April Highlights. Town Elections are Monday April 2,2018. Make sure you vote!

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1 Blackstone Council on Aging P.O. Box 204 Blackstone, MA Senior Center Hours: Mon. Thurs. 8:00am to 3:30pm; Friday 8am to Noon Location: 15 St. Paul Street, Blackstone, MA Phone: April Highlights April 2018 April 1st Happy Easter from all the staff at the Senior Center! April 2nd No Lunch Served Town Elections April 3rd at 10:00am- Consumer Protection Presentation April 5th at 11:15am BVT Lunch April 10th at 9:30am Walmart April 11th at 11:30am Volunteer Lunch April 19th Closed Patriots Day April 19th at 6:30pm Evening Bingo April 24th at 12:45pm Woonsocket Historical Society Tour April 26th at 1:00pm Walmart Town Elections are Monday April 2,2018 Van transportation is available to residents age 60 and older who have no other means of transportation. Please call Dennis at to schedule your ride! There will be no lunch served at the Senior Center that day Senior Center Offices will remain open.. Make sure you vote!

2 2 A River Runs Through It April 2018 Weekly Activities Mondays 9:00am Arthritis Exercise Mondays 10:15am Painting Class Tuesdays 11:00 Chair Yoga Tuesdays 1:00pm Walking Group Wednesday 10:00am Sit and Spin Wednesdays 1:00pm Bingo Thursdays 9:00am Strength Training Thursdays 10:00am Tai Chi Thursdays 1:00pm Yarn Works Veterans Services Veterans' Services was established in the State of Massachusetts after World War II ended. At present Massachusetts is the only state that offers Vets this benefit program. Veterans' Services under Mass. State Law Chapter 115, 108 CMR mandates that every town and city appoint a Veterans' Agent to disburse benefits under the guidelines of Chapter 115. Veterans' Services was started just after WW II ended as a means of maintaining the dignity of the Veteran. The state felt that veterans needing assistance should not have to depend on welfare for assistance. All Veterans' Agents also assist veterans for the Veterans Administration which is a part of the Federal National Government, providing forms, information, and other assistance. Such benefits include employment, vocational and educational opportunities, hospitalization, medical care, service and non-service pensions, etc. Benefits are provided individually to each veteran or dependent under the guidelines after an application has been filed for assistance based on their income and assets. A veterans' DD214 (discharge paper) is required for eligibility. Those who have misplaced or lost their DD214, there are applications available in my office to send for it. If you are a Veteran, Widow or Widower of a Veteran and on a limited Income, you should be contacting your VSO. Chad Moore EMHOP... Elder Mental Health Outreach Program If you know someone struggling with anxiety, depression or you have other similar concerns we now have a program that provides outreach, assessment and evaluation services for residents, age 60 and over. Our Mental Health Coordinator, Gail Bourassa, will works with us to assist seniors and provide services or make referrals to an agency for continued treatment. The goal of the project is to help older adults get back to being able to participate in the community or social activities they choose. Please contact Erin Curley, Outreach Coordinator at for more information. You may also call Gail Bourassa directly at

3 3 A River Runs Through It April 2018 Blackstone Senior Center April Activities Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 9:00 Arthritis Class 10:15 Water Color Painting NO LUNCH SERVED TOWN ELECTIONS 2 11:00 Chair Yoga 1:00 Walking Group 3 10:00 Sit & Spin 12:00 Bistro Lunch 1:00 Bingo 4 9:00 Strength Training 10:00 Tai Chi 11:15 BVT Lunch 5 6 9:00 Arthritis Class 10:15 Water Color Painting 12:00 Bistro Lunch 9 9:30 Walmart 11:00 Chair Yoga 1:00 Walking Group :30 Volunteer Lunch 9:00 Strength Training 10:00 Tai Chi 1:00 Yarn Works CLOSED PATRIOTS DAY 16 11:00 Chair Yoga 1:00 Walking Group 17 10:00 Sit & Spin 12:00 Bistro Lunch 1:00 Bingo 18 9:00 Strength Training 10:00 Tai Chi 1:00 Yarn Works :30 Evening Bingo 9:00 Arthritis Class 10:15 Water Color Painting 12:00 Bistro Lunch 23 11:00 Chair Yoga 12:45 Woonsocket Historical Society Tour 24 10:00 Sit & Spin 12:00 Bistro Lunch 1:00 Bingo 25 9:00 Strength Training 10:00 Tai Chi 1:00 Yarn Works :00 Walking Group 1:00 Walmart 9:00 Arthritis Class 30 10:15 Water Color Painting 12:00 Bistro Lunch, Inc. receives Federal financial support under the Older Americans Act furnished by Central Mass Agency on Aging and the Mass Office of Elder Affairs. * All meals are donations of either $3.00 for, Inc. or $4.00 for Bistro, unless otherwise indicated. Lunch reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. Call Gail at

