CALLAHAN SENIOR CENTER HAPPENINGS FOR AUGUST 2007

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- What's happening in August 2007 at the Callahan:

Support Groups at Callahan Senior Center - Bereavement Support Group: Mondays, August 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 10:00 am.

Caregiver Support Group: Cancelled for August.

Diabetes Support Group: No group meeting in August - next meeting is Tuesday, September 25th at 10:00 am. Grandparent Support Group: Please call Center for date and time.

Low Vision Group: Friday, August 17 at 1:30. Massage Therapy: Thursday, August 23 (by appt. only).

Parkinson’s Support Group: Tuesday, August 21 at 1:30
pm.

Podiatry: Thursday, August 9 from 12:30 pm to 4:15 pm, by appt. only. Restricted to Framingham residents only.

Stroke Survivors’ Support Group: No meeting in August. Please check September Courier for next meeting.

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Wednesdays, August 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 from 9:30—11am & 12—1 pm

Medicare Promotes Preventative Services for 2007

An easy and important way to stay healthy is to get disease prevention and early detection services. These services can keep you from getting certain diseases or illnesses, or can find a health problem early which is when treatment works best. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, it is a good idea to review your Medicare preventative benefits and make sure you are accessing them to maintain your health. Medicare covers many important screenings and other benefits to help you live healthier and more active lives. Heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes cause the most deaths of people with Medicare, but each disease can be prevented or treated more effectively when found earlier.

One of the newest preventative benefits recently added in 2007 is an Ultrasound screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurism if you are at risk. The new MyMedicare.gov website helps beneficiaries track preventative services and learn about the services you may be eligible to receive to manage your healthcare. Also on this website, beneficiaries can access specific information about your Medicare Claims and Medicare Summary Notices (MSN).

If you are interested in finding out more about the preventative services that Medicare offers contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and request a copy of the Medicare Publication “Staying Healthy Medicare’s Preventative Services” or visit www.medicare.gov on the web.

If you need help with any aspect of your health insurance (Medicare), call your local Senior Center and ask for a SHINE appointment. You can also get help by calling 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636) and pressing or saying "2" to reach the SHINE Program. If you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A counselor will return your call as soon as possible.


PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM FY 2008 - The Callahan Center will be taking appointments for the Property Tax Relief Program starting in August. The program employs senior citizens, 62 years of age or older, who are retired Framingham residents and homeowners for 5 or more years. An application is required, accompanied by required verifications. Maximum allowable income for Program participation is $40,000. Seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) will be earned for completing the required 100 hours of work. Seniors will receive credit on their quarterly tax bill when completed. Acceptance subject to the ability to place applicant in an available position and applicant’s ability to fulfill job requirements as determined by the Property Tax Relief Coordinator, Janice McIntyre. For more information or to make an appointment, please call Janice at the Callahan Center at 508-532-5980.

SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT - Ann Steacie, Supervisor

THE EDITH STEWART CHASE FOUNDATION - The purpose of this Foundation is to provide emergency financial assistance to retired Educators who confront an economic crisis. The Foundation was established in 1994 under the will of Edith Stewart Chase who was a dedicated art teacher in the Waltham Public Schools. The grants serve a wide range of needs from medical, dental, hearing aids, and home maintenance. Any help given to those who qualify does not have to be paid back. If you, or someone you know who is a member of the Retired Educators of Massachusetts – REAM – could benefit from the generosity of this program, please contact their office in Waltham for an application. The telephone number is 1-781-893-5308.

Framingham State College, in Partnership with the Callahan Center, offers New Programs for the Fall 2007

Course title: “Picasso, Rembrandt and Vermeer” Instructor: Historian, Jane Blair
Dates: Wednesdays, September 19 and October 3 Time: 10:00 am Location: Callahan Center
Cost: $12.00 (Must be paid in advance - non-refundable)
Descriptions:
September 19 - Pablo Picasso was undeniably the most successful and influential artist of the 20th century. Join us for a look at and a discussion of the many, many styles, expressions, loves and lives of the man at the heart of modern art.
October 3 - Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer, two of the greatest painters the world has known. Their fame comes from their beloved masterpieces of art. Come learn and see some of the wonderful examples of their works. Enjoy the drama and connect with the masters, Rembrandt and the special quiet of Vermeer.

