Honoring the wisdom that comes with age

 

 

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Ruthann Dobek, director

We urge you to comply with CDC recommendations https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019–ncov/vaccines/fully–vaccinated–guidance.html

•  June 1, we opened the Senior Center during regular business hours  Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm.

•  June 15, the Governor to lift the state of emergency

•  June 21 the Senior Center resumes programming, and all town buildings are open. Find updates here: https://www.brooklinema.gov/245/Council-on-Aging, as well as on our main line.

We are optimistic that vaccination rates will allow us to be together, and we remain vigilant. This means restrictions may return. We look forward to seeing you, and as always, welcome your comments.

As an essential organization, the demands on our services have increased. Your support inspires us. We are committed to providing essential services, so please encourage anyone who needs assistance to contact us at 617. 730. 2770. Donations are appreciated. Go to www.brooklineseniorcenter.org and click the orange PAYPAL button, or send a check.

As always, the best part of donations are the thank you notes.

“First, allow me to thank you for the countless services you perform for our Senior Center. What a Herculean task you ‘shoulder’ every day! I really appreciate the SENIOR NEWS AND EVENTS. Thank you many times over. I have only lived in Brookline (now Chestnut Hill) for a short few years and I have enjoyed it all. Every person I have met has been courteous and helpful.”

“As usual, you rock! Thank you for your continued work on the behalf of us seniors who need rides. It has been a rough and ragged time navigating the pandemic, but I hope “the new normal” will restore some balance and feelings that venturing outside in the company of others will be restored to us. Thank you for your constant address to this issue and for maintaining this service throughout the pandemic.”

“We appreciate the extra lunch of the roast turkey. It was absolutely delicious and I couldn’t have made it better myself. There was so much we got 4 meals out of it! We appreciate all that is being done during this COVID time. We are a big fan of the Senior Center anyways as they have always done a good job for seniors. When I tell my kids, they’d love to live in Brookline.”

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Finally, Happy Father’s Day to fathers and grandfathers. My father was a very special man. He was a teacher and humanitarian who instilled in me the importance of finding the good in all people. Indeed, every day his spirit is here in the Senior Center as one of his lessons was to always be warm and welcoming and open to all people by striving to make the world a better place one kind act at a time. Please join me in doing something extra nice this month for someone in his memory. – – Ruthann Dobek, director

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WHAT’S NEWS

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Meetings, Classes

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Brookline Farmers Market Thursdays

The Brookline Farmers Market is at the Centre Street west parking lot behind the Coolidge Corner Theater Thursdays 1:30-6:30. Most products come from Mass and New England. Wear your mask, keep your distance.

https://www.brooklinefarmersmarket.com/

https://www.instagram.com/brooklinefarmersmarket/

https://www.facebook.com/BrooklineFarmersMarket/

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Tommy Bahama is Back, 6/22

Join us for a welcome back celebration Tuesday, June 22 at 1:30 pm with Tommy Bahama in person. Music, dancing and cold drinks.

REGISTER:  Jamie Jensen    jjensen@brookinema.gov    617.730.2753

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Shine New to Medicare Fair, 6/23

Learn about signing up for Medicare! This national fair is for people turning 65, retiring, or joining Medicare because of a disability.

There is no cost to attend. This event is made possible through a grant from the federal government.

Anyone who registers can attend all or part of this online event. You will need a computer or mobile device to participate.   Times: 3:00 – 7:00 EDT

REGISTER:  www.shiptacenter.org

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JUNE Pride Month

Goddard House residents are celebrating Pride month with an LGBTQ+ Movie Festival, and a panel on gender and sexual identity. In 2019, Goddard became the first assisted living community in the state to obtain LGBT Cultural Competency Accreditation through SAGECare to better serve LGBTQ+ older adults. To watch the flag–raising, visit https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/WQXmCW6jqvuZDq3ri6Mile?domain=us02web.zoom.us/j/87877520036

VIDEOS

State of Pride:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J48BIRaG7A

Not Another Second: LGBT+ seniors share their stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q43kBuC_ups