4 4 A River Runs Through April 2018 Blackstone Senior Center April 2018 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday NO LUNCH SERVED TOWN ELECTIONS 2 Vegetable Cheese Bake Broccoli & Red Peppers Corn Yogurt 3 4 Bistro Chicken Noodle Soup Chicken Salad Sandwich Dessert 11:15 BVT Lunch 5 6 Bistro Pasta w/meatballs Bread Dessert 9 10 Meatballs w/ Onion Gravy Bowtie Pasta Scandinavian Vegetables Mandarin Oranges 11 11:30 Volunteer Lunch Chicken Fajitas Spanish Rice Black Beans & Corn Sour Cream/ Pita Bread Pineapple CLOSED PATRIOTS DAY 16 Salmon Boat with Dill Sauce Mashed Potatoes Peas & Pearl Onions Peaches 17 Bistro Hot Dogs and Beans Bread Dessert Cold Roast Beef Sandwich Lettuce & Tomatoes Potato Salad Beet Salad Pears 20 Bistro Shepard s Pie Bread Dessert 23 Hot Dog on Bun Bakes Beans Coleslaw Mixed Fruit Bistro Chicken Noodle Soup Chicken Salad Sandwich Dessert Chicken Cacciatore Penne Pasta Italian Blend Vegetables Birthday Cake Bistro Tomato Soup Egg Salad Sandwich Dessert 30 BLACKSTONE COUNCIL ON AGING FOR MEAL RESERV ATION S CALL: For Transportation call: for reservations Trips are subject to change due to medical appointments.

5 5 A River Runs Through It Staying Informed and Engaged April 2018 Join us every Thursday at 1:00pm for Yarn Works! Open to beginners and experts!

6 6 A River Runs Through It April 2018 The nice weather is coming so join us every Tuesday starting April 3rd at 1:00pm for Walking Group! Sign up with Gail at April 3rd at 10:00am Consumer Protection Presentation The presentation will discuss some hot topics such as how to help people understand their consumer rights, make informed decisions about money, and learn how to spot scams. Consumer Assistance Office Metro West will be doing the presentation! If you are interested sign up with Gail at ! Snap Food Stamps Benefits You may be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) administers SNAP benefits. SNAP provides a monthly benefit to buy nutritious foods. To receive SNAP, you must be low income and be a US citizen or legal noncitizen (restrictions apply). Eligibility for SNAP benefits depends on financial and nonfinancial criteria. For more information and to apply please contact Erin Curley Outreach Coordinator at the Blackstone Senior Center at

7 7 A River Runs Through It April 2018 April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! The Blackstone Senior Center wishes to extend a warm and enthusiastic THANK YOU! to all of our volunteers over the past year. We sincerely appreciate all the wonderful support and hours you put into helping make the Senior Center such a warm and welcoming place for our local seniors. Without YOU, this place would not be the success it is! Volunteers also benefit as well for offering their time? According to a Forbes Magazine article, there are several personal benefits to volunteering your time. Believe it or not, volunteering makes you feel like you have more time! results show that giving your time to others makes you feel more time affluent than... spending it on yourself. Volunteering helps you develop new skills. Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to develop new skills that can help forward careers. Volunteering physical labor helps you have a healthier body. It is no surprise that if you are using your body in any physical capacity, you are developing or toning muscles, improving your cardiovascular capacity and generally getting your body moving! Volunteering helps you build your experience, another benefit to careers building, networking and finding jobs that interest you. Volunteering makes you feel more love for yourself and your fellow human beings! Researchers found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were, the more empathy they built and the stronger their social bonds. At the Senior Center we are always looking for volunteers. You can volunteer as a Van Driver, Meals on Wheels Drive, join our Friends Group, or join our Council on Aging Board! If you would like to become a Volunteer or would like more information please call Erin our Outreach Coordinator at This year s Volunteer Appreciation Lunch will be held on April 11, 2018 at 11:30am at the Coachmen's Lodge. We look forward to seeing all our volunteers there so we can thank you for all the hard work and support you have given the Blackstone Senior Center this past year! Please RSVP as soon as you receive your invitation! Thank You!

