St. Patrick’s Day GALA
Get out your “green” and visit the Senior Center on
Tuesday, 12:00 p.m., March 17, 2009
Enjoy some Irish songs.

W I S H   L I S T
·        Large screen TV for movies at Center.
·        Car or van--low mileage, good working order, for short trips.
·        Kitchen equipment--large pots and pans for monthly lunches at Center.
·        Wii system and games.
·        Good movies.

“THE ‘OLD’ SILVER FOXX”
Bring back the Good Times with music from days gone by with a musical performance featuring local singer George Cataldo.
Wednesday, 12:00 noon, March 25, 2009
Westport Senior Center

THE SECOND HALF
Sponsored Knitting Class
Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
through April 16, 2009
Pre-requisite:  Join The Second Half
For information on Membership and Tuition, call Beverly at 508-677-4694.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS
          Absentee Ballots will be available to registered voters on or about March 20, 2009.  Anyone who is absent from the town during normal polling hours, prevented from going to the polling place due to physical disability or religious belief, may vote by absentee ballot.
In order to vote by absentee ballot, you must do one of the following:  appear at the Town Clerk's office during regular office hours and cast your ballot, or send a written request to the Clerk's office asking that an absentee ballot be mailed to you.  Please list your home address, the address you wish the ballot to be mailed, and be sure to sign the request. 
     The deadline for obtaining absentee ballots is 12 noon on the day before election (Monday, April 13, 2009).  Absentee ballots must be mailed or hand-delivered back to the Clerk's Office and received by the close of polls (8 p.m.) on Election Day in order to be counted. 
     If anyone has any questions about Absentee Voting, please call the Town Clerk's office at 508-636-1000, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“Cooking For One Can Be Fun”

On Tuesday, March 10, at 11:00 a.m. Michelle Cramm of Unidine will sponsor a cooking for one demonstration at the Senior Center.  Learn how to prepare nutritious, healthy and easy meals for one person.  Please register for this free program by calling the COA at 508-636-1026.

SHINE TRAINING to begin May 18

Attleboro – Volunteers are being recruited for the Serving Health Information Needs of Elders Program, known as SHINE.  Those who have 4 to 8 hours a week and would like to help senior citizens understand health insurance coverage are sought. The SHINE program is looking for dedicated people willing to make a commitment (some traveling may be required).
The SHINE program is seeking counselors in the greater Attleboro, Taunton and Fall River areas. SHINE Counselors are trained and certified by EOEA. The next SHINE training dates are May 18, 20, 28, June 1, 3, 8, 12, 15, 17, 22, 25, and July 15, 2009. (Time is 10:00 to 3:00 pm) All dates must be attended to successfully complete the SHINE training.
For more information, or to sign up for training, call Lisa Sarkis. Regional SHINE Director, at 508-222-1399.

A BLOGGING WE WILL GO!

What is a blog?  The word “blog” is a contraction of “web log” and essentially was developed for creating online journals.  Blogs provide a very easy, and free way to create and update a Web site, publish your own thoughts, share an online travel diary with friends, etc.  If you are interested in a mini-course on blogging, contact the Senior Center, 508-636-1026.

SENIOR CENTER CLOSING POLICY:   If the Westport Community Schools announce closings due to weather emergencies, the Senior Center will close for classes, transportation, and other activities--the COA office may operate for routine administrative operations only.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL to the network of services available to Westport residents, 60 years of age and over.  WCOA is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The SHINE Program (SERVING THE HEALTH INFORMATION NEEDS OF ELDERS)--information about Medicare, supplements, MassHealth.  Phone consultations and office appointments.

TRANSPORTATION for Westport’s elders, and handicapped persons of all ages, Monday - Friday, to area appointments scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  When you make your doctor’s appointment, call us for a ride.  Please have the exact doctor’s name, street address, and telephone number when you call.

MIND         Art     Bingo Drawing       Games         Knitting                                                                            Quilting        Poetry Writing       Watercolor
AND BODY         Aerobics, Billiards, Chair Massage, Osteoporosis
FITNESS                       Prevention, Reiki, T’ai Chi, YogaFit, Zumba
PROGRAMS Call for space availability and fees-508-636-1026.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP w/ Phyllis --1^st Thursday
Thursday, March 5, 2009, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Transportation is available for Westport residents.

