Around Town

Art Show, Birthday Party and Much More at the Senior Center in June

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In June, the Watertown Senior Center has an Art Show, the Senior Center Birthday Party and self-defense training, along with all the many usual offerings. The Watertown Senior Center and Council on Aging sent out the following monthly newsletter:

June Notes from the Director – Thank you friends, volunteers and Yard Sale supporters! The Yard Sale was a great success! Over 40 dedicated volunteers assisted with collecting, sorting and setting-up of the sale, and at the end of the event, a wonderful team of volunteers from the Watertown Community Foundation’s Watertown Helps Out Day assisted in breaking down and cleaning up. We couldn’t have had such a great day without everyone’s support!

Brigham House

Watertown Students Bond with Seniors Through Intergenerational Activities

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This school year, some of Watertown’s youngest students have added a new component to their curriculum—events with the town’s senior citizens. Preschool and elementary school students have trick-or-treated, performed a Thanksgiving play, listened to “Mrs. Mittens” read a winter story, and delivered valentines. With the Phillips School building (adjacent to the Senior Center) now being used for some preschool classes, the partnership was welcomed and convenient, said Karen Feeney, Watertown’s Early Childhood director. “We are thrilled to collaborate with our neighbors as a way to foster community. The seniors have so much fun and the students love it.

Around Town

Plenty Going On at the Watertown Senior Center in November

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The Watertown Senior Center is chock full of activities in November. Here is the Senior Center Newsletter submitted by the staff. Some of our NOVEMBER 2016 events include:

With Thanks from the Director

I could not be more grateful for all those who support the Senior Center by attending an event or class, calling or visiting for assistance or information, volunteering to run a program, facilitating an activity, working at the Food Pantry, organizing a special event, donating to our efforts, or serving on the Board or a committee. You all help to make the Center a vibrant place and the staff and I thank you. We hope to see you at the Center this month.

Government

Seniors Can Reduce Their Tax Bill Through Town’s Work-Off Program

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The Town is offering the property tax work-off program to Watertown senior homeowners again this year, the Senior Center announced. This program allows up to ten seniors (age 60 and older) a $750 deduction from their property tax bill in exchange for 68 hours of work for a Town department. Participants should be retired and must own and occupy the property for which the taxes are deducted. In addition, the applicant’s skills must match those needed by the participating Town departments. Past projects have included: computer data entry, answering phones, and projects at the Library, Recreation or Public Health Departments, or at the Senior Center.

Around Town

New Watertown Senior Center Director Speaks at Rotary Club Meeting

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The Rotary Club of Watertown welcomed Watertown’s new director of Senior Services during their meeting this week. 

Anne-Marie Gagnon addressed the Rotary members about her background and vision and plans for the future of the Watertown Senior Center. The Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at noon at the Oakley Country Club. Read more about Gagnon here.

Anne-Marie Gagnon

New Senior Center Director Excited to Build on Watertown’s Current Program

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The new Senior Center Director, Anne-Marie Gagnon, is excited to be able to focus on one town after many years working for collaboratives which serve several communities. Before coming to Watertown, Gagnon worked with HESCO (Health & Social Services Consortium Inc.) and Bay Path Elder Services before that. At one she worked with 12 communities, the other 8 communities, but now Gagnon has just one. “On this side, I get to look at one town. I have the luxury of working to meet the needs of people in the community,” Gagnon said

Gagnon said will use her experience working to meet the needs of seniors in town.

Government

New Director of Senior Center Has Lots of Experience Working with Seniors

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The new director of the Watertown Senior Center comes to town with plenty of experience working with seniors in communities around the Boston area. 

Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the appointment of Anne-Marie Gagnon as the new Director of Senior Services. She comes to Watertown after working as the Director of Planning and Community Development for HESCO (Health & Social Services Consortium Inc.) the Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for 12 communities in south Norfolk County, Driscoll said. Gagnon’s responsibilities included support of AAA programs and services, oversight of sub-grantees that focused on transportation, legal services and evidence-based health programs. She also providing support for community outreach, volunteer recruitment, fund development, wrote grant proposals, maintained the HESCO website, did public relations and worked closely with community partners and the 12 Councils on Aging in the HESCO area, Driscoll said. Previously, she worked as Healthy Living Program Manager for BayPath Elder Services, where she educated Council on Aging directors in the MetroWest about evidence-based health promotion programs and helped them organize and publicize their programs for seniors. Gagnon earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a professional certificate in gerontology from Duquesne University and a master’s degree in social work with a community organization focus from the University of Pittsburgh.

Around Town

Birthday Party and Art Exhibition Among the Events at the Senior Center in June

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The Watertown Senior Center has plenty going on this month, here are some of the highlights. Senior Center Birthday Party When: Friday, June 10 11:30 a.m.-3:30  p.m. Where: Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall St. We’ll have music, line dancing, door prizes, a raffle, the Mellowtones, and full delicious luncheon including ice cream and Birthday Cake! So come join us and bring along a friend! Tickets are on sale now at the Senior Center and the cost: $14.