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Volume 5, Issue 5
May 2018
The Wenhamite WENHAM COA
10 SCHOOL STREET
978-468-5534
JRReynolds, Director/Outreach Coordinator: (978) 468-5529
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Behold, my friends, the spring
is come; the earth has gladly
received the embraces of the
sun, and we shall soon see the
results of their love! Sitting Bull
Many thanks to all those
who have participated in the
two Listening Sessions for
wenham connects. We know
that 60% of what determines
our health has to do with our
social environment and
behavioral factors. These
gatherings have brought to
life problems we can solve
and we encourage people to
call with any reasonable
requests for help.
HS Seniors will once again
be helping seniors with yard
work on May 29th from 8:30
- 12:30. Light chores could
included any number of
tasks incl: raking, planting,
mulching and ground floor
windows cleaning. Call Lisa
Heitz by Weds, May 16th at
(978) 468-0496 if you need a
hand.
Our annual appeal letter
will go out at the end of this
month and I urge you to
simply participate. The COA
has great people involved on
both the Board and the
Friends. We are eager and
earnest in wanting to make a
difference. Communication
and neighborhood networks
will be two cornerstones. JR
JR
Older Americans Month 2018
Every May, the Administration on Aging, part of the Administration for Community Living, leads our nation's observance of Older American's Month. The 2018 theme, Engage at Every Age, emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities.
Participating in activities that promote
mental and physical wellness, offering your
wisdom and experience to the next
generation, seeking the mentorship of
someone with more life experience than
you—those are just a few examples of what
being engaged can mean. No matter where
you are in your life, there is no better time
than now to start. We hope you will join in
and Engage at Every Age!
wenham connects is building a forum for the voices of older adults in our community to be at the center of the age and dementia friendly community conversation - We encourage those in our community to find a way to express their views and share input about what would make Wenham a more connected place for older adults.
Our goal is to create a community conversation through listening sessions with adults to come together and voice their ideas while recognizing older adults for their contributions to this effort. We will be establishing an older adult service award to recognize vital contributions being made by older adults in the Wenham community. Many thanks to those who were able to come to our listening session and we look forward to continuing the conversation!
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES
wenham connects transport
Call (978) 468-5534
Service hours: Mon - Fri: 8 am - 3:30 pm
24 Hr. Advance Notice Preferred
Medical appointments & destinations
Weekly Trips to local markets
Group rides to local restaurants
Van is wheelchair accessible
Donations of $3-5 are appreciated.
DESTINATIONS
Wenham
Hamilton
Manchester
Essex
Ipswich
Danvers
Topsfield
Beverly
Peabody
ADRD Caregiver Support Group (Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias) Thursday, May 3rd from 12 - 1:30am Groups help you cope! Studies show that the least depressed caregivers attend a group as regularly as possible (www.alz.org), so please join us and be supported by others who are trained and understand and can help. A nutritious & healthy lunch is provided, please RSVP 978-468-5534.
Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Monday, May 14th, 1:00 - 3:00pm at the Beverly COA Monthly meeting. Presentation by Elizabeth Cevetello, RN - Therapy for Off periods in Parkinson’s. For more information contact Coordinator, Ray James, BS, RN at 617-638-7745. Held in Suite C.
You May be Eligible for Veterans’ Benefits Who is eligible? In order to be eligible for
veterans’ benefits, an individual must either be a veteran or a dependent of a veteran. Who are eligible dependents? Qualified dependents include: 1. Spouse of a veteran. 2. Widow/widower of a veteran. 3. Dependent parent of a veteran. 4. Child of a veteran until age 19. 5. Child of a veteran between 19 and 23 years of age while in high school or other accredited educational institution. 6. Child of a veteran age 19 or older who is mentally or physically unable to support him/herself and affected by the disability prior to age 18 For a complete list of eligibility requirements, please visit the WEBSITE below.
https://www.mass.gov/ service-details/definition-of-a-veteran
FWCOA Friends of the Wenham COA letter coming in June! wenham connects
Please consider supporting us in Creating a Vibrant Age & Dementia Friendly Community. We are an early adopter of this WHO (World Health Org and AARP initiative and we will spend the next year on a needs assessment through continued focus groups meetings and surveys with the help of UMass Boston Gerontology Institute. Loneliness and social isolation has been deemed a national health epidemic and we need your support!
