BrooklineCAN Blog

Brookline Adult Education’s fall offering have something for everyone. Among the ones you might enjoy are:

• Brookline’s Green Hill, a Neighborhood of Gardenrs and Gardeners
• Urban Foraging for Wild Edibles
• Mount Auburn Cemetery and Brattle Street Walking Tour: Planting in Public Spaces
• Knitting Fun
• Eat More Fish 
• Some Enchanted Evening: The Musical Collaborations of Rodgers and Hammerstein

Click on the class that interests you or call 617-730-2700 for more information or to register.

Two members of the BrooklineCAN Membership Committee recently visited three dwellings where seniors live:  Brown House, 1550 Beacon Street, and 100 Centre Street. A number of those attending asked about volunteer opportunities with BrooklineCAN.  Here are three options from the Communication Committee. In future issues we will feature other options with other BrooklineCAN committees.

BrooklineCAN is seeking a backup webmaster.  Do you know html, css, javascript, and ftp?  The current webmaster will continue to do the bulk of the work.  Email webmaster@brooklinecan.org.

The Public Relations/Media Committee could use additional support.  If you have writing skills and/or would be willing to do media outreach, contact elenoreparker@Comcast.net.

Besides writing, BrooklineCAN’s  newsletter is looking for volunteers to work on the setup and publication of the newsletter. Experience with WordPress is a plus. If interested contact carol.b.caro@gmail.com .

If you live in a building where you could host a gathering for interested residents, contact  Membership Committee members Ellen at epbick@comcast.net and/or Marsha at  Mfrankel77@comcast.net

The AFC-TV guest for Episode 33 was John VanScoyoc, the new Select Board liaison to the Council on Aging and the Age Friendly Cities Committee.  John retired in 2018 after 23 years as a producer of nightly news/talk programs for New England Cable News/ NBC10 Boston.  He worked with Sue O’Connell (“The Take” host). Jim Braude (“Broadside”); Chet Curtis (“NewsNight”); and R.D. Sahl (“NewsNight”).

Mr. VanScoyoc has diligently studied the Brookline population of older adults and their needs.  He provides a valuable weekly newsletter to the Town that includes detailed reporting and analysis of relevant Town activities.

AFC-TV 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.

Sponsored by BrooklineCAN, the Brookline Senior Center, the Center Communities of Brookline and Goddard House, Dr. Andrew Budson will speak on this topic on Thursday, September 23, 5:30 pm, at Goddard House, 165 Chestnut Street, Brookline. Dr. Budson is Director of Education at Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center and author of two books on managing Alzheimer’s disease and memory issues. For more details see https://brooklinecan.org/events#Budson  Please RSVP by calling 617-731-8500, x143 or email cnagle@goddardhouse.org

Out of an abundance of caution, the Town has reinstated a face covering policy. While we are continuing to schedule in-person programming, we are well aware of the ever-changing status of the pandemic. This may require an in-person event to pivot to online or be postponed. We may have to do a minimum number of attendees or, due to change in Town/State/Federal policies, cancel. Please be sure to check Senior Center program listings for individual information and contact Program Manager Jamie Jensen for questions about specific programs at jjensen@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2753. Specific updates will also be shared on the Council on Aging webpage, Facebook page, and Patch.

Brookline Senior Center has partnered with Modern Ride to facilitate non-emergency medical transportation (including to vaccine appointments). Transportation is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Limited weekend service is provided. Requests for medical transportation can be left on the Brookline Senior Center Van Reservation Line at 617-730-2750 and should be made three business days in advance of the appointment. For more information, see https://brooklinecovid19.com/2021/05/04/town-of-brookline-awarded-state-grant-to-assist-with-medical-transportation-needs-for-seniors/.

Have you been isolated during the pandemic with limited access to technology or the internet? Are you relying on a small phone and a limited cellular plan? The Town of Brookline is offering a FREE tablet and internet service to qualifying elders or adults living alone. For questions about participation in the Tech Buddies Pilot Program, call or email Sarah Kaplan, skaplan@brooklinema.gov 617-730-2329 Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations

On two Thursdays this Summer, July 22 and August 19, both at 1:00 pm, join Tangocise™ creator Fran Beaumont in a group experience to exercise in a meaningful way while developing core strength, increasing balance and improving posture, all while listening to beautiful Argentine Tango music. Research has shown that Tango uses several beneficial forms of movement and has been linked to increased heart health, better balance, improved memory, and weight loss. Whatever the age or ability, anyone can participate. Dancing skills are certainly not the primary objective, but end up becoming an added benefit. AND…YOU DON’T NEED A PARTNER!  Please register by contacting Jamie Jensen at jjensen@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2753.

We are lucky to live close to the ocean. In about an hour’s drive, you can have a one-day seaside getaway. You can enjoy ocean vistas, take a walk, and have a satisfying lunch or dinner. Here are five examples: In Newburyport, you will find the Plum Island wildlife refuge, great for birding and a fine beach. Gloucester, a historic fishing center, offers plenty of restaurants, and the coastal side-road to Rockport provides breath-taking ocean views, close-up. Marblehead has a lighthouse park on the tip of a peninsula, with a fine view of hundreds of boats in the harbor below. To the south, a drive to Plymouth via side roads affords multiple scenic vistas, and lunch overlooking the sea. Finally, Sandwich is the first town after the Bourne bridge. It has beaches, lots of small ocean-front cottages, and  a low-key vibe…a quaint sense of the Cape before developers arrived.

On Tuesdays at 9:00 am from July 6 through August 10, Qigong will be returning to the Brookline Senior Center. Thousands of years old, qigong (ʺchee‐ gungʺ) is the practice of cultivating mental and physical balance through the coordination of breath, movement and awareness. Simpler than taiji (which combines aspects of qigong and Chinese kung fu), qigong can be practiced throughout oneʹs entire life to promote overall health and well‐ being.  This class is FREE, but you must register with Jamie Jensen at 617-730-2753 or jjensen@brooklinema.gov.