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HomeMy Public PortalAboutMarch 20211673 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 March 2021 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. NEW Registration Process for COVID-19 Vaccinations This newsletter went to press on February 11th. Things may have changed by March. There has been much confusion on how to get a vaccination appointment, because the supply of vaccine is limited. If you gave the COA your name to be on our “Wait List”, which means that you (or one of your family mem- bers/friends/neighbors) are unable to register using a computer, we will assist you with this process. However, we cannot assist you until appointments open up in our area. For those 75+ with NO access to a com- puter, you may call ‘2-1-1’ to reach the state’s helpline for phone assistance in setting up an appointment. Calls are answered Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. Other options are to call your local pharmacy: CVS Hotline: 1-800-746-7287 Stop & Shop – Orleans: 1-508-255-3851 Walgreens – South Yarmouth: 1-508-394-1325 If you are over age 75 and a patient with a Cape Cod Health Care Prima- ry Care physician, a patient with a Beth Israel Deaconess Lahey Health Primary Care physician or at Outer Cape Health Services, contact your primary care physician’s offices for more information about COVID-19 vaccine availability or upcoming appointments. If you DO NOT have a ride to a vaccine appointment, or DO NOT have access to a computer, please call the Barnstable County Helpline at 774-330-3001, Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm. The CCRTA is offering free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites for older adults who have a vaccine appointment. Reservations can be made by calling CCRTA's Dial-A-Ride line at 800-352-7155. Remember that the vaccine is FREE to you. If someone says they can get you a vaccine quicker and all they need is your credit card or Medicare number, it is a SCAM. Hang up and report the call to the Brewster Police Department at 508-896-7011. For more information please check the Town of Brewster website at: www.brewster-ma.gov or the state website at: www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine Brewster Residents in Need are Invited to Apply to Brewster COVID Relief Fund As the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic affects Cape Cod, Brewster COVID Relief funds remain available for Brewster residents. Earlier this year, the Town established a relief fund designed to provide direct and essential support to Brewster residents whose health and well-being are most immedi- ately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The goal of this fund is to help meet the basic needs of residents who are faced with financial challenges related to housing, medical bills, utilities, etc. To qualify for assistance, residents must meet certain financial eligibility criteria based on established federal standards and must have lived in town for at least 3 months. Brewster Council on Aging and Housing staff will assist residents in completing the application process, review completed applications, and determine program eligibility. Requests for financial assistance from eligible residents will then be voted on by the Brewster COVID Relief Fund Commit- tee on a regular basis. The identity of applicants will be kept confidential throughout the process. Payments will be made directly to the appropriate vendor. Please contact Town staff with questions at: covidrelieffund@brewster-ma.gov Happy Retirement to PETER PETTENGILL Brewster COA’S Full-Time Bus Driver After 8 years of transporting our seniors to the Orleans Senior Center, Stop & Shop and Shaw’s, CVS and Rite-Aid, our local hairdressers, barbershops, post office, banks, lunch at the COA as well as some local medical rides, Peter has decided to retire. We congratulate him on a job well done. If you would like to send him a card with your well wishes, please mail to: Peter Pettengill, c/o Brewster COA, 1673 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631 Page 2 Brewster, MA March 2021 Senior Fitness Hour “Senior Fitness Hour” is found on Channel 99 of Lower Cape Community Access TV for older adults in the communities of Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro. This program is the result of a collaborative effort between Lower Cape TV and the Councils on Aging in these communities. The pandemic has created an extended period of isolation which has been hard for seniors, and everyone is desperately missing their routines. Every weekday there will be fitness classes featuring instructors from various senior centers. From 10:00 - 10:30am, there will be regular senior fitness classes, and from 10:30 - 11:00am there will be chair fitness classes. See below for the schedule: 10-10:30am: Regular Senior Fitness 10:30-11am: Chair Fitness M Frank’s Funky Fitness M,W,F Life Exercises with Janet Tue, Th