GRAFTON COUNCIL ON AGING CENTER HOURS 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM MONDAY - FRIDAY, THURSDAYS UNTIL 8:30 PM NEWSLETTER [email protected] GRAFTON SENIOR GAZETTE Grafton Council on Aging / Senior Center

30 Providence Road • Grafton, MA 01519 Phone: 508-839-9242 FAX: 508-839-7306 March 2017 “Linking Needs with Resources” Vol. 15 Issue 3

“SENIORS FOR SENIORS” ST. PATRICK’S DAY Senior dental assisting students from Blackstone Valley FLORAL ARRANGEMENT Tech will be at the Senior Center on: Wednesday, March 8th @ 9:00 am Wednesday, March 1st at 10:30 am Denise Worden, owner of Sweetbriar Florist, The students will be doing a presentation on the following, will be at the Senior Center to help create a beautiful St. but not limited to: Medication Effects on Oral Cavities, the Pat’s arrangement. Importance of Good Oral Hygiene, Proper Denture Care, Oral Cancer, Nutrition and Its Effect. The cost is $10.00/pp. The Senior Center will be paying the additional $5.00/pp. Space will be limited, so be sure to Stay for lunch. Elder Nutrition will be having a Potato Bar sign-up early at 508-839-9242. that day. Please call the Senior Center at 508-839-9242 if you wish to attend.

Starting Friday, March 10th at 2:00 pm Come join us for a beginner’s line dancing St. Patrick’s Pot of Gold Bingo class. We have an amazing instructor, Mary Sponsored by FOGE & Dragon, who has been teaching seniors for Senator Michael Moore years. She is the manager and choreographer Thursday, March 16th of the Country Kickers, a line dancing team. Come exercise your body and your mind, and

feel your body move to lively music. You will also have a whole lot of fun. Classes start Friday, March 10th at 2:00 pm and will be held every other Friday. (No cowboy boots required.) Ice cream will be served im- mediately after the two March classes. BINGO—10:30 am; LUNCH—11:45 am Attention Grafton Seniors!!! Come play BINGO and if you win a game, you can pick your prize Information Session for New Town Electricity, from the “Pot of Gold”. Just a few examples of Grafton Energy Choice prizes are gift certificates, lottery tickets, etc. Wednesday, March 8th, 2017 @ 10:30 am Grafton launched a new Town electricity program named Elder Nutrition will be serving Corned Beef and Grafton Energy Choice. The program was designed with Cabbage, followed by a delicious surprise dessert. the goal of providing cost savings and new choices for the Senator Michael Moore is generously paying for the electricity supply portion of your National Grid electric meal. bill. Attend this information session to learn how this pro- gram will impact you and get answers to your questions. Please make your reservation by Monday, March 13th by calling 508-839-9242. If you would like to stay for lunch, please sign-up by call- ing 508-839-9242 at least two days in advance. PAGE 2 GRAFTON SENIOR GAZETTE MARCH 2017

