PLEASANTRIES

Reading’s Newsletter for Adults 60+ October 2020

Join Us for a Drive-by Event! Wednesday, October 14, 2020 (rain date October 15th)

Time: 1:00—3:00pm Pleasant Street Center

49 Pleasant Street, Reading

We are very excited to welcome fall together with our upcoming drive-by event on Wednesday, October 14th! Staff will be at the Pleasant Street Center between the hours of 1:00—3:00pm handing out individ-ual frozen chicken pot pies from Harrows Chicken Pies, located in our very own town of Reading. In celebration of Halloween, you will also find a small bag of candy tucked in your bag—who can resist chocolate, especially at Halloween!

It is through the generous support of Harrows and the assistance of our local town officials that we are able to offer this event to our communi-ty. This is a drive-by event, so we ask that you stay safe in your car and staff will put the goodies in your backseat. Staff will be handing out bags on both sides of Pleasant Street.

Reservations required by calling (781) 942-6794. Signups begin Octo-ber 1st. Last day to sign-up is October 8th. Supplies are limited.

We hope you will join us on this day and can’t wait to see all the faces we have been missing throughout these last few months!

Happy Fall, Your friends at the Pleasant Street Center

49 Pleasant Street Reading, MA 01867 (781) 942-6794 www.readingma.gov/elder-and-human-services

Staff Contact Information Program Coordinator Maria Puglielli (781) 942-6796 mpuglielli@ci.reading.ma.us Sr. Case Manager Kerry Valle (781) 942-6659 kvalle@ci.reading.ma.us Nurse Advocate Alyse Warren (781) 942-6693 awarren@ci.reading.ma.us Receptionist Kelly Coughlin (781) 942-6794 kcoughlin@ci.reading.ma.us Clerk Amanda Beatrice (781) 942-6608 abeatrice@ci.reading.ma.us Van Driver Joe Beninati

Veteran’s Services

The Pleasant Street Center is closed but if Mother Nature cooperates we will have a socially distanced Scuttlebutt meeting at Memorial Park on Thursday, October 8, 11:00 AM. Please park along Harrison

Street and we’ll meet by the big skating rink. Please wear a mask, bring your own chair, coffee and cookies. I’ll mark off the 6+ feet seating arrangement. It will be great to see everyone to hear how you are dealing with these historic times. If you are able to attend, please call Kevin at (781) 942-6652 or email kbohmiller@ci.reading.ma.us. If the weather does not look good, I will send out a ZOOM invite and we can meet virtually. Hope to see you there!

Scuttlebutt Meeting Thursday, October 8 @ 11:00am

LOOKING FOR COMPUTER ASSISTANCE? ASK NANCY! Do you have questions about using Zoom, printing photos, searching the Internet, completing the 2020 U.S. Census, or something else related to your computer? If so, throughout the duration of the closure of the Pleasant Street Center, you can email Nancy at njziemlak@gmail.com with “Pleasant Street” in the subject line and she will do her best to help!

MEDICARE QUESTIONS?

• Are you turning 65 in the next 3 months? • Are you over 65 and need to enroll soon? • Do you understand your Medicare dead-

lines and options? • Are you having trouble paying for medical

expenses and prescription drugs? If any of these apply to you, contact the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) program. Certified SHINE counselors offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of health insurance to anyone on Medicare. In-person SHINE appointments are not available now due to social distancing, but help is available over the phone. Call the central SHINE office at Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) at (781) 388-4845 and leave a message with your name, phone, and best time you can be reached. They will call you back.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Face Masks Available

We are grateful to the town of Reading for sup-plying masks to seniors and those with underly-ing health conditions. We now have some available at the Pleasant Street Center for those in need. Please contact anyone of the staff members and we will arrange a time to make a safe delivery of the masks to your home.

Staff at the Pleasant Street Center have imple-

mented a friendly caller program to check-in on our seniors and those who might be feeling social-ly isolated. We are asking the community to please

let us know of anyone we should be calling or if anyone would like to receive a call from a friendly

voice. Contact the center at (781) 942-6794.

Food Program Information

Questions about the Food Pantry or SNAP?

