Stow Council on Aging

Beautiful boxwood arrangements made at today’s class.

Want to do some shopping at the Burlington or Natick Mall but don't want to deal with the hassle of driving or parking? The Stow COA can help! Contact the COA to register for our Burlington Mall trip on 12/7 and/or our Natick Mall trip on 12/12. Grab a friend and go!

Please check out the survey for the Town of Stow's Housing Production Plan. The town's Planning Department would appreciate your input!

Sharing the route information.

The paper copy of the Stow Senior Scoop should be delivered to every household in Stow as an insert in the Action Unlimited on Friday, December 1st. This is later than usual due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

In advance of receiving your paper copy, you can access the Senior Scoop on our website. I wanted to highlight the events happening the first week of December given the delay:

SFCOA Second Chance Holiday Decoration Sale, Sat, Dec 2, p. 6 & 15
Holiday Boxwood Tree Arrangement, Tuesday, December 5, p. 6
Discussions with Denise, Wednesday, December 6, p. 6
Free Hearing Clinic, Wednesday, December 6, p. 6
Free Well Adult Clinic, Wednesday, December 6, p. 6
Burlington Mall Trip, Thursday, December 7, p. 6
Girl Scout Cookie Social, Friday, December 8, p. 6
Gift Shop –Special Hours for Holiday Shopping, Sat, Dec 9, p. 6 & 15

Please note that the COA will be closed on Monday December 25th and January 1st.

In advance of our November Senior Scoop being mailed, the Stow COA wants to let you know about a couple of events that have early sign-up since they are happening early in the month.
HOLIDAY BOXWOOD TREE ARRANGEMENT and COOKIE SOCIAL Hosted by the Girl Scouts.

HOLIDAY BOXWOOD TREE ARRANGEMENT
Tuesday, December 5, 1 pm
Cost: $10 Limit: 12
Back by popular demand! Ruth Delmonico and Betty Sauta will lead a class in creating your very own holiday boxwood tree to take home. All materials will be provided, but please bring your own hand clippers. Many thanks to the Stow Garden Club and Friends of the COA for sponsoring this event.

COOKIE SOCIAL Hosted by the Girl Scouts
Friday, December 8th, 1:30 pm.
Free Limit: 30
Our local Girl Scouts will be spreading holiday cheer when they join in sharing their home baked cookies with senior residents. They will supply tins for filling, seasonal music, cold drinks, and a recipe book. Cookies will have ingredients provided to ensure those with food allergies can participate.

Space is limited and you must register by 12/1.
There are several ways to register:
• Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
• Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
• Come in person to the Pompo Community Center

Also, a friendly reminder about the . . .
SFCOA SECOND CHANCE HOLIDAY DECORATION SALE
Saturday, December 2, 10 am - 3 pm
Find an array of gently used/new holiday décor items to bring cheer to your home or gift to others this Holiday Season at bargain prices! Try your chance at a raffle! New this year is a bake table for your holiday goodies. In the morning you can enjoy local pianist, Matteo Faso, free face painting by Stow artist, Julie Siftar, and a visit from Santa! All proceeds benefit the Stow seniors.

The Stow COA would like to share some information about our intergenerational activities that we offer.

BRIDGES TOGETHER
With the Center School 4th graders
The Stow Council on Aging and Center School partnered again this year to offer an intergenerational 6-week program to the fourth-grade students. The students loved getting to know the seniors, so much so that a new monthly opportunity has developed. If you are interested in learning more about this program and to be considered for next year, please contact the Stow COA.

COOKIE SOCIAL
Hosted by the Girl Scouts
On Friday, December 8th (1:30 pm) our local Girl Scouts will be spreading holiday cheer when they join in sharing their home baked cookies with senior residents. They will supply tins for filling, seasonal music, cold drinks, and a recipe book. Cookies will have ingredients provided to ensure those with food allergies can participate. Space is limited and you must register by 12/1. There are several ways to register:
• Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
• Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
• Come in person to the Pompo Community Center

Look for our monthly newsletter, the Stow Senior Scoop (an insert in the Action Unlimited the last Friday of the month), for more information about what the COA has to offer!

The Stow COA has 4 complimentary tickets to the Sounds of Stow Chorus & Orchestra “Beauty in Birdsong”. This concert will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Littleton High School, 56 King Street.

Interested residents should reply to this email or contact a COA staff member for consideration. The resident will be notified on Friday 11/17.