MEALS CENTER PROGRAMS Home Delivered or Dine at the Center BILLIARDS—Most anytime – except Tuesday mornings BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC—Every Thurs. 11:30 am Meals are served Monday-Friday excluding holidays CERAMICS—Tuesdays 1:00 pm at the Grafton Senior Center at 11:45am—noontime. CHAIR YOGA—FRIDAYS – 9:00 am – Free of charge for Lunchtime is until 12:30 pm. If you would like to Grafton seniors thanks to FOGE. sign up, call 508.839.9242. Reserve by 10:30 am CONGRESSPERSON OFFICE HOURS—Vary two days before. If you are in need of home de- COUNCIL ON AGING—Meets 2nd Thursday of every month livered meals, call 508.852.3205. If you do not at 2:00 pm except July and December unless otherwise posted drive, consider taking the bus to the Center for CRAFTS—Wednesdays at 9:00 am lunch! Suggested donation is $2.50 for those over DAY TRIPS/EXTENDED TRIPS Vary - See Newsletter for 60 and $5.50 for those under 60. Menu includes info- Brochure rack in Senior Center milk, coffee, margarine, bread and dessert. Worces- DUPLICATE BRIDGE—Thurs. 9:00 am ter Elder Services is our agent for the Elder Nutri- FALL PREVENTION EXERCISE—Mondays 10:30 am, tion Program. Bring a friend or make some at lunch. Wednesdays 9:30 am—Free for Grafton seniors PLEASE KNOW YOUR DONATION OF $2.50 FIVE CROWNS—3:00 pm Wednesdays PER MEAL HELPS KEEP THE PROGRAM RUN- FUEL ASSISTANCE—See Lisa Kelley for appt NING! HOOKED ON BOOKS CLUB—First Wed. of the Month - This Month’s Fare: 10:30 am – noon JOG YOUR NOGGIN—Fun Trivia EVERY Wed. 10:45 am- Unless otherwise noted on calendar. LINE DANCING—Every other Friday at 2:00 pm LUNCH—Mon- Fri 11:45 am $2.50 suggested donation – Call two business days prior by 10:30 am MAT YOGA—Mondays at 9:00 am & Wednesdays at 10:30 pm. Free of Charge for Grafton Seniors thanks to FOGE. Medical Equipment Loan Closet—crutches, wheelchairs, canes, etc.—just ask! NAILS-WITH SARA—Tuesdays by appt 1.508.277.0534. Sara also does pedicures and facial hair removal. ORGAN SOCIAL—Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am OUTREACH—Assessing needs and linking resources – Call for appt with Lisa. OUT TO LUNCH—Monthly outing to area restaurant PAINTING INDEPENDENTLY—Fridays 10:00 am PITCH—Mon & Tues 1:00 pm, Thursdays 6:30 pm RUMMIKUB—Wednesdays 1:00 pm SCRABBLE—Tuesdays at 9:30 am SENIOR EXERCISE CLASS—10:30 am Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free for Grafton Seniors thanks to FOGE. SINGING GROUP—Fridays at 10:00 am (off for Summer) STITCH AND BITCH—Thursdays – 6:30 pm TAI CHI & ADV. TAI CHI—FREE FOR GRAFTON SEN- IORS THANKS TO FOGE– Fri. 10:00 am and Adv. 11:00 am Tax Work Off Program—Call Barb Connelly for more info. TRANSPORTATION—Call the office for all the info! Wii-TV GAME EXERCISE—Available in the TV room - almost any time! WRITER’S GROUP—Meets 2nd and 4th Friday at 1:00 pm YAHTZEE—Thursdays at 1:00 pm ZUMBA GOLD—Wednesdays 11:30 am MARCH 2017 GRAFTON SENIOR GAZETTE PAGE 3

Chef Lori Galvin FULLY CLOTHED

Chef Lori’s menu for March is as follows: TABLE MASSAGE WITH JAMIE DUDLEY Friday, March 10th—9:30 am-12:30 pm Wednesday, March 8th—Chicken with Pasta and Brocolli, Friday, March 24th—9:30 am-12:30 pm Salad, Bread with Butter, Dessert, Coffee, and Milk $20.00/30 min.

Tuesday, March 28th—Homemade Chicken Fingers, Mac By appointment and payment paid to Jamie when N Cheese, Bread with Butter, Dessert, Coffee, and Milk services are rendered. Come give it a try!!!

The price is $3.00/senior and Senior Center volunteer, $5.00/ non-senior. Reservations must be placed and paid for at CRAFT NEWS least 2 days in advance. During the month of March, the Senior Center Craft- State Representative David Muradian will be holding ers’ “Little Store” in the Bolack Room will be featur- office hours at the Senior Center on Friday, March 17th ing a new collection of handmade baby items. Watch from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Please stop by with your for upcoming notices on the display case with the questions or concerns. opening day of our “Baby Boutique”.

OUT TO LUNCH Tuesday, March 14th TRIPS! TRIPS! TRIPS!