VISUAL IMPAIRMENT SUPPORT GROUP w/ Andrea--3^rd Tuesday
also, BOOKS ON TAPE--VIDEO MAGNIFIER
Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
There will be a GUEST SPEAKER, Dr. John Meehan,
Southcoast Eye Care, Glaucoma Specialist
           Transportation is available for Westport residents.

CHAIR MASSAGE w/ Karen--1^st Tuesday
Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. 
This is a complimentary service—no charge.

REIKI w/ Deborah--Mondays, 10:00 a.m.-12 noon.  Fee schedule.

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC w/Nurse Kathy
Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

PODIATRY CLINIC at Dr. Spiri’s office in Somerset,
Thursday, April 16.  Call the COA, 508-636-1026.

i

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS!!!

GREETER/RECEPTIONIST
-         Greet visitors (Bring your smile!)
-         Give information on programs & luncheons.
-         Data entry, some telephone, office support.
-         Mornings 8:30-11:30, or Afternoons12:00- 3:00.
FRIENDLY VISITORS NEEDED!!
-         One hour social visit, Once a week
-         Make a difference in a homebound elder’s life!
-         Fit into your schedule!
SOCIAL DAY PROGRAM (For the young at heart!)
-         Morning or Afternoons
OUTREACH--Organizational, telephone, or computer skills to help with short-term outreach office project.
BINGO--Fridays 12:30 – 2:00
Need a volunteer to call bingo for prizes once per week.
COMING SOON:  My Life My Health
Education and empowerment on Chronic Illnesses
We will need volunteers!  We will keep you posted!
CALL TONI CORMIER VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, 508 636-1026.
_____________________________________________

FRIENDS OF THE WESTPORT COUNCIL ON AGING, INC.
Supporting the Senior Center
P. O. Box N-192
Westport, MA  02790

The Friends of the Westport Council on Aging has a Social Day Matching Fund to enable eligible Westport seniors to take advantage of the wonderful Senior Social Day Program at the Senior Center.  This fund allows the eligible Westport seniors who sign up for one-day per week to receive an extra, free-day per week for one year, compliments of the Social Day Fund.  For more information about this scholarship program and the wonderful benefits of the Social Day Program, please call the Council on Aging office at 508-636-1026.

AARP TAX-AIDE PROGRAM
Again this year, a volunteer tax-aide, Jean-Louis Clapin, will be at the Westport Senior Center to help Westport residents over 60 years of age prepare their simple 2008 tax returns.  Mr. Clapin will be at the Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, by appointment only, through April 14, 2009.
Please contact the C.O.A., 508-636-1026, and Mr. Clapin will call you for an appointment.
This program is offered by the AARP Foundation in conjunction with the IRS,
in co-operation with the COA.

DRIVER’S LICENSE RENEWALS
Just as you have to have your annual vehicle inspection by looking at the sticker on your vehicle, you will now have to look at your driver’s license to
see when to renew your license.  The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles will no longer mail out renewal notices.  The Registry advises you to renew at least seven days before your birthday to ensure you receive your new license before your current license expires. Go online at www.mass.gov/rmv to see if you are eligible
to renew online.

FUEL ASSISTANCE

Applications for new enrollees are still available for Westport households who are eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (Fuel Assistance).  If you would like to apply, please call the Westport Council on Aging for an appointment—proof of identity, income and utility bills are required.  Homeowners and renters are both eligible.

WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT?
Here are some suggestions:

·        Many overweight people skip breakfast and really eat very little until dinner time.  They can’t understand why they keep gaining weight when they are skipping all those meals early in the day.  The problem is two-fold:  you need a breakfast meal to rev up your metabolism, and the nagging hunger resulting from not eating early in the day leads to poor food choices later
in the day.
·        You know you have a big party coming up tomorrow, so you will just eat a little less today to “even it out”-wishful thinking!  The solution is to eat a little bit of high-protein, low-calorie food ahead of time so you do not go to the party hungry.  Skipping meals beforehand so you can eat whatever you want does not work.
·        Protein is metabolized more slowly, which keep those hunger pangs away, and helps to preserve muscle mass.
·        Follow a “diet” plan that you can stick with for the rest of your life.
·        You will almost never succeed at giving up your favorite foods forever, so don’t set yourself up for failure.

·        Some people are very good during the week and then treat the weekend as one big party.  If you overeat on Saturday and Sunday, you are overeating 29% of the time.  It is almost impossible to make up for that by sensible eating during the rest of the week.       

--Dr. Steve Chaney