8 8 A River Runs Through It April 2018 Tuesday April 24th 12:45pm Woonsocket Historical Society Tour The Woonsocket Historical Society was formed in 1915 with the specific mission to identify, collect, document, and exhibit historical treasures. We also educate and engage a diverse cultural community through a variety of programs and exhibits that make history meaningful, accessible, and enjoyable. If you would like a tour of the Woonsocket Historical Society sign up with Gail at You re getting a new Medicare card! Cards will be mailed between April 2018 April 2019 They will be removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and mailing each person a new card. This will help keep your information more secure and help protect your identity. You ll get a new Medicare Number that s unique to you, and it will only be used for your Medicare coverage. The new card won t change your coverage or benefits. You ll get more information from Medicare when your new card is mailed. Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend s or neighbor s.

9 9 A River Runs Through It April 2018 Getting or Renewing a Driver s License, ID Card or Learner s Permit? Massachusetts RMV Announces New Requirements: Lawful Presence and REAL ID BOSTON - The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is reminding the public that on March 26, 2018, to get or renew any driver's license, ID card, or learner's permit, customers will need documentation showing United States citizenship or lawful presence as required by federal and state law. Lawful presence means that a person is legally living in the United States according to federal immigration laws. All United States citizens and lawfully permanent residents have permanent lawful presence in the U.S. Non-U.S. individuals who are studying, working, or living temporarily in the U.S. may have temporary lawful presence that may vary in length. On March 26, customers will have the choice between a REAL ID Driver s License or ID Card or a Standard Massachusetts Driver s License or ID Card. REAL ID is a Federal Security Standard for IDs that was created in 2005 as a result of increased federal security measures after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. REAL ID will be available on March 26, 2018; however, people will not need a REAL ID until October of And if they have an active passport and don t mind carrying it, they will never need a REAL ID. After October of 2020, citizens will need either a passport or REAL ID Massachusetts Driver s License to fly in the United States, or to enter restricted areas of federal buildings. The Standard Massachusetts License or ID card will not be valid as a federal ID after October We encourage the public to review information on our website at mass.gov/id to learn what documents they must provide for the credential they seek, said Registrar Erin Deveney. In most cases, people will have the required documents on hand as these documents are regularly requested when a child starts school, when someone travels outside the country, or in order to get married. On March 26, 2018, individuals applying for Registry credentials are encouraged to start their applications online at mass.gov/rmv and answer a few questions to determine if they should choose a REAL ID driver s license or ID or a Standard Driver s license or ID, and exactly what identification documents are necessary for each. Customers who visit the RMV s website will be able to print online applications or have an application that can be displayed on a mobile phone. The website tells customers exactly what to bring to complete the transaction and also directs AAA members to closest AAA offices for renewals. The online application includes a bar code that will be scanned to retrieve the customer s information in the system to save time in line. Renewal customers requesting a standard card may be able to perform their renewal successfully online, without coming in person. The Blackstone Council on Aging, General Disclaimer Through the Newsletter, Cable Access, Web sites and other Internet applications, The Blackstone Council on Aging provides access to a broad range of content, information, and discussion utilizing a variety of technologies and delivery mechanisms. These include, but are not limited to, links to external Web sites, audio and video presentations, podcasts, blogs, comment and message forums, updates and advertisers. These materials may include content from external contributors, individuals or organizations. The assertions, opinions, and conclusions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The Blackstone Council on Aging.

