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Senior Center Director Announces News & May Events

May 01, 2015 06:21AM ● By Pamela Johnson

The Bellingham Senior Center is centrally located, at 40 Blackstone Street. Tel: 508-966-0398.

Elder Service Group News

Make arrangements to attend our next luncheon event on Tuesday, May 12, at 12 pm. Seating is limited to 90. The menu features chicken pot pie. Cost is $5 for members and $8 for non-members.  Prizes will be awarded and a complimentary dessert for all guests will be served after the meeting. The group thanks all members who have made donations to the organization (a complete listing is being finalized and will be published in June).

Bellingham Council on Aging News

The next COA meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12, at 1 pm. Please come and learn more about the services and programs available for you here.  Refreshments are served and an attendance prize is awarded. At the last meeting, the Board welcomed newly appointed members Margaret Maxwell and Gordon Curtis.

Strategies to Help Secure Your Future--You can find trendy news almost anywhere, but it is difficult to use this information to make informed decisions and create a plan for your retirement. Attend the five sessions of “Retirement: Strategies to Help Secure Your Future” to be held at the Bellingham Senior Center on Tuesday evenings, 6–8 pm, on May 5, 12, 19, 26 and June 2. You’ll learn about the many ways to save for retirement as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. You’ll discover how to save money on taxes, manage investment risks, protect your assets from potential long-term health care expenses, and implement the proper estate plan documents to meet your wishes. If your objective is to build a nest egg, protect your assets or preserve your lifestyle throughout retirement, this course helps you plan your future with confidence. Presenter: Gerald Loftin, J.D., CFP®AIF®, of Proficient Wealth Counselors, LLC.

Activities

Pitch League—We are starting a pitch league at the Senior Center on Tuesdays, 6–8 pm, through October. Call 508-966-0398 to register. If you don’t know how to play or would like a refresher, it’s no problem—we will provide the lessons for free. All are welcome.
Bowling League—The Bellingham COA Bowling League invites you to have some fun and try candlepin bowling on Tuesdays, 9:15 am, at the Ryan Amusement Center, Rt. 109, Millis. The league bowls year-round and welcomes new members for all or part of the year. The group, under the direction of John Lavalley, enjoys getting together for fun and lots of laughs. Where else can you go today for 3 strings of bowling, shoes, and a cup of coffee for $7.25? Irma and Joe Murzyki have been the leaders since 1996 and are still going strong! Call 508-966-0398 for more information.

Triad Meeting—Seniors interested in learning more about the many helpful programs sponsored by the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office are invited to come to this month’s meeting at the Bellingham Senior Center on Thursday, May 7, at 11 am. Files of Life are available when you attend our meetings.
 
Monthly Birthday Party—Join us on Thursday, May 28, at 12 pm for a roast pork buffet by Bossy’s Catering; cost is $7pp. The party includes birthday cake and ice cream, and everyone with a May birthday will receive a gift. Reservations must be accompanied by your payment, and there is no refund if you cancel after May 26. All residents 90+ are invited free with a reservation during their birthday month.

Senior Walking Club— Join us on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:30 am. Call Lisa at 508-966-0398 for more information. All you need is a pair of sneakers and comfortable clothes. Everyone gets a free pedometer.

Beauty Services: Hair & Nails—We are taking appointments for free haircuts as well as nail polish changes and hand massages. Call the Senior Center to reserve a spot. Appointments are available on May 4 and 18, 9:45 am—12:45 pm.  Pamper yourself; you deserve this great free service.

On Tuesday, May 5, Cooking for One will meet from 5:30 to 7 pm. The free class is limited to 10 people; sign up by calling 508-966-0398. The foods and instructor are provided by Whole Foods Market. Dawn Berthelette teaches participants how to use seasonal vegetables and fruits in unique combinations.

A starting date has not yet been set for Genealogy Workshops with Toni Picariello which will run from 6:30 to 8 pm. If you’re interested in starting a new hobby, and researching your family history at your own pace, call and we’ll let you know our schedule. Come to one or all of these free classes.