Maple Street Bistro on Tuesday, May 15th leaving the COA at 10:30am at $7.50 PP
Carpool for a gourmet luncheon at Essex Tech Culinary Arts School at their dining facility known as the Maple Street Bistro. We will leave in a caravan at 10:30am from the COA returning around 12:30 -1pm. If interested in this 3-course culinary delight RSVP (978) 468-5534.
Photo Organizing & Scanning by Lindsey Strong from Out of the Box. (978) 314.6776. Digital &
printed photo storage solutions. Are your photos hidden away in shoeboxes? If you are overwhelmed and not sure where to start contact Lindsay for a FREE 20 minute phone consultation to get you started on tackling you photo organizing project. Email: [email protected].
The Wenhamite
May 2018 Calendar
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9:30 Bocce 1
10 Water Exercise Bennett Center
10:30 MET Lecture
11:30 Whole body strength w/ Dianna 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
2
10 VanGo to Acord 10 Pickleball (Rec) 3 Crown & Crumpets
7 PM H-W Library Weds.Night Book Club
Bunker Hill
10:30 Balance+ 3
with Regina 10:30 &12:30 MarketB 12:30 Pickleball (Rec) 12:00 (Dementia)
Caregiver Support Group Lunch
KUE Knitting 2pm
4
10 Pickleball (Rec)
Bingo Enon 2-4pm 10:30 H-W Library Your Hearing….
7
9-12:00 SHINE
10 Pickleball (Rec)
1:00 Chair Pose Yoga w/Lisa 6:30 Bridge
9:30 Bocce 8 10 Water Exercise
Bennett Center 10-12 Senator Tarr Rep. Dick Curran 10:30 MET Lecture 11:30 Whole body strength w/ Dianna 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
9
10 VanGo to Acord 10 Pickleball (Rec) 3 Crown & Crumpets
9:30 Bocce 10 10:30 Balance+ with Regina 10:30 &12:30 MarketB 12:30 Pickleball (Rec) RIFF Book Grp 2pm
A Tale for the Time Being
11
10 Pickleball (Rec)
Bingo Enon 2-4pm
14
9-12:00 SHINE
10 Pickleball (Rec)
1:00 Chair Pose Yoga w/Lisa
6:30 Bridge
9:30 Bocce 15
10 Water Exercise Bennett Center
10:30 MET Lecture
11:30 Whole body strength w/ Dianna 11:30 H-W Library Literary Luncheon A Piece of the World 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
16
10 VanGo to Acord
10 Pickleball (Rec) 3 Crown & Crumpets
6:30 H-W Library
A Unique Community: Asbury Grove in
Pictures and Prose
9:30 Bocce 17
10:30 Balance+ with Regina 10:30 &12:30 MarketB 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
KUE Knitting 2pm
18
10 Pickleball (Rec)
Bingo Enon 2-4pm
deCordova Museum & Sculpture Park,
Lincoln,MA DEPARTS 9:30 AM
21
9-12:00 SHINE
10 Pickleball (Rec)
1:00 Chair Pose Yoga w/Lisa
6:30 Bridge
9:30 Bocce 22
10 Water Exercise
Bennett Center 10:30 MET Lecture
11:30 Whole body strength w/ Dianna 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
23
10 VanGo to Acord 10 Pickleball (Rec) 3 Crown & Crumpets
9:30 Bocce 24
10:30 Balance+ with Regina
10:30 &12:30 MarketB 11 Low Vision Group Hamilton COA 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
25
10 Pickleball (Rec)
Bingo Enon 2-4pm
28
9-12:00 SHINE
10 Pickleball (Rec)
1:00 Chair Pose Yoga w/Lisa
6:30 Bridge
Seniors helping
Seniors 8:30 - 12:30
9:30 Bocce 29
10 Water Exercise Bennett Center
10:30 MET Lecture 11:30 Whole body strength w/ Dianna 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
30
10 VanGo to Acord 10 Pickleball (Rec) 3 Crown & Crumpets
9:30 Bocce 31
10:30 Balance+ with Regina 10:30 &12:30 MarketB 12:30 Pickleball (Rec)
Underlined
items
require
RSVP
978-468-5534
2nd Sunday Open House at
WCOA
May13th 1 pm - 4:00 pm
COMMUNITY ARTS ENGAGEMENT
Masterworks of American Art TUESDAY LECTURES START AT 10:00 AM