Grafton Senior residents, we’re Thursday, March 30, 2017—RI Spring Flower and Garden headed to Carbone’s Restaurant in Hopkinton, MA. Show, lunch at The Mooring, and spend some free-time in The Grafton Senior Shuttle is taking a group of up to 14 Newport. Trip includes transportation, lunch, and admis- seniors to Carbone’s for a wonderful lunch out. Each sion to Flower/Home Show. $92/pp. person is responsible for his/her meal and the cost of transportation $4.00/pp. Wednesday, May 3, 2017—Newport, RI. Trip includes ocean drive sightseeing tour, the Newport Playhouse’s per- formance of “The Foursome”, and a buffet luncheon at the SENATOR MOORE’S OFFICE HOURS captivating Cabaret Restaurant. $89/pp. Senator Michael Moore, or his representative will hold of- fice hours at the Grafton Senior Center on Monday, March Friday-Sunday, May 19-21, 2017—New York City trip and 6th from 10:30 am—11:30 am. Please feel free to stop by hotel accommodations at the Luxurious Roosevelt Hotel. with your questions, compliments, or concerns. Trip includes transportation, lodging, buffet breakfast each morning at hotel, visit to September 11th Museum & Me- March Shopping Trips morial, Ferry Ride to Liberty & Ellis Island w/admission to Statue of Liberty. $879/single; $599/double. Here is a wonderful opportunity to get out and about to do your shopping. This month we will be traveling by our van Wednesday, June 21, 2017—The Tall Ships. Start your day to the following locations: with a lunch in Boston at Maggiano’s while enjoying the live entertainment of a sea shanty direct from Mystic Sea- Tues., March 21st—Market Basket port. After lunch you will board one of Boston Harbor Tues., March 28th—Walmart Cruise’s boats for a narrated cruise of The Tall Ships. $127/pp. Please call the Senior Center to sign up as there is limited seating on the bus. Sorry, Grafton residents only. Wednesday, July 26, 2017—Plymouth Getaway Tour. PODIATRY Travel to Plymouth, MA for a sightseeing tour and then en- DR. MICHAEL J. BIANCAMANO, D.P.M. joy a full course luncheon at Plymouth’s Hearth & Kettle Dr. B. will be offering podiatry services on: Restaurant. After lunch you will take a 75 minute sightsee- ing Harbor Cruise. $79.00/pp. Wednesday, March 8th—1:00 pm Please call the Senior Center at 508-839-9242 to book your Please call the Senior Center at 508-839-9242 if you have appointment. You will need to bring all of your insurance any questions or stop by and pick up a brochure. cards and a list of medications you currently take. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

REMINDER: Daylight Savings Time begins March 12th. Be sure to set your clocks forward one hour!

PAGE 6 GRAFTON SENIOR GAZETTE MARCH 2017

AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL BLOOD PRESSURE CLINICS By: Bill Drago, COA Chair The blood pressure clinic will be offered every Thursday of the month at 11:30 am in the Bolack Room of the Senior Cen- I have been receiving calls from States I have never heard ter, unless otherwise posted. Volunteers are needed to check of. The best one yet is from a caller “Unknown”. Why blood pressure. Please check with the office for details. would anyone call themselves “Unknown”? Do not an- swer your phone unless you know who they are. If some- ONE ON ONE LEGAL CONSULTS one wants to talk to you bad enough, they will leave a Atty. Carolyn Spring visits our Center and provides private message. Also, as a friendly reminder, do not give any of consultations at no charge. Please call the office to make an your personal information over the phone or to anyone appointment. Thanks to Atty. Spring for her generosity. you don’t know.

February 5th was a huge day for football fans. Especially BOOK REVIEW if you are a New England Patriots Fan. What an unbeliev- This month’s review is for the book “Precious and able game. Congrats to the PATS! Now that football is Grace” by Alexander McCall Smith. Check out over, we will be gearing up for baseball and the Spring Bev’s review which will be posted on the Senior weather. Center bulletin board and outside the office.

