BrooklineCAN Blog

In May, Town Meeting unanimously approved a resolution initiated by BrooklineCAN that aims to make sidewalks safer for pedestrians after dark. The resolution requests that the Select Board appoint a committee to develop a plan to extend pedestrian-friendly lighting along sidewalks with extensive pedestrian activity. The resolution expects that the committee will determine the extent to which there is public demand for improved lighting for pedestrians, identify locations where improved pedestrian lighting is most needed, and examine costs of installation and operation of new pedestrian-friendly street lighting. The proposal grew out of a Livable Community Advocacy Committee project. To address complaints about inadequate sidewalk lighting, BrooklineCAN volunteers surveyed sidewalk lighting conditions in much of north Brookline in the early fall of 2015 and again in 2016. In conducting the project, the volunteers had extensive communication with the Department of Public Works both about street lights on tall poles high above the roads and street tree foliage that blocked lighting from reaching sidewalks. The BrooklineCAN volunteers concluded that more fixtures are needed on poles that are shorter, placed closer together, and with light directed at sidewalks.
Comment from Livable Communities Chair Frank Caro
Our experience with pedestrian-friendly street lighting demonstrates the value of volunteering for BrooklineCAN to improve living conditions for Brookline residents of all ages. I urge you to bring your concerns to the Livable Community Advocacy committee, participate in a committee project, help to develop policy recommendations, and advocate for change.

Please join us! 2019 Brookline Community Aging Network Annual Meeting and Reception
Thursday, September 19, 5-7 pm
Brookline Senior Center 93 Winchester Street
The theme of the Annual Meeting is “Watch Us Network … U-Can-2″

We appreciate the ongoing support of our members as we continue, as a volunteer organization, to help older residents remain engaged in our community and as we advocate to make Brookline an even better place for seniors and everyone.

We recently initiated an Age Friendly Business program; nearly 50 Brookline businesses, large and small, are designated as Age Friendly.  We produce a monthly newsletter and an informational web site www.brooklinecan.org, both with valuable material on healthy aging.  We offer free programs with speakers and we helped create the TRIPPS program enabling seniors to reduce dependence on driving.  See the following article for an example of advocacy with town government.

Although BrooklineCAN has made significant progress, we need your active support to continue. We would like to invite our members to become more involved with these and other projects, bringing your ideas and energy to our efforts. We also need specific skills and interests such as: graphic arts, photography, assistance at our programs and help with projects such as updating our list of service providers. Most importantly, we need your willingness to take on leadership roles as we move forward with our important work.

Help us continue to make Brookline an even better place for seniors and everyone.  We’d like to hear from you. Please contact Ruthann Dobek, 617-730-2756,    rdobek@brooklinema.gov  or Frank Caro, 617-739-9228   frank.g.caro@gmail.com

All program fees include round-trip transportation from the Senior Center and Soule Recreation Center

Island Yoga—all-level-classes overlooking Boston Harbor on Spectacle Island.  July 13, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Fee (res/NR):  $15/$20.

Guided Canoe Tour—Charles River Canoe and Kayak in Nahanton Park.  Tour guides will teach about the history and wildlife in the area, and help build paddling skills.  July 25, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Fee (Res/NR)  $25/$34.

Georges Island Fort Tour—Tour historic Fort Warren, a Civil War-era fort with grassy parade ground.  August 8, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Fee (Res/NR) $20/$27.

Pedal Boats at Hopkinton State Park—Hopkinton Reservoir, a 175-acre spring-fed lake, with 3 islands, 2 swimming beaches, miles of trails. August 19, 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fee includes pedal boat rental.  (RES/NR)  $20/$27.

To register call Sara at 617-730-2082 or main Recreation line at 617-730-2069.

Presented by the Brookline Recreation Department, these free events will all be held at Cypress Park (by the high school) on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. In case of bad weather, cancellations will be made by 3 p.m. the day of the performance – call 617-730-2069.

July 10 – Rhythmix (Rock/R&B)
July 17- Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys (Children’s)
July 24- The DayBreakers (Rock & Roll)
July 31- Zikina (East African)
August 7- Nu Words (Jazz & Poetry)
August 14- Pineapple Jam (Rock)

The Senior Center’s Theater Club is offering two popular musicals at the Reagle Theatre in Waltham—The Sound of Music on July 14 and La Cage Aux Folles on August 11.  Each is at 2:00 pm and each is at the cost of $39.  Transportation is provided, but the space is limited.  To register, call 617-730-2777.  Payment can be made via cash or check payable to the Brookline Senior Center.

The 22^nd Age Friendly Cities TV show covers Marijuana.  On March 23, New England Treatment Access  (NETA), an existing medical marijuana dispensary, began selling recreational marijuana.

Officer Michael Disario of the Brookline Police Department talks about opening day and how good planning largely avoided anticipated problems. He also describes the law that allows recreational use with restrictions.

Dr. Swannie Jett, Director of Public Health and Human Services, talks about the public health implications as wider use of marijuana becomes legal.

You can view this program on the BrooklineCAN website http://www.brooklinecan.org or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rIg68-iiRr0

Ferris Hall will speak and present a slide show on the history of the Cottage Farm neighborhood and Hall’s Pond on Monday, June 3 at the Brookline Senior Center. The presentation will be part of the annual meeting of the Friends of Hall’s Pond. The event will begin at 6:00 pm with a reception that includes refreshments. The presentation will begin at 6:45 pm. The event is free and open to all.

Ferris Hall is a retired physician who was among the founders of The Friends of Hall’s Pond in 1976. He was a long-time Cottage Farm resident and Town Meeting member.

Rome, Italy’s capital is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Abruzzo is an Italian region, east of Rome, with an Adriatic coastline and Apennine Mountains that encompass hilltop towns dating to the medieval and Renaissance periods. Join Brookline Adult & Community Education this fall (10/26/2019 – 11/4/2019) as it partners with Italian Exclusive Vacations on a unique tour arranged that will allow you to spend quality time in both the exciting heart of Italy and also one of its picturesque hidden gems.

A full itinerary is available online. Trip includes airfare to/from Boston/Rome, ground transportation, accommodations for eight nights, daily breakfast, several celebratory meals, professional tour guides, and daily excursions. Register by July 25, 2019 and the discounted price is $3,000; register by August 26, 2019 and the price is $3,250.  Limited to 30. For complete information contact BA&CE at 617-730-2700.

In recognition of the 50^th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, two events at the Senior Center are planned.  On Monday, June 17, at 1 pm Marvin Kabakoff (board member of the History Project) will provide a brief overview of LGBTQ history illustrating gains made and problems that still exist.  To register:  call 617-730-2770 or register online at bit.ly/Stonewall50Brookline.

On Tuesday, June 18, from 5 – 7 pm at the Senior Center, there will be a light dinner followed by resources and speakers on The Conversation Game for Living and Dying Well.  LGBTQ community members of all ages are invited.  To register:  call 617-730-2770 or online at https://tinyurl.com/HelloBrooklineJune18.