Council on Aging (COA)

Services

New Senior Center

Activities

Seasonal Activities & Events

Volunteers

Friends of the Council on Aging

Did You Know

Related Links          Hanover Happenings

About Us

Contact Information

Hanover Senior Center
665 Center St
Hanover, MA 02339
 

Director: Robyn Mitton

Phone: 781-924-1921

Email: hanovercoa@verizon.net

Click here for a pdf view of the Council on Aging Brochure

Administration

The Senior Center office has a five person paid staff: Elderly Services Director, full-time position; Outreach Coordinator, full-time position; one full time position shared among four drivers; and a Custodian, 24 hours a week. The Senior Center has a Meal Site Manager who is paid through Old Colony Elderly Services (OCES) and a Volunteer/Transportation Coordinator who is partially paid through a grant from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Staff

Director: Robyn Mitton

Outreach Coordinator/Assistant Director: Joyce Wilson
Nutrition Manager: Dawn Kelly
Transportation Coordinator: Christine Abboud
Custodian: Brian Golemme
Drivers: Robert Cirino, George Shanahan, Bob Teetsell
Activities: Martha Kristian

Vice Chair:

Secretary: Joan Picard
Treasurer: Eleanor Kimball (Building Committee Rep.)
Property Overseer: Elmont Mickunas
Property Overseer: James Gallant
Property Overseer: Richard Farwell  

Activities

The Senior Center offers recreational activities such as exercise, line dancing, card games, bingo parties, health fairs and screenings. The Senior Center offers the following activities (And more):

• Hanover Travelers
• Sr. Men’s Discussion Group
• Walking Club
• Bowling
• Ladies Morning Out Group
• Cribbage, Bridge, Scrabble Whist
• Red Hat Society
• Movies
• Oil and Watercolor Painting
• Book Club, Writing Class
• Bingo
• Exercise
• Yoga
• Voices
• Coffee and Conversation
• Qigong
  

Monthly education classes on topics such as Legal, Health, Cultural and Social issues are provided. The Senior Center participates in events with neighboring Senior Centers. The monthly Senior Bulletin is mailed to over 1,500 seniors’ homes with information of all activities and services provided. You can also read your bulletin online thru link, “Hanover Happenings” at end of web page.

Seasonal Activities & Events

Check current schedules for daily and monthly activities/events in your online bulletin thru link, “Hanover Happenings” at end of web page or call COA at 781-878-6361.

Click here to view or download a listing of Council on Aging Seasonal Activities & Events.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

SNOW EMERGENCY
The following is the snow Emergency procedure:

• Please listen to local radio/TV stations for public school closings.
• If Hanover schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Council on aging is closed for programs.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Hanover Council on Aging is always looking for volunteers in such positions as  kitchen help,  meals on wheels drivers, medical appointment drivers, as well as friendly visitors. With the opening of our new Senior Center we will l also be looking for arts and crafts instructors, line  dance teacher, yard work and light housekeeping (dusting and organizing). If you have any time available please call  Martha Kristian on Fridays from 9:00 to 12:00 PM at 781-878-6361. We would love to have you!

MOVIES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

JULY 9TH  “A Walk in the Clouds” rated PG-13 Staring Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Giancarlo-Giannin and Anthony Quinn.
Plot: Love becomes complicated when World War II vet Paul Sutton falls for Victoria a pregnant and unwed woman who persuades him-during their first encounter-to pose as her husband at a Napa Valley vineyard owned by her despotic father, which won a Golden Globe for best original score.  Anthony Quinn co-stars.

JULY 23 “Valentine’s Day´ rated PG-13 staring Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts,Anna Hathaway, Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel.
Synopsis: Valentine’s Day follows the intertwining story line of a group of Los Angelinos as they find their way through romance over the course of one Valentine’s Day.

