~ Submitted by Alison Cservenschi, Council on Aging Director
As we find ourselves at December, the end of 2021, I think the COA is starting to feel a little bit like the good old days before COVID. Our daily visits are increasing, in-person classes are returning, albeit slowly. Our groups are gathering again, all with masks but, I know there are smiles underneath and I enjoy hearing the laughter around here again! Virtual classes continue with great attendance and I’m sure everyone is happy to be moving again and for those who are newly returned – seeing friends again. I am so very grateful to be moving in this direction with all of you along for the ride with us. I am hopeful, with the availability of vaccine boosters at CVS and other provider offices, that we can return to an even more normal-but-different and improved COA.
I am very glad to announce some exciting news. We finally found our new driver for the BLT! Steve Bodoin comes to us with much transportation and driving experience. He has a very kind and caring way about him, keeping safety in mind at all times. I know he will do his best for you and the community and say ‘hello’ if you see him around town. Steve joined us after an extensive search and started orientation and training. In his first week, he was kindly taken on a tour of the Town, driving the new BLT bus with our ‘locals’. These kind passengers showed Steve all the back routes and popular locations in Town (thank you to Don, Joan, Ann, and Bob). Steve is quickly getting up to speed (pardon the pun) and working on calling riders who have used the service in the past. Our focus over the next few months is to re-build the BLT schedule, improve promotion of the service and welcome back riders for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday Minuteman Lunches. You are welcome and invited, to call the BLT phone on 781-275-2255 to talk with Steve about the service or just to introduce yourself. To learn more about Steve see page 2 of our most recent COA newsletter: https://mycommunityonline.com/find/bedford-council-on-aging/bulletin/file/06-5059-20211201N.pdf
We have heard a lot of feedback about our newsletter this year. Thank you for all your kind comments and support. Now we are getting back to adding and promoting new/seasonal COA programs we need to decide what the newsletter includes and what we need to change/update/move or remove. I have heard how everyone enjoys the ‘This Day in History Page’ so I am dedicating some of my letter space to this for you this month.
December: This Day in History
1st 1955: In Montgomery, AL, black seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested, marking a milestone in the civil rights movement.
3rd 1947: Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theater.
6th 1947: Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by U.S. President Truman.
7th 1941: Japanese planes attacked the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
8th 1952: On “l Love Lucy,” a pregnancy was acknowledged in a TV show for the first time.
10th 1931: Jane Addams became a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the first American woman to do so.
14th 1903: The Wright brothers made their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer. The plane flew for just a few seconds before stalling.
16th 1901: “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter was printed for the first time.
19th 1918: Robert Ripley began his “Believe It or Not” column in “The New York Globe.”
20th 1880: New York’s Broadway became known as the “Great White Way’ when a stretch of the street was illuminated by lamps, making it among the first electrically lighted streets in the U.S.
21st 1937: Walt Disney debuted “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the first full-length, animated feature.
25th 1939: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens was read on CBS radio for the first time.
Friends of the Council on Aging Holiday Party
On Friday, December 10 at 1 pm, we are holding the FBCOA/COA 2021 Holiday Party. I hope you will consider joining us and the FBCOA, who are kindly sponsoring our dessert buffet this year. Let’s celebrate the season together, merry and masked! A special ‘thank you’ to the FBCOA for supporting the event, and much more for us this year!
With holiday love from your entire COA staff, BLT Driver, and myself I would like to close with wishing you, your family, and loved ones a very happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Take care. Hope to see you soon!
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