Elder AffairsThe Department of Elder Affairs/Council on Aging (COA) works to improve and enhance the quality of life for elder residents in Springfield. It advocates, plans, develops, coordinates and provides social services as well as information and referral services for Springfield's elder citizens. Programs OfferedGood Life Center- Administrative OfficesTom Damato 100 birthday party Bebes, Blankets & Books at your Libaray Bebes, Mantitas y Libros en su Biblioteca The Cedars Informational Golden Age Club  Big-E Hungry Hill Senior Center DanceSpringfield Senior Wellness Fair - Healthy Harvest 2012The Senior Wellness Fair will be held on Tuesday September 18 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Greenleaf Community Center, 1188 1/2 Parker Street in Springfield. There will be free health screenings, information on free discounts for seniors, information on some of the latest safety products, and more. To print a copy of the flyer click HERE  Forest Park Manor nad Hungry Hill Center enjoy a Matinee Showing of Grumpier Old MenElder Affairs "Hoedown 2012" Affair
Elder Affairs held a "Hoedown" party, With Alex Martin as Master of Ceremonies. There was a raffle, and a "costume" contest. With live music by Michael Rancitelli, husband of Laurel Rancitelli, Director of the Pine Point Senior Center. The Hungry Hill Line Dancers also performed. For more photos click HERE Hungry Hill Center Holds their First Pot Luck Luncheon Hungry Hill ladies brought dishes and desserts, plenty of food, lots of laughs and a beautiful turn-out. For more photos click HERE
Enterprise Farm - Mobile Farmer's Market has returned! New expanded schedule with more locations, Starting August 1, 2012.The first tour of the Enterprise Farm Mobile Market made a successful visit to area centers in 2011. This year, excellent quality fresh produce is again being brought to you at great prices! The Mobile Market is being brought to MORE locations this year, and will visit every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the summer at the following locations: Wednesdays
Thursdays
EBT, SNAP, HIP benefits and Farmers Market coupons are welcomed. Click HERE for more information, schedules and to see photos of the first visit this year at Pine Point Center. Click to see a newsclip from here >>> WWLP 22 NEWS
Tai ChiTai Chi in the Park Download the Tai Chi in the Park Flier >>> HEREThe Farmer's Market at Forest Park Opens May1, 2012This year's Farmer's market at Forest Park opens on May 1st at 12:30 p.m. The Market runs from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every Tuesday through the last Tuesday in October, rain or shine. The Market is located in the Cyr Arena parking area, and admission to the park for the Market is free, by telling the attendant that the purpose of your visit is for the Market. Senior citizens who use the PVTA Van Service for the Market will be reimbursed up to $5. More information about the Market is available on Facebook at The Farmer's Market at Forest Park, or at the website farmersmarketatforestpark.com. Download the flier in English and Spanish >>> HERE
 In Honor of Officer Kevin Ambrose As our community grieves, we at the department of Elder Affairs also mourn the loss of Police Officer Kevin Ambrose. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Ambrose family and the Springfield Police Department. Rest in Peace, Officer Ambrose. Hungry Hill Center Community Baby ShowerHungry Hill Center's Knitting/Crocheting group donates 64 handmade baby blankets for the May 19th Community Baby Shower. Click HERE for more photos.   A Remembrance of Mary Troy at her Retirement PartyMarch 16th, 2012 was the date of the Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the Hungry Hill Center. It was held to coincide with the retirement of Mary Troy, who had been the Center Director. Sadly, Mary passed away Monday April 23, 2012. Her obituary was published in the Springfield Republican and can be viewed by clicking HERE. She will be deeply missed, and well remembered. Click HERE for more photos taken at her retirement party. TD Charitable Foundation Grant Provides CO detectors for Golden Age Club TD Charitable Foundation Supports Springfield Golden Age Club, Inc. with Donation December 2011 – Springfield Massachusetts – TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, recently donated a total of $2,500 to Springfield Golden Age Club, Inc. in Hampden County as part of the bank’s commitment to giving back to the community.
The Springfield Golden Age Club, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has members 60 years and above from the city of Springfield. This club has over 300 members that have weekly meetings across the city. This organization brings elders together from all walks of life for recreational and informational activities. The organizations will use the funds from the TD Charitable Foundation to purchase and install over 150 carbon monoxide detectors. Quote from Organization: The Springfield Golden Age Club, Inc. is very pleased to accept this grant from TD Charitable Foundation for carbon monoxide detectors in particularly in light of the recent deaths of individuals from this silent killer. This generous gift will allow us to prevent more deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning within our elderly members.