Please read the Senior Gazette to find out about all the activities happening at the Senior Center. There is some- PROPERTY TAX WORK-OFF APPLICATIONS thing for everyone, and plenty of good trips at reasonable WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE SENIOR CENTER prices. Also, Chef Lori’s lunches are becoming very pop- FOR FY18 ular. You need to call Nancy in the office to make a reser- This program allows qualified applicants to work-off up to vation. 125 hours in property taxes a year. The new program begins November 1st, 2016 and runs through October 31st, 2017. I’m still recovering from going shopping ahead of the snow storm. The aisles were packed with people and pushcarts blocking either side deciding what to purchase. The bread man had lots of exercising bending up and GIGGLES down trying to refill the shelves. Be careful shopping be- Dental Visit fore a storm and ladies hold on to your purses. A woman and her husband interrupted If you enjoy walking, please watch out for black ice. Stay their vacation to go to the dentist. “I safe. want a tooth pulled, and I don’t want any

pain killers because I’m in a big hurry,” the woman said. “Just extract the tooth as quickly AARP TAX PREP. FOR SENIORS 60 & OVER BY as possible, and we’ll be on our way!” The dentist APPOINTMENT—FRIDAYS THRU MARCH AARP Foundation TAX-Aid is again providing free tax was quite impressed. “You’re certainly a courageous assistance, preparation, and e-filing for taxpayers with woman,” he said. “Which tooth is it?” The woman low to moderate income. AARP Foundation Tax-Aid is turned to her husband and said, “Show him your the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation tooth, dear.” service, giving special attention to those 60 and older. Taxpayers are encouraged to have the following docu- ments when they arrive at the Senior Center to get their Finnegan drunk as usual walks into the returns completed: A copy of previous year’s tax return; Health insur- church confessional. The priest waits ance coverage information for taxpayer, spouse and and waits for Finnegan to say some- all dependents; Seniors with full-year enrollment in thing. Finally the priest pounds on the Medicare need only to bring their SSA-1099 with wall of the confessional box. them; and all other income related documents.

Please call the Senior Center at 508-839-9242 to schedule “Ain’t no use in knocking,” Finnegan yells back an appointment. “There’s no paper on this side either!” PAGE 8 GRAFTON SENIOR GAZETTE MARCH 2017 From the Friends of Grafton Elders:

We have had an exciting February: The Calendar Raffle was drawn each week day, the winner was posted on the calendar outside the Senior Center Office, and the checks were mailed out each Friday. Congratulations to all the winners. We are still trying to get the results posted on our website. Stay tuned.

We supported the February 22nd BINGO prizes and pizza. The March Bin- go is on March 16th with a lunch supported by Senator Mike Moore. Please be sure to make your reservations early.

SAVE THE DATE MAY 13th, 2017. Mark your calendar and start your Spring cleaning early. FOGE (Friends of Grafton Elders) is excited to announce that it will hold a yard sale “Treasures in the Trunk” on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 in the High School parking lot. Set up for vendors will be 8:00 am and take down will be at the close of the yard sale. Hours of opera- Diabetes Self Management Program tion for the “Treasures in the Trunk” sale will be 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Spac- Are you interested in attending a 6 week program es will be available at $25 each. Stay tuned for more registration information on Fridays @ 9:00 am starting in April? Each in the upcoming weeks. session runs for 2 1/2 hours. As you move through the program, you will gain an under- The Board is also happy to support the new Line Dancing program starting standing of living with Diabetes and the skills to March 10th. We plan on providing ice cream after the dancing. manage the condition. If you have an interest, please call the Senior Center at 508-839-9242. In April, FOGE plans on a Red Sox Opening Day event and also something for Earth Day. Spring is coming! WANTED MEALS ON WHEELS DRIVERS Marsha Platt—President, Friends of Grafton Elders If you are available once a month to volunteer delivering meals to homebound elders from 10:30 am-12:00 pm, please see Karen Kosiba, Meal Site Manager, for more information, a vol-

unteer application, and a CORI form.

Karen Kosiba Karen Manager Site Meal ,

Lori Galvin Lori Cook PT ,

Michele Malkasian Michele Coordinator Activities PT ,

Ken Swanson Ken Driver Van PT ,

Maureen Turcotte Maureen Driver Van PT ,

Bryan Dudley Bryan Coordinator Transportation ,

Lisa Kelley Lisa Worker Outreach ,

Malone, Nancy Office Manager Office

Barbara Connelly Barbara Director ,

STAFF

Allia Ann Whiting, Nina

Shay Peter McCarthy, Annette

Secretary Benoit, Marcella

Chair Vice Cutler, William • Chair Drago, William

COUNCIL ON AGING MEMBERS AGING ON COUNCIL

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