A nation's identity is expressed through its art. Great painters capture the essence of a culture's brightest hopes, deepest anxieties, and most profound aspirations. They provide an aesthetic road map to a nation's history, recording the lives of its citizens and reflecting the personality of an entire people. But all too often, Americans themselves are unfamiliar with the great artistic legacy of their own country. Many of us study the great artists of Europe—Leonardo and Rubens, Degas and Monet—but neglect the remarkable painters of our own national tradition. And yet the tradition of American art is filled with spectacular masterpieces that raise intriguing questions: How did the founding of this new nation find expression in art? Have our democratic ideals influenced the growth and development of American art? Did artists in this nascent culture follow time-honored aesthetic models, or did they pioneer new styles to
communicate their burgeoning sense of national pride? Is there something uniquely "American" about American art? These are the kinds of questions we’ll explore in (24) 1/2 hour DVD movie lectures in Masterworks of American Art. Our Professor William Kloss is a noted scholar and art historian. He has taught more than 100 courses as an independent lecturer for the Smithsonian Institution's seminar program. In this sweeping survey, we will encounter the brilliant paintings of the homegrown masters who documented the birth of our nation from its colonial roots up to the brink of World War I and the birth of Modernism. As you examine this vital artistic tradition in its historical, cultural, and political contexts, you discover how appreciating the legacy of American art is crucial to fully understanding the story of our great nation.
OUR OWN...RIFF READING IS FOR FUN Thursday, May 10th 2-4PM. We invite you to join our very informal book group which meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 2 PM in the Wenham COA. There’s always coffee/tea, refreshments, and lively conversation. Come join the fun!
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. In Tokyo sixteen-year-old Nao has decided
there’s only one escape from her aching loneliness and her classmates bullying. Before
she ends it all, Nao first plans to document the life of her great grandmother, a Buddhist
nun. A diary is Naos only solace and will touch lives in many ways. Across the Pacific
we meet Ruth a novelist living on a remote island who discovers a collection of artifacts
washed ashore in a Hello Kitty lunchbox, possibly debris from the devastating 2011
tsunami. As the mystery of its contents unfolds Ruth is pulled into the past into Naos
drama and her unknown fate and forward into her own future. This is a beguiling story of
our shared humanity and the search for home.
Spring Fling (2nd Sundays)
COA Open House Sunday, May 13th 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Lunch, art crafts, activities - games galore! Poker,
Board Games, and Trivia! Food. Seasonal activities,
healthy snacks, strip poker, birds of the seasons,
games, and laughs. A volunteer-led program intended
to make something of your Sunday. RSVP (978) 468-
5534 if possible, or more information contact Marsha
Ford at (978) 468-7736.
KNITTERS UNITED ETC. (KUE) We meet on the first and third Thurs of every month from 2 – 4 (April 5th & 19th). We aren't just knitters. We'd like any one who has a craft or hobby they can bring along to join us. We chatter, knit, sew, weave and even draw while having a cup of tea or coffee and sharing the time together. Please consider joining in. Everyone is welcome.