2007 World Series Trophy and Wally the Green Monster come to Mayflower Center Mayflower Center was the site for a visit from Wally the Green Monster, the lovable team mascot for the Boston Red Sox, who brought the Red Sox 2007 World Series trophy for a visit. For photos of the visit click HERE.  2012 Annual Heart and Soul AffairFebruary is Heart Month and in recognition of that the Annual Heart and Soul Affair helps to promote awareness of heart health and programs that help people live healthier lifestyles. This year, Elder Affairs Fitness Director Peggy Sheldon gave a Zumba demonstration with audience participation that really got people to their feet and got their circulation going. For more photos from the event, click HERE. Zumba classes energize Forest Park Manor Zumba classes energize Forest Park Manor. Yes, it’s Zumba. The program, brought to Forest Park courtesy of the Springfield Department of Elder Affairs, began in January, and has proven to be a popular and growing draw, both among residents at the elderly/disabled Springfield Housing Authority development and the surrounding community. The program is free and open to the public. Click HERE for more. HUNGRY HILL CENTERNew photos from Hungry Hill Center as "normal" activities resume following the Center's use as shelter from the storms of this past summer. Click HERE to go to the page for Hungry Hill Center, to see the photos. AARP names Springfield one of best small cities for retirementClick HERE to read the story. the Mason Square Food Justice Initiative needs your help!The JUST FOOD Initiative - The StoryTHE SITUATION Mason Square residents, by and large, have challenges meeting basic living needs. THE NEED Mason Square literally has no place to go year round to purchase quality, affordable food. It is a "Food Desert." Neighborhood residents, especially those without transportation (which is NOT an insignificant number) are forced to purchase "groceries" from a local CVS. This contributes significantly to the "The Situation." THE RESPONSE The Mason Square Food Justice Initiative, along with the Mason Square community at large, is working together to bring in a full service grocery store so that ultimately, Mason Square residents can feed their families high quality, fresh foods. CALL TO ACTION Grocery chains want to site their stores where people have money to spend. We want to demonstrate the purchasing power of the Mason Square community in a practical, yet powerfully symbolic way. We're inviting residents in Mason Square and surrounding neighborhoods to save their grocery receipts. HOW YOU CAN HELP Please read the entire story in the PDF document HERE Please print and post the PDF flier located HERE
IMPORTANT Medicare Enrollment Information Can I still change my Medicare Plan?The 2011 Medicare Open Enrollment period ended on December 7, but there are still a few changes you can make, if you qualify. For those with a Medicare Advantage Plan: Between January 1 and February 14, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare, but you cannot switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Your Original Medicare coverage will begin the first day of the following month. If you drop your Medicare Advantage plan during this period, you will be able to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your prescription drug coverage will begin the first day of the month after your enrollment. You may also add a Medigap at this time. And new this year, you could also switch to Health New England at any time during 2012 because HNE received a 5 Star Rating from Medicare. For those with Prescription Advantage or getting "Extra Help" paying for prescription drugs: You can change your plan anytime during the year. Those with Prescription Advantage can do this only once each year. Those with “Extra Help” can change every month. Trained SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) volunteers can help you! They offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of health insurance to anyone on Medicare. Call your senior center and ask for a SHINE appointment. You can also call 413-750-2893. Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back, as soon as possible
WWLP22 video of Medicare Open Enrollment presentation at Riverview Senior Center - click hereThe Republican newspaper story is here
Massachusetts Senior Legal Helpline Click the flyer above to download a PDF for printing in English Click here to download a PDF for printing in French Click here to download a PDF for printing in Portuguese Click here to download a PDF for printing in Russian Click here to download a PDF for printing in Spanish Borrow an e-Reader from the LibraryThe Springfield City Library system will start lending Sony eReaders to city patrons age 55 and older. This is a great opportunity to assist our seniors with obtaining easy-to-use eReaders that are preloaded with many recent and popular titles for mystery, suspense, Christian, historical fiction and love stories. And it's FREE to use on loan from the Library. Imagine, no need to lug heavy books around! Click this eReader link for more information in PDF format. Hungry Hill Center Celebrates St. Patrick's Day 2011
Important Advisory - H1N1 "Swine" FluLatest H1N1 information from the Springfield Department of Health
Emergency PreparednessThe city’s instant notification system is automatically set to call residents’ home phone or the main number of a Springfield business in case of an emergency. To sign up for this service, click here for the Instant Notification Link. Springfield Star NewsletterRecent ActivitiesSeniors enjoying activities around the City. Patsy Cline Tribute at Greenleaf Center 2011Veterans' Recognition Luncheon 2010 Heart and Soul Affair at The Good Life Center Pine Point Center "A Morning of Glamour" Don't see photos from your favorite Senior Center or activity? Check the web page for the Center you enjoy. There are additional photos posted for each Senior Center on their separate webpage. |
Janet Rodriguez Denney, Director of Elder Affairs for the City of Springfield, Mass.1600 East Columbus Ave. |
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Page last updated: Thursday, May 16, 2013 11:08 am