Transgender Lives|Our America with Lisa Ling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6AzH7c3JJ8

The Day it Snowed in Miami: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seYFHXnCSo0

Stonewall Uprising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIbAVS-cDBs

WGBH Celebrates Pride: https://www.wgbh.org/pride

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MetroWest Legal Services Clinic, 6/24

MetroWest Legal Services is offering a private, FREE half hour legal PHONE consultation June 24 from 12-4 pm.  They provide legal aid to seniors on housing, public benefits and social security; durable power of attorney, health care proxy and simple probate; Medicaid, nursing home, domestic relations; consumer and bankruptcy.  When you register have one sentence or a few words ready on the subject of your call.

REGISTER:  Jamie Jensen    jjensen@brookinema.gov    617.730.2753

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ELF Giveaway, 6/24

We’re giving away crutches, knee scooters, and many walkers. Join us Thursday, June 24 from 10-2 pm outside here. 617. 730. 2752

If the weather is bad, we’ll be inside.

NOTE: WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING DONATIONS IN JUNE but you can borrow gear.

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The Bubbe Diaries, 6/29

Join Paula Span, who writes the Generation Grandparent column for the New York Times, Tuesday, June 29 at 3 pm as she talks about her audio book, a collection of her columns.  “We’re pregnant! You’re going to be a grandparent!”.  (She reads it.) She’ll share her ideas and invite you to share yours in this virtual discussion.

ORDER: The Bubbe Diaries: https://www.audible.com/pd/The–Bubbe–Diaries–Audiobook/B091J7M7FL

CONNECT:      https://hebrewseniorlife.zoom.us/j/8581186414

LINKS HELP:  Jamie Jensen   jjensen@brooklinema.gov 

_ _ Sponsored by BrooklineCAN, Center Communities of Brookline, Goddard House Assisted Living & Memory Care, and the Brookline Senior Center

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Memory Connections Cafe, 6/30

The Café, for people with early memory challenges and their care partners to connect with peers through socialization and programming, is on Zoom.  Join us Wednesday, June 30 from 1:30–3:00pm.

REGISTER:  Jamie Jensen   jjensen@brooklinema.gov 

– – This month’s Cafe is sponsored by Wingate at Chestnut Hill

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Gregory Maichack Pastel Workshop, 7/14

Gregory Maichack is back via Zoom Wednesday, July 14 from 1:00 ‐3:00 with his Jean–Francoise Millet inspired “Dandelions” workshop.This pastel painting workshop is for beginners to experienced artists. You create your own version of “Dandelions” by choosing parts of Millet’s painting that inspire you.  Your materials including pastels, paper and pencils are here to pick up in advance.

REGISTER:   Jamie Jensen   617. 730. 2753  jjensen@brooklinema.gov

– – Sponsored in part by the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council

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JUNE Crafting with the Library

Each month reserve a free kit with everything you need to craft a masterpiece. You keep everything including a DVD with instructions by one of your favorite librarians.  This month we are creating stencils and decorating reusable bags.  There are 20 kits for distribution and you pick them up here.

CALL: Julie Washburn: 617. 730. 2760

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JUNE Food Pantries / SNAP

St. Paul’s Church, 15 St. Paul Street – –  WEDNESDAY 3-6 pm, THURSDAY 11-2 pm

55A Egmont Street, Community Room – –  THURSDAY 3-7 pm, SATURDAY 10-1 pm

226 High Street, Community Room – – TUESDAY 3-7 pm

CALL:   617. 800. 5339

WRITE:  brooklinefoodpantry@gmail.com

You get prepacked bags of perishable and non-perishables. Everyone waits outside.

https://www.brooklinefoodpantry.org/

The Pantry needs canned tuna and chicken, rice, cereal, lentils, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, canned vegetables and tomatoes, and shelf stable milk and juice.