Morning Fitness with Becky Tue Chair Fitness with Melissa W Fitness with Melissa Th Sit Fitness with Becky F Gentle Yoga with Debra Programming Update While our building remains closed, some of our services are available to you in your home or over the telephone. ● Pedicare: call Janet Tinney at 508-776-3092 ● Massage: call Sandra Smith at 508-237-0458 ● Hearing Screening: call Advanced Audiology Associates, Inc. at 508-385-5222  Legal Help: call Attorney Raymond Yox at 508-775-7020 X2011 or Attorney Adam Dupuy at 508-775-3433 ● Mobile Dental Hygiene: 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 Note: the next drop -in date at the COA will be Thursday, March 18, from 8:00am to 8:30am in the back parking lot. The cost is $3.00 per nail trim for senior (60+) pet-owners.  Computer Help: call the COA at 508-896-2737 and we will forward your name and contact information to Del Borah, our Computer Help instructor, who will then help you via phone.  Medical Equipment: if you are looking for medical equipment, please contact the COA at 508-896-2737 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.  Senior Shellfish License: though we cannot process your license in person, you can mail us a copy of your Driver’s license (showing that you are at least 70 years of age), a copy of your latest Brewster tax bill, and a check for $5.oo payable to “Brewster COA”. Be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that we can mail your new shellfish license and your documents back to you. Please send your check and paperwork to: Brewster COA, 1673 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631 You may also use our drop-box which is located at the bottom of the ramp behind our building.  Our Brewster PC User Group has a Zoom meeting every other Thursday at 1:00pm. If you wish to participate please notify the instructor, Pete Scheffer, via email at: prs288@gmail.com Pete will be happy to include you in the group and will send you an invitation. Senior & Veteran Volunteer Tax Abatement Programs At their January 19, 2021 meeting, the Select Board voted to suspend the Senior and Veteran Volunteer Tax Abatement Programs for the 2021 calendar year. With the recent increase in COVID-19 cases and the reduction in allowed office staffing capacity, the Town does not feel that it is prudent to operate these programs for this year. We look forward to offering them for the 2022 calendar year and hope we can all be together soon. ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ Online: The ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ is available online each month and can be found at: https://www.brewster-ma.gov/council-on-aging Scroll down to where it reads: ‘our newsletters are available online’ and click on the link! Or go directly to: http://records.brewster-ma.gov/ weblink/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=75664& row=1&cr=1 Page 3 Brewster, MA March 2021 RMV Senior Days in March The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is offering designated Wednesday appointment hours for customers 75 years of age or older through March. Individuals in this age group are required by state law to renew their Massachusetts driver’s license in-person. The RMV also offers these customers registration and title services and transactions. Below are the options for seniors to schedule in-person appointments during designated service hours: If you are a AAA member, you may make a reservation now to renew your driver’s license/ID or conduct certain other transactions at a AAA location. Visit aaa.com/appointments to schedule your visit. If you are not a AAA member, visit Mass.Gov/RMV to make a reservation to renew or conduct most other transactions at an RMV Service Center. Visit the Make/Cancel a Reservation transaction tab in the MyRMV Service Center and select “Senior Transaction” for all available RMV transactions. Reservations can be booked two weeks in advance. Email the RMV for assistance: MassDOTRMVSeniors@ dot.state.ma.us Call the RMV at 857-368-8005. A Message from Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod The Alzheimer's Family Support Center of Cape Cod currently offers 47 FREE virtual support groups for caregivers, as well as for people experiencing memory loss. Please call 508-896-5170 for more info and to register for the group that best meets your needs and schedule. They also provide step-by-step phone support on how to access these groups through Zoom. We en- courage you to visit their website at www.alzheimerscapecod.org March Election The Nauset Regional School District Committee is looking to hold a Spe- cial District Wide Election on March 30th for the Construction/Renova- tion of the Nauset Regional High School. The Select Board will hold a Special Election at the same date and time as the District’s Election, to vote on the authority, for the bor- rowing, to cover the costs associated with Brewster’s share of the debt, if the District question