Call Kerry Valle at 781-942-6659

2 | October 2020

Lamp Repair 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month

10am-Noon

Have a lamp that needs repair? Bring it to the Pleasant Street Center on Wednesday October 14th or 28th be-tween the hours of 10am-Noon. When you arrive at the center please call (781)942-6794 and a staff mem-ber will meet you in the parking lot to receive your lamp. Remember to wear a mask. Please affix a note on your lamp stating the prob-lem, your name, telephone number and address. You will receive a call when your lamp is ready to be picked up. The fee will be for parts only.

3 | October 2020

VIRTUAL FITNESS

Virtual Tai Chi Quan with Tai Chi Master Paul

Wednesdays 1:30—2:30pm

This basic Tai Chi class is 12 weeks long, but if you miss a week or 2, we review what we taught and build on it. In Tai Chi Quan all of the movements can be modified if need be. Some of the classes are taught while sitting and most while standing. The first 10 minutes of each session is spent strengthening and ton-ing muscles for what we need to do in every day living. No equipment is needed and no exercises require getting on the floor. The last 5 minutes of the class focuses on relaxing techniques called Qi [Chi]. This current session runs now through December 9th.

$5.00 suggested donation to your favorite charity or local Food Bank.

To register for any of these FREE fitness programs send the email you

would like to receive the Zoom invite to: mpuglielli@ci.reading.ma.us

and reference what you are interested in signing up for in the subject

line or call Maria at (781)942-6796.

Virtual Total Fitness with Terry Mondays

11:00am—12:00 Noon (No class October 12th)

This class incorporates all of the major compo-nents of fitness: strength, cardio, balance, flexibil-ity and functional exercise. All exercises are per-formed sitting in or standing next to a chair. Re-quires hand-held weights such as dumbbells, canned goods or water bottles.

Virtual Chair Yoga with Terry

Wednesdays 11:00am—12:00 Noon

This class leads you through a wide-ranging series of gentle seated yoga poses. Chair support is offered to safely perform a variety of postures designed to in-crease flexibility, mobility and range of motion. The class ends with deep relaxation to help promote stress reduc-tion and mental clarity.

VIRTUAL ART

Virtual Zentangle with Susan McFarlane

(2 dates) Tuesdays, October 13th and 27th 10:00—11:00am

Take a break with a relaxing, meditative, easy-to-

learn drawing practice. No prior art experience

required. You will need paper, a pencil, and a pen

(felt tip, Micron, or something that writes nicely).

A blender/tortillion, or rolled paper is

helpful for shading.

Virtual Drawing with Susan McFarlane

(2 dates) Tuesdays, October 6th and 20th 10:00—11:00am

In a positive atmosphere, discover ways to improve, or

begin, drawing the world around you. Work with mate-

rials readily available at home. This class will cover

foundational drawing skills--proportion, per-

spective, and value—to help you represent a

3D world.

MORE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

Virtual “Not Too Stuffy Book Club” Thursday, October 15, 2020

10:30 - 11:30am

Looking for a casual book group where you can discuss, engage and laugh with other like-minded readers? This month’s discussion will feature the book The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. For information about how to get the book, please visit www.readingpl.org or call the Reading Public Library at 781-944-0840 (and be sure to leave a message). To register for book club, use this link: https://libcal.readingpl.org/event/6909553

Virtual Reiki with Carol Neal (2 dates) Thursdays, October 8th & 22nd

2:30—3:00pm

Reiki is an ancient, gentle touch therapy. It is a compassionate touch that encourages the body's own healing ability and calms the mind. Virtually, Reiki hand positions will be demonstrated that everyone can practice on themselves. Reiki is suitable for everyone and has no harmful side effects. Please visit bodybalance.abmp.com for more information.

Please continue to check our website at https://www.readingma.gov/elder-and-human-services or subscribe to our email blast for updates. To subscribe send an email to mpuglielli@ci.reading.ma.us

4 | October 2020

To register for any of these free programs (with the exception of Book Club), send the email you would like to

receive the Zoom invite to: mpuglielli@ci.reading.ma.us and reference what you are interested in signing up

for in the subject line or call Maria at (781)942-6796.

French for Beginners! Begins Wednesday 10/21, 3:00-4:00pm

Join Janet Gentile for fun and creative lessons in basic French conversation and expression. The

class will meet weekly on Zoom for approximately one hour each Wednesday, beginning with an introductory class on October 21st. If learning to speak French is something you’ve always wanted to do, this class is for you! All levels, including new and beginning learners, are welcome. A note about the Instructor: Janet studied French at the University of Neuchatel. She taught French for 4 years at a private boarding school in upper Michigan and grew up listening to and speaking French at home. She is excited to share with you her passion for the language through fun and interactive activities. J'espère te voir!(hope to see you!)