SNAP  Mass residents can use SNAP benefits to buy food online from Amazon and Walmart:  https://www.mass.gov/snap-online-purchasing-program

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JUNE Lunch to Go /Food Commodity

SPRINGWELL’ S GRAB AND GO LUNCH MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

♠ Call by 10:30 two business days ahead to reserve your chilled lunch: 617. 730. 2747

♠ You get a menu with the meal.  See the month’s selections in the JUNE newsletter, page 12:  https://www.brooklinema.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=37    

NO MEAL FRIDAY, JUNE 18 – SENIOR CENTER IS OPEN

FOOD COMMODITY: Next distribution is WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16. Low income people over 60 receive 35 pounds of shelf stable food the third Wednesday each month. Pickup is outside with masks.

REGISTER: 617. 730. 2753    Jamie Jensen  jjensen@brooklinema.gov

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JUNE at Welcome Home Pantry

Welcome Home is a “home goods pantry in Newton that accepts and provides gently used housewares.” Right now they need towels, pots and pans, and blankets. See the website for a complete list of what they take. You donate goods or make a wish list to ask for what you need:  No forms, no fees. No stains, no chips, no tears.

NO baby goods, NO bed skirts, NO mattress pads, NO books, NO clothing, NO toys, NO vases, NO wine glasses, NO computer gear, NO hangers

WRITE: welcomehomemass@gmail.com

CALL:   617. 454. 4795

JUNE DROP OFF – –  RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST – –

Mondays        1-2 pm

Wednesdays   2-3 pm

Arrive at Welcome Home (Trinity Church, Furber Lane, Newton Centre) at your reserved day and time. We take the items we can accept from your car.

https://www.welcomehomemass.org/

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Mutual Aid Brookline Delivers

If you are high risk and need food and medication delivered

CALL Monday – Friday, 9-6 pm: 617. 651. 1468

MutualAidBrookline@gmail.com 

We offer companionship, connecting the community through conversation.

In partnership with the Brookline Library, we deliver library material:  617. 651. 1037       MutualAidBrookline.Delivery@gmail.com

PEOPLE    https://mutualaidbrookline.com/about/#team

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ONGOING PROGRAMS

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Clase de música para adultos mayores! Por Zoom ¿Quiere compartir música y entretenerse más? ¡Los viernes de 3:00 – 4:00pm! Del 5 de febrero –19 noviembre. Informacion: 617–953–7016   

– – Sponsored by Auspiciadores: Spanish Immersion and Brookline Senior Center

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Dance Party Thursdays

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Knitting/Crafting Circle

Hadassah Margolis, who created the Welcome Brookline Blanket Project, invites you to her knitting/crafting circle. She is working on masks; you can bring your blanket or mask project or other craft.

REGISTER:  media@welcomeblanket.org

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Singing Mondays

Mindfulness Wednesdays and Fridays

Join our video call by computer or phone from 10:00 -10:30 a.m. to practice mindfulness.  Led by Michael Allen, LCSW. Mindfulness helps with relaxation and bolsters attention and insight.  Go to https://us04web.zoom.us/j/137115626?.

QUESTIONS: Mallen@brooklinema.gov   617.730.2754

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Living our Values Wednesdays

Wednesday mornings from 9-10 am

REGISTER: editor@businessforum.com

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Current Events Fridays

Friday mornings from 10:30-12 noon

REGISTER:  mkt128@rcn.com

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Short Story Mondays

A good short story can provide the basis for a great discussion. We will send a story by email or hard copy. We  meet twice a month Mondays from 10:30-11:30. Bring your own coffee and

REGISTER:   Kate Jovin   617. 730. 2753  kjovin@brooklinema.gov

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Coffee Hour Tuesdays + Thursdays

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Brookline Safety Net

A program of the Brookline Community Foundation and the Senior Center, the Safety Net helps residents and others in neighboring towns meet basic needs of food, housing, utilities and transportation.  Call the Foundation: 617. 277. 8107      If you can make a donation, your support could make all the difference to a neighbor in need: https://www.brooklinecenter.org/our-impact/safety-net-community

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Call to Action

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Elizabeth Pollock, president

I am often asked, “How I can help the Brookline Senior Center?” There are several ways focusing on our needs for advocating, fundraising, and volunteering. This month I want to let you know about a new project that needs your help.What if you had no Internet service –or no smartphone? What if you had no access to online shopping, Zoom meetings, and other online activities?