Additional information: The Lost Birds, with text from 19th and 20th century poetry. The concert will also feature simultaneous projection of beautiful local bird photographs taken by Martha Pfeiffer, a valued and loved chorus member who passed away Oct 4, 2023. In addition, there will be live birds in the lobby brought by Mass Audubon. Featuring the East Coast premiere of Christopher Tin’s The Lost Boys. Barbara Jones, Artistic Director.

The Stow COA November Senior Scoop is out! The Senior Scoop was included in last Friday’s mail as an insert in the Hudson/Stow Action Action Unlimited. Additional copies of the Stow Senior Scoop are available at the Pompo Community Center, Town Building and on our website (https://www.stow-ma.gov/council-aging by clicking the "NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER" tab in the left-hand column). Sign up for e-alerts on the website to receive notifications for the Senior Scoop release and other information.

Happy Halloween!!!

The November Senior Scoop will be in your mail box this Friday (as an insert to the Action Unlimited). There are a few events happening early in the month that we want to draw your attention to. On November 1st (9:30 am) it is Meet the Department featuring Assistant Assessor Lauren Field. On November 2nd (1 pm) come learn more about Stow Acres and provide feedback to the project team. Sign up by November 3rd to go to the Groton Hill Concert on 11/8. See flyers for more details. Registration begins Friday 10/27 for these events. There are several ways to register:
Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
Come in person to the Pompo Community Center
Emailing the COA at [email protected]

Stow residents are you curious about the Stow Acres property purchased by the Town and how it is going to be used? Come to the COA on Thursday, November 2 at 1 pm. This will be your opportunity to learn more about Stow Acres and provide feedback to the project team. Help shape our master plan. To register go to https://myactivecenter.com, email [email protected], call 978-897-1880 or stop by (509 Great Road).

Forum on Stow's Housing Needs 11/7/2023 | Stow MA

Devens Regional Household Hazardous Products Collection Center | Stow MA Did you know?The Devens Regional Household Hazardous Products Collection Center at 9 Cook Street in Devens is open to re

We offer multiple exercise options so you can choose the one that’s right for you. If you have a suggestion for an exercise class not currently offered let us know. We are always looking for new ideas.

It’s World Osteoporosis Day!
How much do you know about osteoporosis and its prevention? Find out by taking this quick 10-question quiz: https://bit.ly/3PDnvz8

The Stow COA has extended the deadline to register for the upcoming Safe and Secure talk (see write-up below) since this is such an important topic.

SAFE AND SECURE TALK
Day & Time: Tuesday, October 24, 10 am Cost: FREE
Sponsored by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, this presentation is aimed at empowering senior citizens to incorporate safe computing habits into their lives to enjoy the internet safely while connecting with family and friends in the new digital age. Topics will include safe passwords, online banking and shopping, identity theft, computer protection, and internet scams.

There are several ways for Stow senior residents to register:
• Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
• Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
• Come in person to the Pompo Community Center
Hope you can attend!

The Stow COA is hosting a new group called “Grief and Healing.” It will be facilitated by Karen Campbell, a grief counselor hired by the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health of which the Stow Board of Health is a member. As a result of this partnership, the sessions will be provided to Stow residents free of charge.
The group will be an opportunity to learn more about the grief process and to share one’s experiences and challenges after a loss of any type. Past participants have been widowed, lost a family member, or had difficulty with life changes and transitions.
We have scheduled three sessions of this group: Thursdays October 26, 2023, November 30, 2023 and December 28, 2023. The sessions will begin at 2:00 pm and last approximately an hour. Participants do not need to commit to all three dates. If you plan to attend one or more group sessions, please let us know to expect you.
There are several ways to register:
• Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
• Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
• Come in person to the Pompo Community Center
Please call the COA (978-897-1880) and ask for Kathleen in Outreach if you have any questions or would like to be put in touch with Karen, who is available to schedule individual appointments for those more comfortable with that format.

Today we welcomed fall at our monthly social. Good food and friends brought lots of smiles!

Looking for a volunteer to do some simple sewing for us. Not time sensitive so can be done around your schedule. Email [email protected] if interested. Thank you for considering.

Medicare Open Enrollment begins on October 15th and ends December 7th. Minuteman Senior Services will be hosting a free Medicare benefits presentation on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 1:00pm at the Stow Council on Aging for its senior residents. Registration can be done by:
Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
Coming in person to the Pompo Community Center
Emailing the COA at [email protected]

Stow Police Department will be taking part in National . Please bring any expired or unused prescription medications to the station to dispose of in the green box in the lobby. If you need assistance our dispatchers can assist you when you walk in. For more information on National Take Back Day please visit: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday

Sharing this FREE event.

