BrooklineCAN Blog

Brookline’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Committee invites you to come learn how to knit, crochet, or quilt a Welcome Blanket as part of a national program to create blankets as gifts to new immigrants to the United States https://www.welcomeblanket.org/ .   The event will be held at Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Street, January 20, 1:00 to 3:00 pm.  Blankets will be displayed in March as part of the HIAS National Refugee Shabbat and then gifted to local resettlement agencies to our newest members.  All crafting abilities and all ages welcome to this free event.  For more information contact Hadassah Margolis at Inspoexpo.brookline@gmail.com

For other MLK Day events as they are announced, check http://www.brooklinecan.org/events.html

Gentle Chair Yoga is back at the Coolidge Corner Library by popular demand! We’re pleased to offer classes at 1 PM on Fridays all winter and spring. Gentle Chair Yoga will also continue at the Putterham Library Fridays at 10:30 AM. Gentle yoga is designed for those seeking to increase strength and flexibility through gentle movements which may be done from a sitting or standing position. All sessions are drop-in. Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Brookline Public Library.

There is a  new volunteer opportunity that Senior Center has established between the BSC, Norfolk RSVP and the West Roxbury VA.  Currently two volunteers from the Senior Center have signed on to be Volunteer Ambassadors at the VA.  They will be working two Tuesdays per month beginning in January for four hour shifts.  Lunch , parking and transportation money will be provided.  This is a job at a hospital which requires that volunteers complete a medical exam and maintain current  immunizations before beginning their duties.  Please contact Deidre Waxman :617-730-2767 with questions or interest.

In December, Brookline Town Meeting adopted an Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw. Under certain conditions, the bylaw will allow owners of single-family homes to add an additional private living unit. Older homeowners with an accessory unit will enjoy opportunities to provide housing for caregivers or family members. For some, the rental unit will be a valuable income source. From its inception, the BrooklineCAN Livable Community Advocacy committee sought an Accessory Dwelling Unit Bylaw in Brookline. The Brookline Housing Advisory Board took the lead in preparing a highly technical bylaw proposal and brought it to Town meeting. In Town Meeting, the proposal received support from the Commission on Inclusion, Diversity, and Community Relations which has embraced an ambitious affordable housing agenda.

Roger Blood led the effort to pass an Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw. In 2016, BrooklineCAN honored Roger at its annual meeting for his many years of work to create more affordable housing in Brookline.

The Brookline Adult & Community Education Catalog lists many great classes and activities. Here are two that might be new to you:
Canasta. Learn the basics of this exciting game that is easy to learn and play. Four Fridays, from 9-11 AM, beginning 1/10/20. Korean Church, 32 Harvard St. $96.
Community Barn Dance. Dance easy figures of square and contra dancing to joyful music. All ages are welcome and everyone dances together. Thursday, February 6, 7:30-9:30 PM. Florida Ruffin Ridley School (formerly Coolidge Corner School).$10. To register and for more information,
call 617-730-2700.

The 23^rd Age Friendly Cities TV show featured Co-Chairs of the Economic Development Advisory Board Anne Meyers and Paul Saner.  They provided fascinating insight into the economy and development plans and goals of Brookline. Paul is focused on development projects and Anne on increasing the vitality of Brookline commercial areas.  They addressed myths and reality of the economy and planned developments.  Especially exciting was the Waldo-Durgin development plan.

Programs are aired on Channel 3 on Comcast and RCN immediately following The Grandstanders live sports analysis show and are available on DVDs at the Sr. Center, the library in Brookline Village, the BrooklineCAN web site and the BrooklineCAN Twitter and Facebook accounts.

BrooklineCAN is seeking a part-time, temporary coordinator for its Age-Friendly Business initiative. To date, nearly 50 Brookline businesses have joined the initiative that encourages businesses to be hospitable to older customers. The coordinator will reach out to participating businesses to encourage them to extend their age-friendly practices. The coordinator will also encourage more businesses to join. A full position description is available on the BrooklineCAN website. The assignment will be most attractive to those who are enthusiastic about the age-friendly business initiative and enjoy talking to business owners. The position will be filled as soon as possible. The coordinator will receive a stipend. Funding for the position will continue through June 30, 2020. If you are interested, contact Ruthann Dobek 617-730-2756 or Frank Caro 617-739-9228.

Are you or a loved one taking too many medications?  The Lown Institute, a Brookline based healthcare nonprofit, is interested in hearing about the experiences of older people who have struggled with managing a large number of medications, or have suffered an adverse event due to taking too many medications.  If you would like to share your story and hear more about the Lown Institute project, meet the Lown Institute project staff at the Brookline Senior Center on either Friday January 10th or Friday January 17th between 10:00 am an 12:00 noon.
For questions or to confirm your interest in taking part in this project please contact: Deidre Waxman at 617-730-2767 or dwaxman@brooklinema.gov

The Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street, is a free food distribution site every Tuesday beginning at approximately 2:00 pm.  For an orderly distribution, beginning at 11:00 am in the coffee lounge, consumers get a number. Many types of foods, including lots of produce, are available; bring a bag to carry your choices home.  The program depends on the generous donation of time by many volunteers.  To volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Patricia Burns at 617-730-2743.

Through a grant from the National Council on aging and Lyft, the Brookline Senior Center has launched a pilot program with the ridehail app Lyft to provide 4 subsidized Lyft rides per month to income eligible senior residents (individual $62,450 maximum; Couples $71,400 maximum). The subsidy provides a coupon of $10 to qualified participants with smartphone technology. Those interested in participating in this program can contact Maria Foster at 617-730-2644 or mfoster@brooklinema.gov.