5 | October 2020

Reading’s Virtual Memory Café Hosted by Kerry Valle and Alyse Warren

Last Tuesday of the month 2:00-3:00 pm

Next meeting: October 27th

Our Memory Café is a welcoming space for people with memory loss and those who help care for them to

attend together. The café offers an opportunity to socialize, and make connections in an accepting

environment.

Please contact us for information on how to join our meeting:

Kerry Valle 781-942-6659

Alyse Warren 781-942-6693

CAREGIVER AND SUPPORT GROUPS

Mystic Valley Elder Services presents: Diabetes Self-Management

A FREE VIRTUAL ZOOM CLASS Thursdays, October 1 to November 5 @10:00AM to 12:00PM

Learn how to connect virtually thru a Zoom platform and take the class from the comfort of your home. You’ll learn skills for improved management of your diabetes — including how to effectively handle stress and diffi-cult emotions, eat for your health and promote physical activity, increase your energy level, set and meet per-sonal goals, and make informed choices about your treatment.

For questions or to sign-up contact Donna Covelle at dcovelle@mves.org

or call 781-388-4867 Class size is limited

Mystic Valley Elder Services presents: Healthy Eating for Successful Living

A FREE VIRTUAL ZOOM WORKSHOP SERIES Tuesdays, October 13 to November 17 @10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Learn how to connect virtually thru a Zoom platform and take the class from the comfort of your home! Learn more about how nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle changes can promote better health. This virtual work-shop series focuses on heart- and bone-healthy nutrition strategies to help maintain or improve wellness and prevent chronic disease development or progression in older adults. Healthy Eating uses the USDA’s MyPlate as a framework.

For questions or to sign-up contact Donna Covelle at dcovelle@mves.org or call 781-388-4867

6 | October 2020

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

1 10:00 Diabetes Self-Management 10:00 Savvy Care-giver w/ M/W

2

5 11:00 Virtual Total Fit-ness 6:30pm COA Board meeting via Zoom

6 10:00 Virtual Drawing 1:00 Brains & Balance

7 11:00 Virtual Chair Yoga 1:30 Virtual Tai Chi

8 10:00 Diabetes Self-Management 10:00 Savvy Care-giver w/ M/W 11:00 Scuttlebutt 2:30 Virtual Reiki

9

12

No Classes

13 10:00 Virtual Zentangle 10:00 Healthy Eating w/ MVES 11:30 Overcoming life challenges w/ Dr. Beilin 1:00 Brains & Balance

14 10-Noon Lamp Repair drop off @ center 11:00 Virtual Chair Yoga 1:30 Virtual Tai Chi 1:00 Drive-by Event at the PSC

15 10:00 Diabetes Self-Management 10:30am Virtual Book Club

16

19 11:00 Virtual Total Fit-ness

20 10:00 Virtual Drawing 10:00 Healthy Eating w/ MVES 11:30 Overcoming life challenges w/ Dr. Beilin 1:00 Brains & Balance

21 10:00 Eating Well w/ M/W 11:00 Virtual Chair Yoga

1:30 Virtual Tai Chi 3:00 French Conversa-tion Group

22 10:00 Diabetes Self-Management 2:30 Virtual Reiki

23

26 11:00 Virtual Total Fit-ness

27 10:00 Virtual Zentangle 10:00 Healthy Eating 10:30 Health & Wellness Bingo w/ M/W 11:30 Overcoming life challenges w/ Dr. Beilin 1:00 Brains & Balance 2:00 Memory Cafe

28

10-Noon Lamp Repair drop off @ center 11:00 Virtual Chair Yoga 1:30 Virtual Tai Chi 3:00 French Conversa-tion Group

29 10:00 Diabetes Self-Management

30

”Get Healthy with Holly” Season 3 - now airing on RCTV.

“Get Healthy with Holly” is a monthly TV show with Holly Kouvo of Fitting Fitness In®. As a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist, Holly talks about health and fitness topics that teach people how to live a healthy lifestyle. Episode topics in this series include: Exercise and your Brain, Benefits of Meditation, Eating Healthy can be

Easy, Let’s Talk Diabetes and more. She regularly will demo simple and healthy recipes to try at home. You will love Holly—get ready to learn fun and innovative ways to bring nutrition and exercise into your daily life!