Friday, May 18 - deCordova Museum & Sculpture Park, Lincoln Tour: Lived Space: Humans and Architecture Time: 11 am – 12 noon (depart from the COA at 9:30 am) This Lived Space exhibit explores the power of our inhabited environments - how spaces shape and inspire us. The artists featured in Lived Space address our impulses to adapt and relate to our architectural surroundings. The exhibit is drawn from the deCordova’s permanent collection, and include works by Kahn/Selesnick, Sarah Malakoff, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, and Abelardo Morell.
THE GREAT COURSES LECTURE SERIES
HEALTH & WELLNESS BALANCE+ WITH REGINA
THURSDAYS 10:30-11:30
BALANCE ~ ENDURANCE STRETCHING ~STRENGTH
Call 468 - 5534 for a free ride!
YOGA WITH LISA
MONDAYS 1:00-2:00
S T R E T C H your body and
relax your mind
Call 468 - 5534 for a free ride!
BALANCE IN MOTION WITH DIANNA
TUESDAYS 11:30am
Promotes strength, flexibility and balance.
Improves agility and mobility.
Call 468 - 5534 for a free ride! Come “Join us and this fun group!”
Parkinson’s Fitness Class Every Thursdays: Open Enrollment 10:00 - 11:00am (no class May 24) at the Beverly COA This free exercise, strength and balance class is offered weekly at the Senior Center. Parkinson’s Fitness is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease through personalized exercise and arts programs. For further information email: [email protected]. Call (781)572-5198 for information.
Bocce It’s springtime! It’s time for bocce! “A few games to learn, a lifetime to perfect.” We will gather on
most Tues and Thurs at 9:30am depending somewhat on weather and the whimsy of this easy going group. The Joy of Bocce by Mario Pagnoni is our guide, and local resident Joe Scuderi keep us somewhat focused with his 18 years of experience roaming the bocce frontiers in Methuen, Lawrence and the North End. Gary Bert, retired executive and former COA program coord and IT info gatherer has brought great energy to Wenhabocce with his
natural gifts on the court and help with events. Many thanks for their efforts! Open House - May 8th at 10am!
Adult Pickleball Similar to ping pong, badminton and tennis, it’s a fun, active game that can be mastered by
anyone from youth to older adults of any age. Beginners:Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays April 1st - May 31st TIME: 12:30pm - 2:30pm COST: $3. Advanced Indoors: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Saturdays April 1st - May 31st TIME: Mon. & Wed., 10:00am - 12:00pm Saturdays. 5:30pm - 7:30pm COST: $5. Location: Rec Center.
10 and 20 play passes available at $40 and $80. MOVING OUTDOORS TO PATTON PARK ON JUNE 1ST!
Enhance Fitness Class Mon., Wed. and Fridays Time: 2:30-3:30pm (Fri. class is at the YMCA, Sterling
Center) Cost: Free Limited space available. Sponsored by the YMCA and Lahey Health. Enhance Fitness is geared toward all fitness levels with chronic conditions such as arthritis, in order to gain more strength and independence. This exercise class is a free, evidence based program. Class meets 3 times per week and focuses on flexibility, balance and strength. A commitment to this group is necessary in order for assessments to be monitored. Attend class and see the instructor for sign up and registration, or drop in and monitor a class to determine if this class is for you! Call for information (978) 921-6107.
Lap Swim Check with Bennett Center for exact days and times. (Bennett Center 978-867- 3737) Join us
at Gordon College Bennett Center for open lap swimming. You must register with the Recreation Department to get your swimming pass. This pass allows you to lap swim during the days and times shown below. However, times may change due to the college’s activity schedule. Locker rooms and shower facilities are available. COST: $65 Residents $80 Non-Residents. VISITS: 20 Visit Punch Card LOCATION: Gordon College Bennett Center Pool
Low Vision Group: The Hamilton-Wenham Low Vision Group will meet on Thursday, May 24. Meeting
starts at 11 am, followed by optional free lunch at 12 noon. Program will feature Hamilton resident and Low Vision Group member Eileen Thomas, to talk about her work at a Chief Scorer for the Kentucky 3-Day Event for
Olympic Tryouts. Lunch reservations due 1 week before the event. Call (978) 468– 5595. Thank you!