WERE YOU BORN IN JULY!!!!
On Wednesday, JULY 21ST  we will be celebrating all July Birthdays.  Please call 1-781-924-1913 a week in advance to sign up for a free lunch and a special Birthday gift from us.  You must be 60 or above to be celebrated.  If you want to bring a guest, they are always welcomed, there will be a $2.50 fee for their lunch or if they are under the age of 60, there is a $3.00 fee.  Our nutritionist Dawn would love to take your request, she is available 9:30‑1:00 Monday thru Friday.

ATLANTIC CITY TOUR PACKAGE

OCTOBER 25-27, 2010
(2 Nights/3Days ~ Monday-Wednesday)

PICK-UP / RETURN - TBA

An early fall get-a-way!  A great destination at a great price!! Your home away from home will be the Tropicana Casino Resort.  The Tropicana is the home of the new “Quarter” and “The Walk” with all brand new stores and restaurants.  Over 36 new shops are open at The Walk e.g.,  Liz Clairborne Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger, Carters, H&M, Gap, Rue 21, plus 20 new restaurants such as, P.F. Changs, Carmines, Crab Shack, just to name a few.  You have to check out this Resort Casino.  The slots are hot at the Trop!

YOUR PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE:

Round-Trip Motorcoach Transportation
2 Nights Accommodations at Tropicana Resort  Show (if available)
Casino Bonus: $20.00 Slot Bonus (Subject to change by Casino)
2 Buffet meals of choice plus a $15.00 meal coupon-Fall Special!
$169.00 PP/DBL
$259.00/SGL

For reservation and information, please contact:
            Dot Quinn: (781) 829-4241.
Full payment is due with reservation. Deadline to
            reserve: September 15, 2010.
Trip Waiver Insurance is available with payment
            for $19.00.

PEDDLERS WAGON
James Gallant of Hanover has crafted and beautifully executed an old fashioned peddler’s wagon to be used at the Hanover Council on Aging’s new Senior Center. Jim has been doing wood working for over 50 years.  He is a master at his craft. Each of his children has been lucky enough to be the recipients of heirloom wood crafted gifts.  Now the Seniors of Hanover are receiving something as well.

Jim has generously donated the wagon to the Hanover Council on Aging. It will be used as a specialty gift store called The Peddler’s Wagon in early spring.  There will be a menagerie of specialty and unique gift items.  We are looking for artisans and crafts people who would like to donate item/items to our Peddler’s Wagon that have been hand crafted. All proceeds go to the Senior’s program fund.   It will be a wonderful way to feature and promote your talents, show community spirit as well as a good business venture by getting the word out.  Consigning your handiwork is also an option. It’s a great opportunity to promote the arts as well as crafts in the community.

Suggested items: Jewelry, knit and crocheted items, sewn items such as pocket books and scarves, seasonal crafted gifts, ceramics, small 4x6 or 5x7 scenic landscaped  photographs  watercolors and other mediums,
Please contact Robyn Mitton at 781- 878-6361.

****** Check your monthly bulletin for specially scheduled events. *****

(...or access “Hanover Happenings” online thru link at end of web page.)

We are in dire need of volunteer drivers for Meals On Wheels. This takes very little time; you’re reimbursed for mileage and meet some interesting people. We also need volunteer drivers to drive Seniors to out-of-town doctor appointments, etc. This is such a worthy service for the time spent. Again, once a week, once or twice a month or whatever time you can give would be tremendously appreciated.

Background

The home of the Hanover Senior Center began in 1889 as the King Street School. The building was in use as a school until 1953 when the Center Elementary School was opened. Following a period of disuse, the building became the meeting place of the Hanover Grange and eventually the Golden Age Club (1969). The Hanover Council for Aging, (more lately referred to as the Council On Aging),was formed in 1966 with five members appointed by the selectmen “for the purpose of providing information and services to elder residents of the community” and an office was provided in the building. In 1987, the building was dedicated by the Hanover Board of selectmen as the Henry S. Newcomb Senior Center. Henry Newcomb, a lifelong resident of Hanover, was the founder of Hanover Council for Aging, an active member at 91 years of age, recognized for his contributions to the Council for Aging, Golden Age Club, and senior citizens. Mr. Newcomb passed away in 1993 at the age of 96. At one hundred and eighteen years, the building is still serving residents of the Town of Hanover, by providing a meeting place for seniors to enjoy, as well as a community resource for services, information and referrals for the older adult population and their families.