Imagine how different your life would have been during the pandemic! Think about how much you depend each day on the internet! Unfortunately, many of our seniors don’t have basic internet or a device to access the web. This puts them at higher risk for social isolation and loneliness, as well as an inability to get essential services.

That is why we’re so excited to share news about Brookline Senior Connect. This new program will provide basic internet access, the loan of a tablet, and software. The Brookline Senior Center was awarded a pilot grant from Massachusetts Councils on Aging  to provide six months of Verizon internet and a tablet to 5 seniors. Our hope, however, is 25 people in the pilot program. With your help, we can reach this goal.

♥    Your donation of $200 pays for one tablet

♥    Your donation of $38 covers the Verizon data plan for one month. $76 covers two months; $127 provides 3 months of data.

Your donation helps insure the sustainability of Brookline Senior Connect. Connecting our seniors is critical for their mental health and well–being. Your gift is needed now more than ever. Please give generously at www.brooklineseniorcenter.org  at the orange PAYPAL button above on the right or send a check to Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street, Brookline MA 02446. Contributions in any amount are appreciated.

If you know someone who would benefit from Brookline Senior Connect or if you would like to be a mentor, please contact Ruthann Dobek    rdobek@brooklinema.gov  617. 730. 2756

I care deeply about the future of the Center and so I have included it in my estate planning. Perhaps you’d like to do that as well.  It’s relatively easy – see below for suggested bequest language.  You may also consider making the Center a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, IRA or 401K. If you’re over 70 1/2, you can apply part or all of your Required Minimum Distribution tax free to the Center.  – – Betsy Pollock, LICSW,  president, Brookline Senior Center board of directors

• Suggested bequest language for giving:  “I give $___  (or percent of my estate or percent of the remainder of my estate) to Brookline Multi-Service Senior Center Corp (EIN 04-2719972), a Massachusetts non-profit corporation, located at 93 Winchester St, Brookline, MA 02446 to be used for general purposes.”   Please consult your lawyer or financial advisor
  

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Donate via Paypal

 

News

• THE DOCTOR IS IN: SUZANNE SALAMON, MD TAKES YOUR QUESTIONS
• JUNE NEWSLETTER @BROOKLINEMA.GOV
• TRIPPS DRIVING ALTERNATIVES
• BACK – – WHERE TO EAT, TUESDAY MOVIES! MUSIC! BOOKS! EVENTS! COOLIDGE THEATER!

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BROADBAND INTERNET PROGRAM

A program to help you get temporary discounted internet service.

CALL:   Support Center  833.511.0311    Mass Eligibility  800.392. 6066

https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit

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LANDLINES AND ZOOM: If you use a landline,  you may pay for a long distance call. It usually does not apply to cell phones. A meeting may offer a toll-free telephone number but it also may not.

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LINKS: We test every link. On occasion, one may not work.  Copy any link into a browser, like Google.  HELP:   Jamie Jensen: jjensen@brooklinema.gov      617. 730. 2753

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READ THE JUNE NEWSLETTER  – –  https://www.brooklinema.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=37      The best way to get one is to subscribe: $10/year.  (If you’re a retailer with space for newsletters, call us.  We deliver.)  Advertise:  ad specs

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AGE FRIENDLY BUSINESSES

Be one: http://www.brooklinecan.org/age_friendly_business.html

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WONDER WOMAN, RUTHANN DOBEK:  

wickedlocal.com/news/20180315/ruthann-dobek-brookline-senior-centers-wonder-woman

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BOSTON 25 TV: SHOP PROGRAM

http://www.fox25boston.com/news/shopping-for-seniors-brookline-program-creates-bond-between-seniors-students/704932381

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PLANNED GIVING

 

– – Consider a legacy to the Senior Center.  Your bequest is a gift of hope.  CALL Ruthann Dobek, director:  617. 730. 2756 to help us secure a bright future. Brookline Multi-Service Senior Center Corp  (EIN 04-2719972), a Massachusetts non-profit corporation.