GOING ON AROUND TOWN
Wed. May 2, 7:00 Wednesday Night Bookclub discusses Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick.
Fri May 4, 10:30 Your Hearing: Why you’re losing it and why what you don’t know may hurt you. Untreated hearing loss is a huge risk factor (500% increase!) in the development of Dementia. This talk goes beyond hearing aids to cover: *cochlear implants *assistive listening devices *movie theater access *Bluetooth streaming *amplified & captioned phones *making your home accessible *ways to keep your life vibrant! Presented by Jonathan O’Dell Assistive Technology Manager/ Training Specialist Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. Free and open to the public.
Thur May 10, 7:00 Adult / Teen Ukulele Playshop Join us for an introductory ukulele class where you will learn to strum a few chords (the gateway to 100s of songs!) with musician and teacher Amy Conley, M.Ed. She brings a few ukuleles and additional ukes will be provided by The Musary. There is room for 30 adults/teens: seats and loaner ukes will be available on a first come first served basis, if you have a uke you can borrow please bring your own. Funded by the Friends.
Tue May 15, 11:30 Literary Luncheon discusses A Piece of the World by Christine Baker Kline. Bring your brown-bag luncheon!
Wed May 16, 6:30 A Unique Community: Asbury Grove in Pictures and Prose. Join the Hamilton Historical Society and the Asbury Grove Historical Society for a presentation of historical pictures of Asbury Grove. Light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public; bring along a friend.
H-W LIBRARY
WHERE : WENHAM COA
WHEN: WEDNESDAYS, 3PM
EPISODE 1: 5/2 Wolferton Splash
EPISODE 2: 5/9 Hyde Park Corner
EPISODE 3: 5/16 Windsor
EPISODE 4: 5/23 Act of God
EPISODE 5: 5/30 Smoke & Mirrors
Is Letter Writing a Lost Art? Barrie Levine
I’m just now recovering from my shock that cursive script is no longer taught in most elementary schools. And, I have learned that those who do not learn to write script cannot read it either, as if it were a foreign language. I read — with appreciation — the dozens of love letters my parents exchanged during their ten month courtship from 1942-43. Will I need to write my own love letters in block print or on the computer — and will that delete their romantic heart?
When I was in the sixth grade in Linden, New Jersey, Mr. Kelly gave us a weekly world history quiz. Various classmates “auditioned” during September to write the tests on the blackboard. I don’t remember if I was voted in or chosen by the teacher, but it became my Friday afternoon task to put those five questions on the board — quickly but legibly.
I reached to the very top with my chalk to begin writing Question #1 straight across in my pleasingly rounded, even, vertically-oriented script. I felt special as an eleven-year old with this impressive responsibility.
Budding writer that I was, I composed individually tailored thank you notes to the giver, starting with my acknowledgment of Bat Mitzvah gifts at age thirteen. I developed cramps in my fingers but eventually wrote dozens of notes to all my relatives and my parents’ friends.
My cousin M, a talented artist and photographer, tried to master texting and email at the urging of her children. She struggled endlessly with outrageous typos and messed up or misdirected communications. I had this epiphany — why don’t we correspond by snail mail like we did as teens? I don’t know if she’s happy online yet — I doubt it — but she includes a bonus, one of her clever illustrations at the end of each newsy letter.
I recall, with warmth that finds its way deep into my heart, how one of my husband’s loyal customers sent him cards and letters over the years to express her delight with his fabulous haircuts. Paul would tack a card on the bulletin board and claim, “Someone started a fan club for me!”