passes. All eligible voters in Brewster will be mailed a postcard with a vote by mail option for both ballots, if they choose, or as always you may opt to vote at the polls on election day, March 30th at Brewster Baptist Church, 1848 Main Street, from 11:00am to 7:00pm. AARP Tax Aid: Program Update As we go to print with this newslet- ter, we are very sorry to say that Brewster will not be involved with the AARP Tax Aid Program. As you know, we are still not open to the public. After much discussion, we cannot find a venue to host the 5 tax aides to do the paperwork. Millstone Village Food Collection Drive - Mark Martino A BIG THANK YOU for the coordi- nation efforts of Mark Martino, one of our volunteer drivers, for putting together a highly successful food drive in the Millstone Village neighborhood. Three cars of non-perishable food were delivered to the COA on January 11th for distribution to Brewster residents in need. There were 53 bags, which totaled 689 pounds of food! Residents who helped with this drive include (from left to right): Karyn Frey, Keith Erhardt, Mark Martino, Sharon Tennstedt and Cal Mutti. See page 6 for an upcoming Food Distribution event which will be held curbside at the COA. Introducing Cape COAST Cape COAST (Councils on Aging Serving Together) is a collective partnership of COAs here on Cape Cod. Working together, the goal of COAST during the pandemic has been to use their combined resources to help improve the lives of the senior population through the development of programming that is accessible to individuals right in their own homes. Last month’s ‘Peter, Paul and Mary’ concert featured on Channel 99 was just one example of the COA’s part- nering to provide entertainment for all seniors on the Cape. The exercise programs listed on page 2 of this newsletter are another example. On the next page, you’ll find an amazing list of upcoming Zoom programs that are available to anyone with a computer or other smart-device. Do you need help getting connected to Zoom? If so, call the Brewster COA at 508-896-2737 and we’ll pass your name and contact information on to one of our two wonderful Computer Help instructors: Del Borah and Pete Scheffer. They’ll have you expanding your world through Zoom in no time! A Reminder to Spring Forward: Daylight Saving time begins on Sunday, March 14. Remember to set all clocks forward one hour, and remember to check the batteries in your smoke-detector(s) too. Spring officially begins on Saturday, March 20! Page 4 Brewster, MA March 2021 COASTAL CONNECTIONS Cape COAST (Councils On Aging Serving Together) has been collaborating to strengthen our partnerships and leverage our collective resources to offer older adults on Cape Cod enhanced options for virtual programming. Join us as we connect visually through Zoom, widen our circles and take advantage of greater opportunities for engagement, enrichment and education. Below is a list of FREE virtual programs open to you in March! Registration for these programs will begin immediately. “SONGBIRDS OF THE NORTHEAST” with JOHN ROOT Wednesday, March 3, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Bourne COA at 508-759-0600 ext. 5300. “BURIALS AT SEA” with CAPTAIN BRAD WHITE Wednesday, March 3, at 6:30pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register, call Susan at the Barnstable COA at 508-862-4761 or email: susan.griffin@town.barnstable.ma.us “COOKING WITH ALLY” Tuesday, March 9, at 11am (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Dennis Senior Center at 508-385-5067. FALMOUTH COA BOOK CLUB…All Are Welcome! “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett Tuesday, March 9, at 1:30pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Falmouth COA at 508-540-0196. “WILL THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY RECOVER FROM COVID-19?” MARIE C. CLOUGHER, Esq. Thursday, March 11, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Yarmouth Senior Center at 508-394-7606 x 1333. “BUILDING OUR CONNECTIONS WITH PLANTS” with ALYSSA DOOLITTLE, MS Monday, March 15, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Truro COA at 508-487-2462 or email cmicks@truro-ma.gov “VOYAGE OF THE PILGRIMS” with RICHARD NICHOLS Tuesday, March 16, at 10am (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Bourne COA at 508-759-0600 ext. 5300. “CELEBRATION OF SONG” with JOHN ROOT Tuesday, March 16, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Chatham Senior Center at 508-945-5190. “CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY” with DAVE HICKEY and SEAN BRENNAN Wednesday, March 17, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Yarmouth Senior Center at (508)394-7606 x 1333. “DIVERSITY, EQUITY & PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY” with ROBERT BARROWS Thursday, March 18, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Orleans Senior Center at 508-255-6333. “COGNITIVE HEALTH” with DR. MOLLY PERDUE, ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER OF CAPE COD Monday, March 22, at 11am (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Provincetown Senior Center at 508-487-7080. “BIRDS, BEES, BUTTERFLIES & POLLINATORS” with FRAN RALEIGH Tuesday, March 23, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Orleans Senior Center at 508-255-6333. “CAPE COD VET CENTER AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS” Wednesday, March 24, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Chatham Senior Center at 508-945-5190. “MARITIME GHOSTS AND SEAFARING SPIRITS” with ROXIE ZWICKER Wednesday, March 24, at 1pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Sandwich COA at 508-888-4737. “TICK TALK” with LARRY DAPSIS, ENTOMOLOGIST, CAPE COD COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Wednesday, March 24, at 1:30pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Provincetown Senior Center at 508-487-7080. “AWARENESS INSPIRES CONSERVATION” with JOHN DRISTEN KIBBLEHOUSE Wednesday, March 24, 2pm (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Harwich COA at 508-430-7550. “LEARN THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS” with GERRY BEDARD, SEPSIS AWARENESS ALLIANCE Tuesday, March 30, at 10am (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Dennis Senior Center at 508-385-5067. “BASICS OF ESTATE PLANNING” with ATTORNEY MICHAEL L. LAVENDER Tuesday, March 30, 10am (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Yarmouth Senior Center at 508-394-7606 x 1333. “EXOTIC TURNEFFE ATOLL, BELIZE” with JOY MARZOLF, NATURALIST Wednesday, March 31st, at 10:30am (via Zoom) For more information and to register call the Sandwich Council on Aging at (508) 888-4737 Page 6 March 2021 Brewster, MA Upcoming March Programs Saint Patrick’s Day Curbside Event March 17th from 11:00am to 1:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main St., in the back parking lot Join us on St. Patrick's Day, as the Brewster COA hosts a Food Distribution Curbside event for ANY Brewster resident. We are fortunate to have a large and varied array of food that was collected by the Millstone Village group (see their article on page 3). Don some green and wear a shamrock because regular rocks are too heavy! In addition, our monthly Senior Curbside Event will also take place; same day, same time. In case of inclement weather, this event will be held on Thursday, March 18, at the same time. Covid Survival Tool Kit for Seniors Presented by Debbie Francis, Educator and Advocator for NAMI Cape Cod and the Islands This presentation will discuss the subject of A COVID Survival Tool Kit for Seniors. NAMI Cape Cod &The Islands is producing an Eight-Part COVID-19 Survival Kit. This presentation will address the first 3 parts in the series; Structure, Kinship (Connectedness), and Socialization. NAMI is the acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Health. Please refer to the Channel 18 schedule for air times. Heart Health for Seniors Presented by Elissa Thompson, MD, Cardiologist, Cape Cod Healthcare This presentation will discuss heart health for seniors. Dr. Thompson is a well renowned cardiol- ogist and has a special clinical interest in women’s heart health. A few of the topics included will address nutrition, cholesterol, high blood pressure and how you can increase your positive results for good heart health. It is imperative that everyone continues to see their physicians/specialists during this pandemic to maintain healthy hearts and bodies. Please refer to the Channel 18 schedule for air times. Zoom exercise class: Qi Gong Tuesdays at 9:00am 45-minute sessions Please contact the instructor, Ray DiPietro at rayvector@hotmail.com to join the class. Mass 211 Mass 211 is an easy -to-remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community. It serves as a resource for finding government benefits and services, nonprofit organ- izations, support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation programs, elder care and other local resources. The Master Gardener Spring Symposium Join the Cape Cod Extension for the first webinar of the Spring Symposium hosted by the Master Gardener Association of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. The title for this year’s symposium is “The Art of Growing Food” with guest speaker Ellen Ecker Ogden. Ellen’s story is about the love affair between a gardener and cook, a small farm in Vermont and the discovery of European heirloom seeds. She co-founded a seed catalog called ‘The Cooks Garden’ dedicated to offering the best tasting European heirlooms for cooks who love to garden. Food gardens are more important than ever. Whether it’s a one-square foot plot or a wilderness waiting to be tamed, planting a garden is an opportunity to dig deeper into the plant kingdom. The date for this event is currently scheduled for Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 10:00 - 11:30am. Cost of this event will be $15. Contact the extension for registration details at: extad@barnstablecounty.org or call at 508-375-6690. Emergency Preparedness Series Over the past few months, we have included informative articles about preparedness in our newsletter. In January, we talked about “Winter Storm Preparation” and in February, it was “Recognize and Prevent Hypothermia”. We have one more article for you, “Electrical Power Outages”, but due to lack of space, we are offering it to you by email or by calling us for a copy. Please email drego@brewster-ma.gov or call us at 508-896-2737 and we will make sure you get it. Page 7 Brewster, MA March 2021 Looking for something fun to do? Some of our instructors are holding their classes via Zoom or YouTube.  