like to update you as to what has been happening recently, and what will happen as we move forward: ● Hot meal delivery: Since Tuesday, March 31st, I, along with our Outreach Coordinators Brenda Locke and Debra Johnson, as well as Mike Gradone and Steve Headley, Director and Assistant Director from Brewster Recreation Department respectively, have delivered hot meals to our Brewster Seniors every Tuesday and Thursday. These hot meals, which are provided by the Nauset Regional High School Program, are available to our Brewster Seniors who are not on the Elder Service’s Meals on Wheels Program. As of Thursday, May 28th, we have delivered 589 meals. By the time you read this, we’ll have delivered many more. ● Meals on Wheels: Since the beginning of March, our MOW Program has been doing very well. We have added 9 new volunteers. The number of meals has increased by 25% and as of the last week of May, 189 meals were distributed. The menu has had some variation, as certain proteins are more difficult to obtain since the meat shortage, but 90% of the menu is correct. ● Purchasing sanitizing supplies: As we get ready to welcome back our seniors, I have been helping to purchase necessary supplies for the COA building. We have installed Plexiglas shields at the desks of Regina, Lisa, Maria and Brenda/Debra. We are looking to purchase touch-less units to help open the bathroom doors without using your hand. In coordination with Town Hall, the whole building, including the 3 vans, has been deep-cleaned and we are hoping to have the building power-washed and the windows cleaned. Denise has applied for a grant to help us purchase more sanitizing supplies. ● Planning to Re-open: When the COA does re-open to the public, there will be quite a few changes in place meant to keep everyone safe. There will be a cleaning program to keep high -touch areas as safe as possible. We are discussing ways to reduce congestion in the hallways so you might be entering and exiting from different entrances. There will be new signage in place to guide you as you move through the building. Class sizes may have to be temporarily reduced so that we can adhere to the State guidelines, and there will be social distancing in classrooms. There are many different things for us to address going forward, but please know that your COA is doing everything it can to get you back under our roof safely. Beach and Recycle Center Permit Sales: Dear Friends, I missed our annual permit sales day at the Senior Center this year. I enjoy coming and spending time with my friends at the Council on Aging. Due to the Covid19 pandemic, the Beach and Recycle Center permit sales office will not be open for in-person permit sales this year. You may order beach and recycle permits through our mail-in program or online at: https://www.brewster-ma.gov/online-payments. Your current beach and transfer permits are valid through June 30, 2020. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions at dkalinick@brewster-ma.gov. Best, Donna Kalinick, Assistant Town Administrator Page 6 July 2020 Healthy Meals in Motion This popular program serves all eligible Brewster seniors, providing a few 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, July 8. Please call our Brewster COA Outreach Office to enroll at 508-896-2737. NOTES FROM BRENDA & DEBRA - OUTREACH COORDINATORS We have put food resources in place for our seniors in an effort to limit traveling to the grocery store:  With assistance from the Brewster Village Marketplace, the COA has purchased a small inventory of food to supplement our seniors’ needs. The Friends of Brewster Elders (FOBE) provided us with money to go grocery shopping and prescription pickup for our seniors. This eliminated our staff from going to the client to get the money first and then return with the food/prescriptions. We’re stocking a pantry of staples, and are delivering to your door! ● Participation in our Healthy Meals in Motion Mobile Food Pantry program has increased. This is a free monthly food distribution program in collaboration with the Harwich Family Pantry. We currently have approximately 70 participants in this program. See the article at the bottom of this page for more information. ● We are currently delivering meals to 40 seniors who have signed up for the hot lunch program. The dedicated culinary staff at Nauset High School prepare meals for distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a free program for our seniors. Outreach staff is also available for information about: • Grocery and Pharmacy pick-up • Fuel Assistance • SNAP Assistance • Emergency Buttons • Elder Services • Homecare Assistance • Medical Equipment • Referrals of all types Feel free to contact Brenda or Debra at 508-896-2737 for help. NOTES FROM BRENDA & DEBRA - SHINE COUNSELORS Although it’s a bit more challenging working remotely, your SHINE counselors have been busy. Brewster residents are still turning 65 and going onto Medicare, still changing prescriptions, and still addressing insurance related issues. Please call us at 508-896-2737 for help with: • Medicare Parts A&B • Medicare Advantage Plans • Medicare Part D • Public Assistance Programs (including Prescription Advantage, Extra Help from Social Security, MassHealth, and other subsidized programs) You might not be aware that you are eligible for assistance in some of these programs. Please call us to speak confidentially. Brewster, MA July 2020 Page 7 Brewster, MA Eating for Good Health during Social Distancing – Healthy Take-out and Delivery When getting take-out or delivery you can still keep in mind good nutrition, especially if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes. Tips for Ordering Takeout or Delivery  If you get takeout, take the food home right away and eat it while it is hot.  