Issue Six Winter 2021

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Nahant Council on Aging The Nahant Council on Aging (COA) was established in the early seventies, the result of a 1973 Town Meeting Resolution. Its mission is to provide physical, emotional, and mental stimulation enabling those sixty and over to achieve engaged and fulfilling lives in a safe environment. Five dedicated directors since 1973 have executed this mission: Madelyn Brenner, Marguerite Rizzo, Diane Desmond and for the past 11 years, Linda Spinucci-Peterson. Currently, COA is located in the lower level of Town Hall, headquarters for the design and implementation of many opportunities to enhance quality of life for Nahant seniors. COA Board members play an important role by providing guidance and support for the Director. The most popular and important of our services is our lunch program, providing lunches Monday through Friday each week. Our lunches are prepared on premises by several of Nahant finest chefs. Our COA bus, with colorful decals created by Johnson School students, provides rides to and from Town Hall for the lunch program. Other activities meet a wide range of interests: five exercise classes every week at the Nahant Community Center; weekly Nahant Magazine | 20
shopping trips in our bus; manicures; blood pressure monitoring, podiatry, and hair dressing appointments. We also have many cultural events, special parties for all the holidays, boat rides in the summer, painting parties and more. One of Linda Peterson’s goals was to establish a new source of support, the Friends of the Nahant Council on Aging. Now in its sixth year, this group is a major funding source for the COA. The members meet once a month to plan events. The money that is raised from these events and through donations made in memory of or in honor of loved ones, is used to supplement town and federal funding for our lunch program, exercise program and special events. We appreciate past, present and future support. Changes Since March 13, 2020 On March 13, 2020, everything changed, for the COAs and everyone else in our state. Our COVID-19 story is not unique since many COAs are struggling with how to care for their seniors. Nahant may be the smallest town in Massachusetts, but in our opinion, we certainly have flexibility, courage and the biggest heart. Within days of the state closing, the town administrator and others decided that our seniors needed to be fed, so with limited resources we began delivering lunches to our regular guests. Within a short period that number grew to 40. In June we brought our bus drivers back to help with the lunch deliveries. Many folks in town also wanted to help. We developed a list of volunteers to help seniors with their shopping needs. Some of these volunteers and the recipients of their effort developed special relationships. It was heartwarming to hear from everyone how grateful everyone was with these new connections. We also received many donations from openhearted Nahanters to help keep our lunch program alive. Town organizations began to raise money for the program, a homebound senior made masks for those in need and asked that donations be made to the COA. On Mother’s Day and on other occasions a local florist provided flowers to the seniors, some of whom were brought to tears by this thoughtful gesture. Our current lunch program serves 30 seniors. Some come by to pick up their lunch while we have continued to deliver to others. Our shopping trip to Market Basket has resumed with 4 people for social distancing purposes. The podiatrist has returned. In September we did a painting class outside at the Dory club. Four video exercise classes have begun scheduled sessions on our local cable TV station. We’re not sure when we can get back to our normal fun life at the Nahant Council on Aging, but when we do, we promise to have the biggest and best party yet! Thanks to all the residents and neighbors who support this cause in so many ways. We invite all to join us for one or more of the many parts of our program. We’d love to have you assist in our mission. By, Linda Lehman, chairperson Friends of the Nahant COA & Linda Peterson, COA Director 21 | Nahant Magazine
Page 1 and 2: ISSUE No. 6 • Winter 20/21 NAHANT
Page 3 and 4: Let’s make 2021 a great year to b
Page 5 and 6: Photography: Dave Morin WHAT’S IN
Page 7 and 8: add a touch of elegance draped acro
Page 9 and 10: 2 Valley Road by Renee D. Wright-Mi
Page 11 and 12: Nahant’s Johnson Elementary Schoo
Page 13 and 14: My name is Luigi and I live in litt
Page 15 and 16: 0dB L A,max Noise Exposure B777-300
Page 17 and 18: Going that extra mile . . . It's ne
Page 19: them to others. Telling these stori
Page 23 and 24: COMMON ESTATE PLANNING MYTHS B R E
Page 25 and 26: Tarney Bruce lawn care, hedge trimm
Page 27 and 28: Hi, I'm Jacqueline the owner. I'm a
Page 29 and 30: Superior Craftsmanship Established
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Issue Six Winter 2021

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