After he died, sadly, in 2013, I found a stack of her “fan-mail” in the beauty shop. She continued to write to me afterwards, always including an amusing account of their conversations while she was in the chair — insisting that she has never found a better hairdresser.
Thank you dear Maggie.
So, is letter writing a lost art?
No form of art should be “lost” or discouraged or put out of business just because something new comes along.
Yes, artists create graphic design on their computer programs, but still mix colors and apply their brush to canvas. Hollywood produces films and TV shows, but these newer technologies don’t compete with the experience of live theatre. Records, cassettes, CDs, streaming, so far have not replaced musicians performing for an audience in real time. In my own medium of words, I’m in favor of any form of creative expression, traditional or innovative, including open mics and “The Moth Radio Hour.”
Who is to say which form of expression should supersede another, there is a place for all. You get my point!
Now, the visceral feeling of using my arm and my hand as the conduit from the ideas in my head to the paper on my desk enriches the creative process. I always save my first handwritten draft where my thoughts originated and I transmitted my emotions to the page, before I go through endless edits on Microsoft Word....
On occasion, in this busy life, I will write a letter with pen and stationery. I keep a stack of colorful notecards, usually from a museum gift shop, alongside a page of those little gummed, perforated patches of illustrated paper that will launch an envelope anywhere around the country or the world — and finally into the cart of a postal carrier to deliver personally to its destination.
When I receive a letter in the mail from a friend or relative, the world stops for just a few moments. I am
alone with the writer who thought of me, savoring every word.
P.S. Pick up your pen and write!
Please read Barrie’s blog at barrielevine.com. You may email her at [email protected]
Pre-sorted Standard
U.S. Postage Paid Bulk
Permit No. 111
WENHAM, MA 01984
Wenham COA Aging Services and Resource Center
10 School Street, Wenham, MA 01984 (978) 468-5534
Wenham Council on Aging is looking for volunteer help with organizing a variety of things. Call me. (978) 469-5529
Wenham Issues of Social Service Help
WISSH Confidential temporary financial
and social service assistance. Leave a
message. (978)468-5520 Ext. 9 ——————————————-
Perscription Advantage - This is a state –sponsored program that supplements your Medicare drug plan and fills the gap when your Medicare prescription drug plan run out. Call them today! (800) AGE-INFO and press 2 to learn more. The Ride - Anyone who has recently lost their license for medical reasons and needs rides from Wenham to Boston or anywhere in between should contact me to help expedite the process. It is an amazing service! Contact - JR
Deliver to addressee or current resident
Postage is paid by The Friends of the Wenham Council on Aging
In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.
by Mark Twain
Wenham Board Members Chairman - Penny Wingate Elizabeth Colt - Vice Chair, Stephanie Mark - Secretary, Alyson Preston, Susan Doughty, Regina Baker, Diana Lang ———————————————————–———
Friends of Wenham COA President, Wendy Campbell; Treasurer, Rick Quinn, Secretary, Sue Cooke, Tom Tanous, Paul Mendonca, Marianne Cannon, Dean Pedersen
Used Medical Equipment The Wenham COA loans used medical equipment such as walkers, commodes, rollators, shower chairs, and wheelchairs. Call Jim Reynolds at 978-468-5529 to use or donate items.
Charlie Card - Call the Ipswich COA Senior Center for a (65+) pass which can be used on all MBTA transport services. Sign up for an appointment to complete the application for the Charlie Card at (978) 356-6650. Bring a photo id and if you have one, your current card.
Friday, May 18 - deCordova Museum & Sculpture
Park Lincoln, MA
Tour: Lived Space: Humans and Architecture
Time: 11am-12noon
This Lived Space exhibit explores the power of our inhabited environment - how spaces shape and inspire us. The artists address our impulses to adapt and relate to our architectural surroundings. The exhibition is drawn from deCordova’s permanent collection and includes works by Kahn/Selesnick, Sarah Malakoff, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, and Abelardo Morell. Lived Space considers deCordova’s architectural history, which has undergone several transformations since original construction.