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 March 2021: COA Programming on Channel 18 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Covid Tool Kit for Seniors with Debbie Francis 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Chair Yoga 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am - Geriatric Care with Jill Beardsley 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am - Covid Tool Kit for Seniors with Debbie Francis 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Geriatric Care with Jill Beardsley 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11 am – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11 am – Eat Well, Stay Well with Kim Concra 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Covid Tool Kit for Seniors with Debbie Francis 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Geriatric Care with Jill Beardsley 7am – Chair Yoga 11 am – Eat Well, Stay Well with Kim Concra 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am – Covid Tool Kit for Seniors with Debbie Francis 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 28 29 30 31 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am – Chair Yoga 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 7am – Chair Yoga 11am - Covid Tool Kit for Seniors with Debbie Francis Personal Hygiene Items - Update: The COA still has some disposable incontinence products available but our supply is dwindling. To either request or donate, please give us a call at 508-896-2737. Page 9 March 2021 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 RESPONSI- BILITY 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. Need some help with food or prescriptions? Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels delivers meals to people aged 60 and over who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals. For more information call Elder Services, Information and Referral at 508-394-4630 or 1-800-244-4630. If you are already a client and need to reach our Nutrition Site, please contact Maria at 508-896-5070. Curbside Pickup The Brewster COA is offering curbside pickup for those who are unable to drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the following markets and Pharmacies (we ask for at least 2 business days’ notice — no same-day pickup available): Brewster Village Marketplace 1760 Main Street, Brewster 508-896-2905 Ferretti’s Market 501 Underpass Road, Brewster 508-896-8919 CVS Skaket Corners 9 West Road, Orleans 508-255-0570 Walgreens* 130 Rt. 6A, Orleans 508-255-5931 (Please note, Walgreens has a $30.00 minimum order for free curbside pickups) Once you have placed and paid for your order, please inform the business that the Brewster COA will be there to pick it up for you on either a Tuesday or Thursday (must be ready on those days). Next, just give us a call at 508-896-2737. We’ll pick it up and deliver it directly to your home. 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. Preorder from a wide selection of food items and your order will be ready for pickup! Brewster’s date is always the second Wednesday of each month, so the next date will be Wednesday, March 10. Please call the COA Outreach Office to enroll at 508-896-2737. Property Tax Exemption Information Applications for FY2021 tax exemptions are now being accepted. Tax exemptions are available for qualifying primary resident seniors, veterans, and blind taxpayers. Renewal applications have been mailed to those who received the exemption last year. Please note that all elderly exemption applicants MUST make a tele-conference appointment with Brenda Locke or Debra Johnson at the Council on Aging to submit and review their application materials. They can be reached at 508-896-2737 or by email at: blocke@brewster-ma.gov or djohnson@brewster-ma.gov Fuel Assistance Do you need some help with your winter heating bills? You may be eligible for fuel assistance. The Fuel Assistance Program provides low income households with help paying home heating bills during the heating season from November 1 – April 30. Eligibility is determined by gross income of total household members. If you are deemed eligible for fuel assistance you will also receive a discount on your electric bill. If you are a Brewster resident applying for the first time, or need help with a re-certification application, please call the COA Outreach Office at 508-896-27370 to find out how to proceed. You are also welcome to call Fuel Assistance directly at 508-746-6707 or toll-free at 877-833-4243. Page 10 March 2021 Brewster, MA OUTREACH Notes We have some food resources in place for our seniors who cannot drive:  The COA still has some stock pantry staples that can be delivered to your door. Please call us at 508-896-2737 to see what we have and when we can deliver it to you.  