STAY ACTIVE, FIT AND HEALTHY WITH LOCAL CABLE

“Nutrition for Active Agers” In this 4-part, video series, Holly Kouvo of Fitting Fitness In® talks about:

Metabolism - when and why it slows down, how to calculate how many calories you need, and how to eat to speed your metabolism.

Food Labels & Nutrition Labels – what to look for on nutritional labels, misleading food labels, and how to spice up your plate with colorful foods.

Use Food to Fight Back – learn the foods that can help with common ailments, what foods to avoid, and foods for a healthy brain.

Insulin Resistant Diet – learn what happens when your body is resistant to insulin, the best food to eat, and how exercise snacks can help.

7 | October 2020

Chair Yoga with Terry

This class leads you through a wide-ranging series of gentle seated yoga poses. Chair support is offered to safely perform a variety of postures designed to increase flexibility, mobility and range of motion. The class ends with deep relaxation to help promote stress reduction and mental clarity.

60+ Better Balance with Terry

In this class you will perform exercises with the specific goal of decreasing your risk of falls and staying strong on your feet. Mobility and strengthening exercises are followed by a series of both static and dynamic balance drills, finishing with stretches to increase flexibility.

B.E.S.T (Balance, Energy, Strength, Training) with Pat

Join our very own Pleasant Street Instructor, Pat, as she leads you through a series of repetitive exercises de-signed to improve balance, strength and overall well being!

Exercise with Emma Join Emma as she takes us through a variety of exercises to get the proverbial and literal blood flowing!

For channels and a complete schedule of air times on RCTV, see next page (pg. 7)

RCTV Program Schedule Tune in each day at the times below to RCTV Comcast channel 9 and Verizon channel 31

8 | October 2020

Sunday 6:00-7:45am; 11:00pm-12:00am 10:00am 12:00 Noon 5:00—7:00pm

Get Healthy with Holly 60+ Better Balance Chair Yoga Nutrition for Active Agers

Monday 4:00-6:00pm 12:30pm 1:30pm

Nutrition for Active Agers 60+ Better Balance Chair Yoga

Tuesday 8:30am 10:00am 3:00pm 4:00pm 6:00—8:00pm

B.E.S.T with Pat Exercise with Emma 60+ Better Balance Chair Yoga Nutrition for Active Agers

Wednesday 8:30am 10:00am 11:00am 12:30-1:30pm; 7:00-7:30pm; 9:00-10:00pm 4:00pm 5:00—7:00pm

B.E.S.T with Pat Exercise with Emma Chair Yoga Get Healthy with Holly 60+Better Balance Nutrition for Active Agers

Thursday 8:30am 12:30—2:30pm 2:30-3:15pm; 4:00-5:00pm; 6:30-7:30pm 4:30pm 5:30pm

B.E.S.T with Pat Nutrition for Active Agers Get Healthy with Holly Chair Yoga 60+ Better Balance

Friday 9:30am 11:00am 12:00 Noon 3:30-4:30pm; 10:00-11:00pm 6:30—8:30pm

Exercise with Emma 60+ Better Balance Chair Yoga Get Healthy with Holly Nutrition for Active Agers

Saturday 9:00am 1:00pm 4:00pm 3:00-4:00pm; 7:30-9:00pm; 10:00-11:00pm 5:30-8:30 PM

Exercise with Emma Chair Yoga 60+ Better Balance Get Healthy with Holly Nutrition for Active Agers

Please note—dates and times of shows may vary. For more information and for a complete & accurate

list of programming Visit the RCTV website at

www.rctv.org

PROGRAMS THROUGH MELROSE/WAKEFIELD HEALTHCARE

9 | October 2020

The Savvy Caregiver Program

Introductory Session

This evidence-based program is for anyone caring for a loved one or friend with dementia or Alzheimer’s dis-ease. This free six-week program, designed for caregivers, meets for 2 hours each week and covers:

· The unique impact of dementia on both the care recipient and the caregiver · Identifying personal barriers to self-care · Techniques for setting reasonable goals · Ways to manage stress · Skills for effective communication · Offers a source of support · Helps caregivers to strengthen family resources

If you may be interested in taking part in this workshop series please register for a 1-hour online Introductory Session to learn more.