We are also experiencing the same issues.

Thank you The Stow Independent for always supporting the Stow Council on Aging and the Stow Friends of the Council on Aging. Such a great local paper!

Reminder! ‼️⚠️‼️ TOMORROW, October 4th at 2:20 PM EST, there will be a nationwide test of the emergency alert system and wireless emergency alert system. That means, you will get an alert on your cell phones, radios and TVs. THIS IS ONLY A TEST.

Hey Stow Seniors . . . the COA is offering a new class for the month of October. It is a functional fitness class and it starts tomorrow. Come try out this supportive and fun group class that uses a variety of workout stations. The class can be tailored to different fitness levels.

Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 for the month of October. The cost for each class is $5. You can sign up for one, some or all classes. Space is limited to 12 participants and registration is required. Registration can be done by:
Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
Coming in person to the Pompo Community Center
Emailing the COA at [email protected]

📅📲 One week from today…

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), directing test messages to cellphones, TVs & radios. 📺📱📻

Learn more: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023

Yesterday we hosted the first Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) class. Although RSB is geared toward helping people who have Parkinson's, this class can be taken as a functional fitness class. The next class is Thursday morning at 9:30. If you are interested in learning more, observing the class or participating in one complimentary class please call the COA. Space is limited.

Last week we hosted our annual senior picnic at Stow Community Park. Beautiful weather and a great turnout made for a fantastic time.

Sharing this info regarding voting. Also sharing Stow TV video from the special town meeting https://youtu.be/VkWLKuXkcRQ?si=yrkg3rk7Y6Ri-yIc for those that are interested in viewing.

Take MART's Transportation Survey! | Stow MA Please fill out our 3 question survey by clicking this link or by requesting a hard copy through the Planning Department

The Stow COA is looking for volunteers to participate in the Bridges Together Program (Fridays from 9-9:50 AM for six weeks beginning on 9/29/23). Bridges Together is an intergenerational program that empowers older adults to influence young minds and dispel myths, by sharing their experiences and wisdom. It is great fun and a valuable lesson to young people. Please consider volunteering!
Volunteers must be Stow residents 60 or older. Volunteers will need to participate in a brief orientation session on 9/22 from 9-9:50 am at the COA. Volunteers should be available to attend weekly sessions at Center School (in the 4th Grade Classrooms) on 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, and 11/3 from 9-9:50 am. Volunteers will have an at-home assignment between classes. Volunteers will be required to complete a CORI required by the school. If you are interested and available to participate, please email [email protected].

SHUTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLE TO CENTER SCHOOL FROM PARKING LOTS TONIGHT

Special Town Meeting is tonight, Monday, September 18, 2023 at Center School, 403 Great Road, and starts promptly at 7 p.m. with check-in beginning at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to parking at Center School, Shuttle Van service (Stow Council on Aging) for all ages to Center School will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. and running until 11 p.m. from the following overflow parking locations: St. Isidore's Church, Town Building, Town Center Park, Randall Library/Common Rd., Old Fire Station, Hale School & along Hartley Rd, and the Pompo Community Center.

Special Town Meeting Information: https://www.stow-ma.gov/select-board/pages/information-and-presentations-2023%C2%A0special-town-meeting

The Breakfast Club enjoyed a morning trip to Miss Worcester dinner.

Great trip to Essex River Cruise yesterday. Got to make a bonus stop at Woodmans too!

Tomorrow, 9/11 @ 6pm
Public Forum #8 is the last chance before the Special Town Meeting on 9/18 to learn why building a New Nashoba High School is eligible for $65 Million in state funding, and why it was the preferred option of the feasibility study. Here is the link to view and participate remotely.

School Building Project Public Forum #8

The Stow COA is excited to offer its residents the opportunity to participate in Rock Steady Boxing.

Registration can be done by:
*Using MyActiveCenter https://myactivecenter.com/ #
*Calling the COA at 978-897-1880
*Come in person to the Pompo Community Center
*Emailing the COA at [email protected]

The Chief of the Department would like to invite residents and visitors to a 9/11 memorial ceremony on Monday, September 11th, 2023. Attendees are asked to gather between 9:30am and 9:45am at the Stow Fire Department (511 Great Road) for a short ceremony.

Need a break from the humidity? The Stow COA has air conditioning and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm (excluding holidays). Stow residents can stop by if you want to chill for a bit. We have a lending library and puzzles available.