10 10 A River Runs Through It April 2018 New England Chimney & Roofing Blackstone, MA Licensed and Insured State Line Power Products Chainsaws * Lawn Mowers * Tractors * Snow Blowers * Sales Service Parts Husqvarna Kawasaki Toro 271 Main Street Blackstone, MA Pick-up & Delivery Financing Available SUPPORT THE BLACKSTONE SENIOR CENTER AND ADVERTISE FOR YOUR COMPANY HERE!!!! 6 MONTHS= $ MONTHS=$ Make check payable to : Blackstone Council on Aging Mail to: Blackstone COA, 15 St. Paul Street Blackstone, MA If possible please your business card to ecurley@townofblackstone.org. Thank you! ANIMAL ARTS Professional Dog and Cat Grooming Since Main Street Blackstone, MA Kim Giguere-Owner We would like to thank Mark Juba and Blackstone-Millville Regional High School for printing our newsletters for us every month! Without our newsletters we wouldn t be able to get all of our events and information out to the public on a monthly basis! Thank you! (508) Main Street Blackstone, MA The newsletter is sponsored in part by Massachusetts Council on Aging Formula Grant. The Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors is a non-profit membership organization comprised of municipal Councils on Aging. Their mission is to support the independence of adults 60 and older by advocating for programs and services to meet their needs, promote the growth and quality of Councils on Aging and senior centers and strengthen the professional skills of Council on Aging staff.

11 11 A River Runs Through It April 2018 Blackstone Council on Aging Board Officers Audrey Drake Chairperson Julie Wingate. Board Member Jay Dilibero Board Member Deb Keizer Board Member Jeanine Castonguay Board Member Meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates and times are posted with the clerks office Held at the Blackstone Municipal Center SUPPORT THE BLACKSTONE SENIOR CENTER AND ADVER- TISE FOR YOUR COMPANY HERE!!!! 6 MONTHS= $ MONTHS=$ Make check payable to : Blackstone Council on Aging Mail to: Blackstone COA, 15 St. Paul Street Blackstone, MA If possible please your business card to ecurley@townofblackstone.org. Thank you! Important Numbers for Help, Inc. (help at home) Medicare Prescription Advantage Social Security Blackstone Food Pantry SMOC Fuel Help Cut here Yes, I would like to become a supporter of the The Blackstone Council on Aging Name Address Town & Zip Amount enclosed: $10.00 for a (1) year newsletter subscription. Subscription: July June 30, 2018 provides newsletter mailed to subscribed address. NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ALREADY RENEWED/SUBSCRIBED FOR THIS YEAR, NEXT RENEWAL WILL BE IN July 2018 Thank you for your generous donation. Donations: Memorial: $ Special Occasion: $ Other: $ New Renewal Address Change The Newsletter can also be viewed on the Town Web-Site Please make checks payable to: Blackstone Council on Aging MAIL to: 15 St. Paul Street Blackstone, Ma

12 12 A River Runs Through It April 2018 Blackstone Lions Support All Town Activities And Organizations Come Join Us and Have Some Fun! Call Cindy Crawford at (508) For More Information We go to CVS and Walmart Pharmacy Daily Call for reservations ALL SENIOR VAN TRIPS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS BEING A PRIORITY. Donations for trips are always welcome. Thank you. Senior Center Staff Laurie Keefe,...Director..(508) lkeefe@townofblackstone.org Erin Curley..Outreach Coordinator (508) ecurley@townofblackstone.org Gail LeClair.Nutrition/Fitness Coordinator..(508) gleclair@townofblackstone.org Dennis Pimenta...Transportation Coordinator..(508) coatransport@townofblackstone.org Van Drivers Paulette Carrigan, Roger Gagnon, Walter Kanz, Tim Flynn, Blair Altemus Volunteer Drivers Dick Hilditch, Stella Gallant, Jeanne Conine, Pam Grant, Audrey Drake, Dave Ceolinski S.H.I.N.E. (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) Volunteers Steve Lotterman Production and distribution of this monthly newsletter is funded by the The Blackstone Council on Aging the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and from generous donations from the community. Thank you. The Blackstone NONPROFIT Council on Aging. ORGANIZATION 15 St. Paul Street PRESORTED STANDARD Blackstone, MA U.S. POSTAGE PAID BLACKSTONE, MA PERMIT NO. 3 Address Service Requested