Bellingham COA Announces November News & Events

Elder Service Group Happenings

Everyone is cordially invited to the Bellingham Elder Service Group’s (BESG’s) next event, a roast pork luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov 4, at 12 pm. Members pay $5 and all others $8, in advance. Prizes will be awarded and a complimentary dessert for all guests will be served after the 1 pm BESG meeting.

Save the date:  Tuesday, December 2. A holiday dessert of cake and ice cream sundaes will be served after the meeting; cost is $1 members and  $3 for all others.
The group thanks the following donors:  Whole Foods Market and Oakland Grove Health Center.

Reminders will be mailed soon to collect membership dues for 2015.

TRIAD Program

Please join Joseph J. Canavan, Director of the Triad Division of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 6, at 11 am. Learn more about this great program, sponsored by the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office on the first Thursday of each month. Our guest for November is Public Affairs Specialist Natalie Sowersby, from the Social Security Administration, who will discuss the benefits and services provided by Social Security; how to qualify for benefits; how and when to apply for Social Security; Social Security online services, planning tools, and Medicare. Time will be set aside to answer questions.

Canavan will also have information about the File of Life, Lifeline, Yellow Dot ID, the Senior ID card and the phone reassurance program R-U OK?, as well as on the latest scams and how to protect yourself from them. If you plan to attend, please call the senior center to sign up.

Home Safety Inspection Program

This free program is designed in conjunction with the hazard house program taught earlier this year. Fire fighter volunteers will go into the homes of senior citizens and perform a complimentary safety inspection. The firefighters will use a check-list of safety hazards to look for and recommend improvements, if any, to make their home safer. The visit should last only about 30–40 minutes and will be very informative. The program will be held on November 15 from 9 am to 2 pm. To sign up, call the Bellingham Senior Center at 508-966-0398. For more information on the inspection, please contact me at the Bellingham Fire Department at 508-966-1112, Brad Kwatcher, the department’s Safe Coordinator.
 

Thanksgiving Dinner Dance

What could be more fun than a whole afternoon of dancing, great music, delicious food, and fun people? Join us at the Medway VFW on November 17, at 11:30 am. A full-course sit-down roast turkey dinner is planned starting at noon; cost is $17/pp. All area residents are welcome to attend; sign up in person at the Bellingham senior center, 40 Blackstone St, Bellingham or by calling 508-966-0398. The VFW is located at 123 Holliston St, Medway. Music is provided by DJ Dave Valerio with couples dancing and line-dancing with Mary Lennon, prize drawings, and a cash bar. This event is limited to the first 225 sign-ups. (No refund if cancelled after Nov. 14.)
 

Legal Consultations

Need a legal question answered?  Have a sensitive matter that needs professional attention?  Local attorney Daniel T. Doyle is available on Wednesday, November 19, from 2 to 4 pm to meet with senior citizens, by appointment, at the senior center, 40 Blackstone Street. These consultations are complimentary, provided by Attorney Doyle without a fee. Please call 508-966-0398 to schedule an appointment.
 

Monthly Birthday Party

The November/December birthday luncheon is set for Thursday, November 20, at noon. A beef stir-fry buffet by Bossy’s Catering is planned, for $7/pp. This event always includes birthday cake and ice cream, and everyone with a November or December birthday will receive a gift. Reservations must be accompanied by your payment (no refund if you cancel after Nov. 18). All residents 90+ are invited free with a reservation during their birthday month.
 

Bellingham in the 1800s to 1900s

Join Marcia Crooks from Bellingham’s Historical Commission at the Senior Center on Monday, November 24, 11 am, for another in a terrific on-going series about the history of Bellingham and what makes our town different and distinctive. This program is free and rides are available; call the senior center to sign up.
 

Senior High Jinks

On December 5 at 1:30 pm, the Senior Center Players will present their first (and who knows how many more) annual High Jinx. The program is open to all members of the Bellingham community and the surrounding communities. It will be an old-fashioned vaudeville show with magic, dance, song, and skits. There are still openings for new acts, so if you feel you have an act that would be of special interest to the community, please attend the first rehearsal on November 3, at 1:30 pm (tell the desk person that you are here for High Jinx). There is no guarantee that you will be accepted, but the judges will be very glad to assess your skills for the first show or for future shows.

For those who wish to be in the audience, tickets will go on sale on November 13. Those who purchase their tickets by December 4 will pay $1.00. Price at the door is $5.00. There will be a cash drawing during intermission, with one-third going to the winning ticket holder, 1/3 going to the food pantry, and 1/3 going to the Bellingham Elder Service Group. Refreshments will be served during intermission.

Bellingham/Franklin Lions Clubs to Sponsor Senior Luncheon

The Bellingham and Franklin Lions clubs will be sponsoring a senior luncheon on Saturday, December 6. This free luncheon is open to all senior citizens of Bellingham and Franklin, and it will be held at the Bellingham senior center, located at 40 Blackstone Street, Bellingham. There will be two sittings—one at 11 am and another at 1 pm. Since space is limited, all senior citizens should call or sign up at the Bellingham or Franklin senior centers to reserve their place at the Senior Luncheon.

Upcoming Trips

Mohegan Sun Casino—Depart on Thursday, November 13, and enjoy a popular favorite day-trip getaway.The package includes a $15 free food coupon, a $15 free bet, and a chance for a free trip. Depart at 7:45 am and return about 5 pm. The cost is $22/pp including the driver’s gratuity. (No refund if cancelled after Nov 10.)

Lie, Cheat, Genuflect— Depart on Thursday, December 11, at 9:30 am, for a delightful drive down Newport’s beautiful Ocean Drive to the Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant for a hearty buffet luncheon and zany comedy show. Return around 6 pm. The cost is $80/pp, which includes the driver’s gratuity. Deposit due when you sign up; full balance required by November 11. Flyers are available at the senior center.
 

Health Insurance Answers

During the annual Medicare open enrollment October 15—December 7, you will have a chance to change your plan for next year. Our SHINE counselors can help you understand your plan as well as other options you may have. If you need information or assistance with any aspect of your health insurance, SHINE offers appointments year-round, on Tuesdays, with Judy and Lee Katz at the senior center. Call 508-966-0398 and ask for a SHINE appointment.  You can also reach a SHINE volunteer by calling 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636 ext 3). (See Medicare article on page 25.)

Bellingham-GATRA Senior & Handicapped Transportation

If you are at least 60 years of age or a younger disabled resident, we provide rides in town and the surrounding area within a distance of up to 10 miles. Our vans can even accommodate wheelchairs or riders who use canes or walkers. If you are requesting a ride for the first time, then you will be screened for eligibility. While no fare is charged, donations are suggested and gratefully accepted toward transportation-related expenses over and above the town’s budget. This is not a taxi service, but a shared ride that provides curb-to-curb service, with advance notice of at least one day for local requests. Call the center, and one of our staff will take your reservation and confirm your information and ride arrangements. We can transport you shopping, to the barber, doctor, bank, etc., or for other errands, as well as to the senior center. Flyers with complete information are available by calling 508-966-0398.