If getting delivery, request “contactless”, the delivery person will notify you when the meal is left at the doorstep.  Transfer the meal from its packaging onto a plate, discard the packaging, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.  Store leftovers safely—wrap tightly and refrigerate any dishes with meat, fish, poultry, or dairy products. Do not let leftovers sit at room temperature for longer than two hours.  Reheat leftovers to at least 165°F.  The microwave is an easy way for reheating leftovers. Rotate food one-half turn midway through the heating time (if your microwave doesn’t have a turntable) and give it a stir to eliminate cold spots where bacteria can survive.  Be sure to label the date of purchase on your leftovers and remember to discard within three to five days. Making healthful choices from an online menu can be a challenge — especially since nutrition facts are not always posted to online menus.  Be mindful of terms such as “crispy,” “battered” and “breaded,” as well as “creamy,” “cheesy” and “Alfredo,” which often can mean they’re higher in saturated fat, calories, and likely sodium.  More healthful options might use terms like “baked,” “grilled,” “roasted,” and “steamed,” as well as “al fresco” or “marinara.”  Consider steamed vegetables or fruit as a side option, when available.  Sauces and dressings usually come on the side when ordered to -go but ask for sauces and dressing on the side to be sure and help control how much actually goes on your food.  If it is a large portion of food you can put half of it away for later.  If you have diabetes, remember it’s important to spread your carbohydrate intake out throughout the day. More information is available to help you estimate carbohydrates in foods at: https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition/understanding-carbs More nutrition information can be found on https://www.eatright.org/coronavirus Information about COVID-19 in Massachusetts can be found at www.Mass.gov/2019coronavirus This article was reprinted in its entirety from an original publication of Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands Nutrition program. Page 9 July 2020 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. Currently via Zoom. 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 COA. 10:00am – 12:00pm On a drop-in basis. Provided by VNA of Cape Cod. FREE. BREWSTER MEN’S COFFEE CLUB (BMCC): Thursdays ~ 2:00pm BRIDGE (men’s and women’s groups): Tuesdays ~ 1:00 - 3:45pm CHAIR YOGA: Tuesdays ~ 11:00am - 12:00pm $10.00 per class. Helps improve strength and flexibility (see page 3 for full 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. DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICE: 4th Wednesday ~ 9:00am - 3:00pm 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 EXPRESSIVE MOVEMENT: Fridays ~ 11:30am - 12:30pm $10.00 per class Strengthening the mind-body connection using move- ment. No experience needed (see page 3 for full description). 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 2 for full 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 or see page 3 of this newsletter for more info. EZ 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 full description). $4.00 per class when paid monthly. LINE DANCING (II): Wednesdays ~ 8:45 - 9:30am Some dance experience required (see page 3 for full description). Cost: $4.00 per class when paid monthly. $6.00 per class for drop-ins. MASSAGE with Sandra: 3rd Tuesday and Wednesday. Massages last 30 minutes and are offered for $15.00. See page 3 for more info. MEALS ON WHEELS: Provided to each homebound elder who is not able to prepare nutritionally balanced meals. Call Brewster Nutrition at 508-896-5070. Sponsored by Elder Services of Cape Cod and Islands. WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: MEDITATION: Thursdays ~ 10:00 - 11:00am Guided meditation. $2.00 per session. Drop-ins welcome! See page 2 for more info. 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 Baysters’! OUTREACH ASSISTANCE: The Outreach Workers will answer any questions you have about resources and programs you may be entitled to. They can assist with assessing needs, tax exemptions, fuel assistance applications, etc. Please call 508-896-2737 to make an appointment. PAIN RELIEF CLASS: Mondays ~ 11:30am - 12:30pm $10.00 per class. Holistic and naturally relieve your back and/or neck pain! (See page 2 for full description). PEDICARE: Thursday, May 21 ~ 9:00am - 3:00pm (Diabetics must see a MD/Podiatrist). ½ hr. appointments - $29.00 Home Visit - $50.00 See Page 3 of this newsletter. 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. $3.00 QI GONG: Thursdays ~ 9:00 - 9:45am. $10.00 for 5 sessions, or $2.00 per class. Chinese method for enhancing the immune system; utilizing posture and breathing exercises, along with focused intentions. Gentle and calming (see page 3 for full description). 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 Medicare beneficiaries understand their rights and benefits. Please contact the COA for a FREE appointment at: 508-896-2737. 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 must have your Brewster COA Swipe Card for admittance. Requested donation of $1.00 per swim done through an honor system. Stop by the COA monthly/quarterly to pay for this activity. 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 2 for more information). Come join us! BEGINNER TAI-CHI: Fridays ~ 1:00 - 2:00pm $10.00 per class. Explore essential elements of Tai-Chi: breathing, basic stances, postures, (see page 2 for more information). No experience necessary! Begins 5/8. ONGOING BEGINNER TAI-CHI: Mondays ~ 1:30 - 2:30pm $10.00 per class. Explore essential elements of Tai-Chi: breathing, basic stances, Tai-Chi postures, and develop awareness of the life-force called Chi (see page 2 for more information). No experience necessary! 