Jane Blair, an art educator is the founder of an art awareness program, Art Matters, which supports art advocacy for all ages. Ms. Blair has a bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts from Boston University and a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois. She teaches art at DeCordova Museum Art School in Lincoln, MA. As an art educator, Ms. Blair teaches art studio disciplines, art history, art appreciation, computer art, photography, and graphic illustration. Her specialities include clay and plastic sculpture, life casting, drawing and painting and 3D design.

Course title: Music Appreciation: Noctures, Waltzes, Harmony, and Ragtime Presented by: Pianist Steve Snitzer
Dates: Tuesdays, October 9, 16, 23 & 30 Time: 10:00am Location: Callahan Center
Cost: $24.00 (Must be paid in advance - non-refundable
Description: More details in September issue of the Courier

Course title: Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Instructor: Historian, Gary Hylander
Dates: Thursdays, October 11 and November 8 Time: 10:00 am Location: Callahan Center
Cost: $12.00 (Must be paid in advance - non-refundable)
Description: Join us as we discuss the morning headlines. Hard to predict our topic, but it will be hot off the press!

More information will follow in the September newsletter. All payments must be received in advance of the program. No admittance without pre-payment. Please make your payment at the Callahan Center reception desk, or you may send your check, payable to the Friends of Callahan, Callahan Center, 535 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702. All of the above programs take place at the Callahan Center and are subsidized by the Friends of Callahan.


Framingham Board of Health - New Health Screening Initiative - The Framingham Board of Health is pleased to announce that starting this Fall 2007 we will begin a new and exciting health screening initiative for Framingham residents. Our plan to expand our health screening initiatives for residents has succeeded this past year through a grant from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation. In the coming weeks the Framingham Board of Health will plan “Screening Days” at Callahan (and elsewhere) which will include Blood Pressures, Cholesterol Tests and Skin / Facial Cancer Screenings. The cardiovascular program has been well-attended. We leave you in experienced and capable hands with scheduled nurses and who can provide this service for you each month!

Keep your eye on the MetroWest Daily News, Callahan Newsletter, Town of Framingham Web page and the main branch of the Framingham Public Library for when this event will be announced. It is sure to be well-attended. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call Public Health Nurse Kitty Mahoney at the Framingham Board of Health office at 508-532-5470.

Weekend Social Club - Are you all alone when the Center is closed? We don’t have to be alone on any weekend! We will meet at the Callahan Center on Fridays at 1:30 pm to talk with others about that same problem. It could very well be the answer to our dilemma! There is no obligation, charge or commitment. All you need to bring is you; or bring a friend, too! That way we can plan and share our ideas together. Want to know more? Watch the bulletin board at the Callahan Center for updates.

YARN NEEDED - We are in desperate need of yarn for all our knitting and crocheting projects for the rest of the year. If you have acrylic yarn in baby colors for blankets or yarn for hats and mittens for our elementary school children in need and would like to donate it, please bring it to the Callahan Center and leave it with the front desk personnel. No wool, please. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - We need volunteers with time, love and support. Please help us send love and comfort wrapped in a handmade blanket to thousands of small children who are born HIV positive. These babies are born affected by alcohol or other drugs, are abandoned and living in hospitals and foster care homes. The Callahan Center has been making blankets for a number of years and to date have made hundreds. Many homebound seniors who still want to be a part of the community have been involved in this project. If you would like to participate by making a blanket or even by donating yarn or money to purchase the yarn so that someone else can knit or crochet the blankets, please call Project Coordinator, Evelyn Langley, at Callahan Center at 508-532-5980 or you may mail your check to her at the Heritage Gallery , 535 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702.

These blankets are made to bring love and comfort to the children from those volunteers who donate their time, yarn or money. They are not gifts to the Callahan Center or Heritage Gallery. These blankets are never sold for any reason, nor should they be used for purposes other than gifts to the children. To all those who participated in this project over the years - we sincerely THANK YOU for your kindness and generosity!

Do you like to sew, knit, Crochet or just mend? Come and meet with us on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month at 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. It is very relaxing and a great way to spend a morning working on your project and chat, and even meet some new friends! Just drop in or call 508-532-5980, extension 4102 and ask for Lorraine.

HERITAGE GALLERY is closed for the summer. We hope to see you when the Gallery re-opens on Wednesday, September 5th. Heritage Gallery Volunteers want to take this opportunity to thank and wish our many consignees and customers a Happy and Safe Summer. We look forward to seeing and serving you again in the fall!