Participation in the Healthy Meals in Motion Mobile Food Pantry program has increased substantially. This is a free monthly food distribution program in collaboration with the Harwich Family Pantry. Please see the article on page 9 for more information. Outreach staff is also available for information about: • Fuel Assistance • SNAP Assistance • Emergency Buttons • Referrals of all types • Homecare Assistance • Medical Equipment • Elder Services For help with any of these, please contact the Outreach Office at 508-896-2737. Heart Health Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the United States and it is very important to prioritize your heart health as early as possi- ble. The American Heart Association recommends following a heart healthy diet, getting regular physical exercise and making lifestyle changes to protect your heart. Exercise regularly: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of higher intensity physical activity weekly. Do not smoke: If you smoke or use tobacco or nicotine containing products, you should quit. It is also important to avoid second-hand smoke whenever possible. Consume alcohol in modera- tion: No more than one drink per day for a female and two drinks per day for a male. Speak with your doctor about your conditions and medications to ensure moderate alcohol consumption is acceptable. Take medications as prescribed: All medications, especially those prescribed for your heart, should always be taken as directed by your physician. Follow a heart healthy diet: Limit sodium, replace saturated fats with healthier fats and aim to eat as many nutritious foods as possible. Heart Healthy Diet 1. Limit saturated fats to 5-6% of your daily calories. This amounts to approximately 13 grams of saturated fat in a 2000 calorie a day diet. Some foods high in saturated fats include fatty beef, lamb, pork, poul- try with skin, lard, cream, butter, cheese, high-fat dairy products. 2. Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels, lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels and should be avoided. The primary dietary source for trans fats in processed food is “partially hydrogenated oils.” 3. Replace saturated and trans fats with monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats which can have a positive effect on your health when eaten in moderation. Some sources of healthier fats include olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, corn oil and sunflower oil. 4. Limit sodium (salt) to 2000 milligrams (mg) or 2 grams (g) or less daily. 5. Eat more whole grains which contain many vital nutrients and are rich in fiber. 6. Eat fresh and frozen vegetables and fruits whenever possible. When consuming canned fruits and vegetables be aware of what they are packed in. They may contain high amounts of salt or sugar. 7. Choose lean cuts of meats and poultry without skin. 8. Aim to eat a variety of fish twice weekly, especially those with the highest amounts of omega fatty acids. 9. Select fat free (skim) and low-fat (1%) dairy products. As you get acclimat- ed to following a more heart healthy diet, it is helpful to keep a daily log of what you eat and drink. Reading labels and adding up the amount of calories, sodium and saturated fats can help you identify areas of your diet that could be improved upon. Adding more herbs and spices when cooking can help add flavor to your low salt meals. Opt for heart healthy foods whenever possible and enjoy less healthy options in moderation. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy- living/healthy-eating/eat-smart A Message from Stephanie Lattanzio, RN-BSN Public Health and Wellness Town Nurse, VNA of Cape Cod Home visits will occur on Mondays. Page 11 March 2021 Brewster, MA Sightings from the Poop Deck “Invented in the 8th century, the hourglass was used to measure time. This device, often depict- ed as a symbol, evokes the concept that human existence is fleeting, and that the ‘sands of time’ will run out for every source of life on earth.” Marilyn Seidl Sobwick - “Eternal Xchange” What a terrible quote to begin this month’s writing and if you’re bummed out already, go no further, shred this and wait until next month when I may have had a better glass of wine and be in a better mood. Much of what I put down on paper is really designed to make you chuckle, but once in a while I do manage to P.O. someone, my phone will begin to ring and on the other end will be someone