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! A Note to our Readers: As of June 5, 2020, our newsletter submission date, many of these programs are still currently on hold, pending the reopening of the COA building to the public. Meanwhile, if you wish to join a Zoom/YouTube class for either Tai Chi or Meditation, please consult page 2 of this newsletter. Other services available to you are listed on page 3. We encourage you to consult the Town of Brewster website at www.brewster-ma.gov for the latest information. A Message from Charles Altieri, RN Public Health Wellness Nurse, VNA of Cape Cod Home visits will occur on Mondays. Page 10 July 2020 Brewster, MA 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 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! Drug Recalls A drug recall occurs when a company takes action to remove a defective drug product from the market. Companies may do so on their own, or by the food and drug administration request. You may be alerted to a recall by a public notification or a notification from the company, your health care provider or your pharmacist. You can access the FDA recall data base at: www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-recalls You can also call the FDA‘s drug recall hotline at 888-463-6332. If you learn there’s a recall of a drug that you’re taking, respond promptly by:  Calling your doctor or pharmacist first; don’t stop taking your medication without talking to a health care professional. The consequences of going without a medication can be far worse than any potential short-term harm related to the cause of the recall.  Knowing the lot number; each medication whether it’s in a bottle, box or tube has an important identifier called a lot number. A drug recall usually refers to a specific lot, or batch, rather than the medication in general. You can typically find it near the expiration date. Your pharmacist can also help you find it.  Disposing of a recalled drug safely; don’t throw away a recalled drug in the trash or flush them down the toilet. The FDA or drug manufacturer may have specific instructions; including sending you a package to mail the drugs back, to guard against any further contamination. If you have any other medications to throw away, all police stations have a disposal box in their lobby. Mayo Clinic, May 2020 BE WELL! LIVE LONG! LIVE STRONG! Charles Altieri, BSN, RN Public Health Wellness Nurse VNA of Cape Cod July 2020 Page 11 Brewster, MA Sightings from the Poop Deck Mary Fields School, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina “I learned that politicians are not supposed to help people. They simply listen to people, nod their heads painfully, commiserate at proper intervals, promise to do all they can, and then do nothing. It was very instructive. I could probably have enlisted more action from a bleached jellyfish washed ashore in a seasonal storm.” —Pat Conroy, “The Water is Wide” “The two room Mary Fields School was built for the island’s black children in the early 1930s. Leftover wood was used to construct desks for the students. The school was integrated after the last white child graduated from the White School House in 1962. The school was immortalized by Pat Conroy in his book, ‘The Water is Wide’. When the Daufuskie Island Elementary School was built in 1997, the Mary Fields School was closed. The building was recently renovated and is used for church and civic activities.” ¹ I came upon Pat Conroy’s book, “The Water is Wide” in our bedroom closet in our daughter’s new home in Palmetto Bluffs, Bluffton, South Carolina during our Christmas visit in 2019. Since then, I think I have almost exhausted my new collection of Conroy’s books, some of which have been turned into movies, such as “The Great Santini,” “The Prince of Tides,” and “The Lords of Discipline.” The moral of this story is never innocently pick up a book that is just lying around, read it, and expect that that will be the end of the story. When you pick up a Pat Conroy book you will eventually be led to the writings of Thomas Wolfe and William Faulkner, both giants in the literary field, and authors you probably should have read in your high school English class. What it has led us to, in subsequent visits to Bluffton, are day trips to Beaufort, Parris Island, home of the U.S. Marine Corps Recruitment Depot, and a boat trip to Daufuskie Island where the Mary Fields School still stands. There are no bridges to Daufuskie Island so its only access is by boat and we did manage to tour it with our daughter Susan and a few of her friends. Interestingly, perhaps for another day, I can be coaxed to tell you of being stuck on a sandbar on the way back to the mainland, when the rains came. It never showers around Daufuskie, it only rains….. heavily! Seems Captain Boo misjudged the tides, or stayed out longer than expected, since we were all having a good time. Can’t blame it on the booze, since we didn’t have any until we were literally drying out. (No pun intended) When Joan and I left Bluffton, I thanked my son-in-law Rich for conveniently moving from Alpharetta, Georgia to Bluffton, South Carolina, which is conveniently located on our annual route between Brewster and Ft. Myers, and that he could expect to see his in-laws more often. As we were saying our goodbyes, I think I noticed him studying a map of Kansas spread out over his desk. ________________________ ¹ Daufuskieisland.com Peter R. Scheffer (“Life is Good!”) 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: Grocery Shopping in Orleans: 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 July 2020 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. Please note: We are in the process of developing our COA Transportation offerings. Please see the August ‘Bayside Chatter’ for new transportation information.