Eating Well for Healthy Aging Wednesday, October 21st at 10am

As you age you may experience health issues, have less energy or even notice more emotional ups and downs. Nutritional needs change as you age and healthy eating can help you feel your best. Join us for an online class offering science-based nutrition and diet information for healthy eating as you age. MelroseWakefield Healthcare’s Registered Dietitians will share information about proper nutrition, reading food labels, hydration and protein intake. There will be suggestions for healthy meals and time for questions.

Health & Wellness Bingo

Tuesday, October 27th at 10:30am

Join us for an online version of BINGO to learn more about blood pressure and how it impacts your health. Learn strategies for what you can do to manage your blood pressure including diet and stress management. Please register by October 20th to receive your BINGO card and instructions.

10 | October 2020

CENTER HAPPENINGS

Our Chromebook lending program has taken off! In just a short amount of time, we have delivered this fun

device to many seniors in town. So if you have been thinking about trying out technology, now is the time

to give it a try. You will be glad you did!

These Chromebooks allow you to access the internet, use email and best of all take part in all the great vir-

tual programming provided by the PSC.

Chromebooks will be loaned out for a 2-month trial period. If you enjoy the experience, the PSC staff can

help you purchase and set up your own Chromebook. The units are already set up, so you can quickly check

the weather, local and national news, PSC schedules, tutorials on how to ZOOM and much, much more.

Please contact Maria Puglielli at 781-942-6796 if you are interested in borrowing a Chromebook or for more

information.

Council On Aging Board Meeting

The Council on Aging (COA) Board Meetings are usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30pm, with some exceptions. Meetings are open to the public. Due to the Columbus Day holiday oc-curring on the second Monday, this month’s meeting will be held on:

Monday, October 5, 2020 at 6:30pm Due to COVID-19, this meeting will take place on ZOOM. If you would like to attend, please email Maria Puglielli at mpuglielli@ci.reading.ma.us and you will be sent an invitation.

STAY INFORMED

Every 10 years, the United States counts everyone who lives in the country, from newborn ba-bies to the oldest among us. It is important for everyone to complete the 2020 Census so that

communities like yours can be accurately funded and represented.

Responding is important.

The 2020 Census will influence community funding and congressional representation for the next decade. Information collected in the census will inform the allocation of more than $675 billion in federal funds for states and communities each year. That includes money for things like:

Emergency Services

Medicare Part B

Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program

Libraries and community centers

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Senior Community Service Employment Program

Responding is easy.

In early 2020, most households in the United States received a notice to complete the census. Respond now online, by phone, or by mail. Choose the option that is most comfortable for you. Large-print guides to the questionnaire are available upon request. Census takers will visit households that do not respond and can assist if you need help completing your form.

Responding is safe.

Your personal information is kept confidential by law. Your responses can only be used to pro-duce statistics. They cannot be shared with law enforce-ment agencies or used against you by any government agency or court in any way.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov

TIME IS RUNNING OUT. RESPOND NOW.

11 | October 2020

12 | October 2020

SHARING FAMILY RECIPES

We hope you will try and enjoy this Valle Family recipe shared by Kerry.

Kerry makes this for her family all year long but mostly during the fall and winter. She hopes you will give it a try!

Rosemarie Carroll’s Venus De Milo Soup Sauté one medium diced onion in a skillet. Add 1 pound of ground beef . Transfer to a large sauce pan. Add 1 can of Vegetables (all and any kind, including liquid). Add 1 21oz can of peeled tomatoes, 1/2 cup of Orzo, 2-3 cans of beef broth, 2-3 bouillon cubes, and 2-3 cups of water. Simmer and enjoy! It is delicious!

Recipe Sharing Over the next few months, Pleasant Street Center Staff will be sharing some of our favorite family recipes with you but we would also love to hear what you are cooking at home. If you have a recipe you would like to send for posting in our Recipe-of-the-month page in the Pleasantries, email it to: mpuglielli@ci.reading.ma.us.

Hope to hear from you!

I want to be like sea glass Bernadette Noll

I want to age like sea glass smoothed by tides but not broken.

I want my hard edges to soften. I want to ride the waves

and go with the flow. I want to catch a wave

and let it carry me to where I belong.

I want to be picked up and helped gently by

those who delight in my well-earned patina and

appreciate the changes I went

through to achieve that beauty.

13 | October 2020