Yoga: Join Susan Winters on Tuesdays, 5:30–6:30 pm, for yoga. This class is for all abilities; mats available for beginners to use. The cost is $3 per class for seniors, $6 for those under age 60.  (Susan also teaches chair yoga and basic mat yoga on Tuesday mornings for the same fee.)
Tai Chi: Jeanne Donnelly is your tai chi instructor on Tuesdays, 7:15–8:15 pm.  The classes always include a warm-up and introduction to what tai chi is all about. Each form is adaptable to people who are chair bound. The cost is $5 per class for seniors and $10 for younger members. (Jeanne also teaches tai chi on Friday afternoons, at 1 pm, for the same fee.)

Learn About Arthritis—Join us Thursday, May 19, at 10:30 am, when a Blue Cross Wellness Representative will be onsite to talk about this common disease and what you can do to control it. Arthritis, which literally means inflammation of the joint, is actually a group of more than 100 different diseases. It affects more than 50 million Americans, and older people most often experience osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout. However, pain from arthritis does not have to be part of growing older. Registration suggested but not required. Please join us.
Have you heard about Benefits Check-up? This new version is designed for MA residents at least 60 years old. It takes about 30 minutes to enter your information, and you may be amazed at the results. The program identifies local, state and federal programs for which you are eligible. If you’d like to discover what programs you may receive a benefit from, call the center and make an appointment with Lisa or Laura. It’s done on line, is confidential, and there is no cost.

Free Home-Safety Inspection & Lock Box Programs—Thanks to a grant they received, the Bellingham Fire Dept. has a limited number of lock boxes (a small secure box with a combination installed on the outside of your home to store keys so they’re available to first responders  such as police & EMTs in an emergency). Besides being convenient, lock boxes are a good way to hide keys while doing something outside the house. Free home-safety inspections are also available, where we visit by appointment, and where recommendations for improvements, if any, will be pinpointed to make your home safer. The visit lasts only about 30-40 minutes and will be very informative. Call the Senior Center, 508-966-0398, to sign up for either program.  For more information, contact the Fire Department, 508-966-1112, and ask to speak with Brad Kwatcher, Safe Coordinator.

Major Events of WWII: Hiroshima & Nagasaki—Friday, May 29, 1 pm, Truman and the bomb and the end of WWII presented by Professor Gary Hylander. A donation of an item for the food pantry or a cash donation is suggested. For those of you who have attended one of his lectures, you know he is fascinating to listen to and always allows time for questions.
Eat a Rainbow Everyday—Thursday, May 21, 10 am, at the Senior Center. Learn how to increase fruit/vegetable consumption, and learn about the health and beauty benefits they contain. Enjoy tasting food samples with dip. Call 508-966-0398 to reserve your spot. All are welcome!

Finances after a Divorce—Thursday, May 15, 1pm, at the Senior Center. This free seminar will cover  ideas on optimized uses for retirement plans, the impact on your Social Security, and the importance of having guardianships for children, wills and more. Bring your questions. (This workshop is also scheduled for the Bellingham Public Library on May 7, at 6:30 pm.)
A Goodlie Company Concert—Friday, May 15, 7–8 pm. Be serenaded in concert by this group of singers who performed for us last year and was much loved by those who saw them. Come and enjoy this period-costumed group and recall your youth. Please sign up at the front desk.

The History of Memorial Day

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers wreaths and flags; Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.

During that first national celebration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman, James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.
 
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of county they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their virtue.”
- James A. Garfield - May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery
This event was inspired by local observance of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War. In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday.  By late 1800’s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then widely established as a holiday throughout the United States.
 
Q. When Is Memorial Day?
A. In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.                                                                                                 

Q. How To Observe Memorial Day?
A. The “Memorial” in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice by: visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes,  visiting memorials,   flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon,   flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well,  renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled, and participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance”: at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for “Taps” to be played. . . Veteran Agent Bob Greenhalgh 1-774-292-2437.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Attention Veterans
This year, 2015 marks the 70th Anniversary of WWII and the 60th Anniversary of the Korean conflict. Jim Hastings, Chairman of the Memorial Day Observance is looking for veterans of these two wars to ride on a float in this year"s parade which will take place at 1:00 pm on Sunday, May 17. If you wish to participate
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