Mission

The mission of the Hanover Council On Aging, interchangeably known as the Senior Center, is to provide services, programs and activities to maintain and increase independence and quality of life for residents sixty years of age and older. The Council identifies and assesses the needs of elders, and offers services to meet the challenges of aging. There are 2,375 residents of Hanover who are 60 years of age and older as of Fiscal Year 2005.

The New Senior Center

The Senior Center Building Committee has spent the time since last Town Meeting re-studying and revising the plan for a new Senior Center.  A combined effort of the Committee, Architect and Engineers has resulted in a new building plan and modified site plan.

Pictured is the design concept of the new Hanover Senior Center offered by architect Josef Rizza

Building

The Committee has adopted a two-phase approach to reach the eventual goal of a 10,500 sq. ft building as was previously presented. The newly proposed building is 7,250 sq. ft and is designed so that an addition can be constructed in the future when the Town is ready to go forward with a larger
building.

The new building will meet the present needs, without some of the features that would be desirable, but not essential at this time.

The most important feature of the building, retained from the prior plan, is the large multi purpose room. This room has a capacity of two hundred, seated at tables, has adjacent kitchen facilities, and can be divided into three smaller sections, which for day to day use will provide needed activity space.

The large room also provides the Town with a hall with capacity for other uses. Functions where food is to be served or other group functions could be scheduled during the hours when the Center is not in use for Senior programs, generally evenings or weekends.

Pictured is the floor plan of the new Hanover Senior Center by architect Josef Rizza
 

Site Development

The developed site has also been reduced due to the reduction in the size of the building, which also affects the size of the septic system and drainage.  The parking lot, with one hundred-car capacity, has been retained. This is considered necessary due to the capacity of the multi purpose room.

Access Road

The access road from Center Street is necessary to reach the developable portions of the property. The land abutting Center Street is not buildable.  Building the road serves not only the Senior Center but provides access for future development of ball fields. Installed along with the road will be water, electric and gas utilities.

The road and parking will be available for use by citizens desiring to hike the trails through this seventy-acre property. In the winter it would be possible to access the trails for cross country skiing.

Costs

The overall cost of the new plan is $3.7 million dollars, as compared to last year's $4.9 million dollars.

Volunteers

The greatest energy of the Hanover Council On Aging is produced by our Volunteers. If it were not for them, it would be impossible to provide the programs and service that are currently available through the COA. They are the backbone of the COA and we appreciate the 90+ people who volunteer their time and talents by delivering meals, driving to Doctors appointments, serving lunch, preparing the online newsletter “Hanover Happenings” and mailing of the monthly news bulletin and the office workers, friendly visitors performing numerous other chores. We always welcome new volunteers.
 

Friends of the Council on Aging

The Friends continue to raise money to supplement the Town and State funds. All donations and monies raised go directly to services for our seniors. We could not provide many activities without them and are very grateful for their contributions.

Click here to view or down load a printable Membership - Contribution Form and become a member of the Friends of the Council on Aging.
 

Did You Know?

• You can read your Senior Center Bulletin “Hanover Happenings” online thru link at end of web page.
• We have a large selection of books, magazines, puzzles and videos in our COA Lending Library
• We have a drop-off box for old eyeglasses
• We have a drop-off container for food donations for the Hanover Food Pantry
• We have many informational pamphlets and brochures on various senior related topics
• We have applications available for many different programs
• Stop by to check these items out for yourself. You are always welcome!
 

Related Links

Board of Health
Board of Selectmen
Town Clerk
Massachusetts State Website
Massachusetts General Laws
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
Massachusetts Councils on Aging
U.S. Government Administration on Aging
Alzheimer's Association
American Association of Retired Persons
Access America for Seniors
ABCRx Access To Benefits Coalition
South Shore Community Action Council
Medicare + Part D Information
Social Security

Hanover Happenings

OLLI at Umass Boston