accusing me of “fake news.” BTW, you will find my phone number in the February PD. Let me know how your conversation goes ;) Isn’t it amazing how the mind works? Dur- ing a stroll along the riverwalk this morning in Pal- metto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina, while soak- ing in the sun, enjoying the beautiful blue Cape Cod sky, Joanie Carfora asked me, after a few steps, “What’s that noise?” I pretended not to hear her until the noise got louder and she once again asked, “What is that?” I confessed that it was my right knee talking to me, and promised to have it fixed when we returned home. She insisted that when we passed by the house I should retire to my rocking chair so that she could finish her walk unencumbered, and without me as a handicap. So for a day which started out very pleasantly, here I was now contemplating my aches and pains, trig- gered very innocently by a couple of noisy knees. Let me bore you with how my physical breakdowns have occurred. In my younger days I have played baseball, basketball, football, (never soccer!), run in the New York City Marathon, the Johnny Kelly Half Marathons, numerous 5K and 10K races, trained with the Clifton, New Jersey and the Cape Cod Road Runners Clubs, skied the mountains of Canada, Vermont and New York, so it comes as no surprise to me today that this old body (and brain too) is breaking down even as I write this piece. I haven’t had any problems with my rotator cuff yet, so I can still throw a pretty good fastball, but won’t because I may trigger rotator cuff surgery, which would then interfere with my knee surgery. It makes me laugh when I have to go down into the basement or up to the 2nd floor at home because stairs have become a chore as I negotiate each step and I’m usually thinking, “Is there any- thing else I need up or down before I finally com- mit to making the trip?” because I don’t want to duplicate the effort. Oh, by the way, did I mention that aside from all the pounding listed above I am a “few” pounds overweight, which probably is con- tributing to my maladies? I will, however, admit to patronizing the local restaurants frequently. It was never my intention to bum you out with my version of General Hospital in this month’s PD and in fact I will still sign off with “LIG!” because it really is, but if you by chance happen to see me in the Shaw’s or Stop n’ Shop parking lot carrying my groceries back to my car I would appreciate a helping hand. I need to get home post haste to check that the last grain of sand in my hourglass is still above the choke point. I need to be ready. Peter R. Scheffer - (“Life is Good!”) - Honestly!! P.S. Happy St. Patrick’s Day and let us not forget Buon San Giuseppe on the 19th! poop deck, n., a deck above a ship’s main afterdeck Look Who’s 100!! For those who know her, Jannette Caley celebrated her 100th birthday on January 15th! Despite the cold weather and a pan- demic which cancelled an in-person party, COA staff was able to stand out on the curb behind our building and wish Jannette a happy birthday as she was driven past! We wish her a great year ahead and look for- ward to the day when we can welcome Jannette and everyone else back under the COA’s roof! For the latest information on town topics, we encourage you to consult the Town of Brewster website at www.brewster-ma.gov Face Masks Available: If you need a face mask, just call the COA at 508-896-2737. We still have a selection of handmade, washable masks available, and we’ll make sure you get one! 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 MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS We are now offering medical rides from our local area to as far as Hyannis for routine doctor’s appointments Mondays through Fridays. We regret that we cannot accommodate riders who are having procedures. There will be 1 ride per day, with 1 client getting the ride to/from their appointment. All safety precautions, such as social distancing, hygiene protocol and cleaning/disinfecting, will be strictly reinforced. Due to these protocols, our ability to offer rides will be considerably reduced, so we encourage you to have an alternative method of transportation available. Appointments should be booked for times between 9:00am and 2:00pm. 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 schedule your ride. Please notify the COA if you can’t keep your appointment so we can notify our driver. Donations are accepted for this service. Our van is wheelchair-accessible. Page 12 March 2021 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. Rides must be scheduled by no later than noon on the day prior to a ride. Rides can be scheduled up to 30 days in advance. The DART 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: There is currently no Senior Dining on-site at the Brewster COA. This menu is for the Meals on Wheels home lunch-delivery program only. For more information, please contact Maria at 508-896-5070. Thank you.