WHS Sophomores pitch in for seniors
A number of Westwood High students, teachers, and staff took part in a project last month to clean up the yards of some local senior citizens. The effort, spearheaded by the sophomore class, is part of a multi-year effort to help the community. The class of ’21 first conceived of the project as freshmen and...
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COA hosts holiday luncheon
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By Alex Oliveira
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Westwood Council on Aging hosted their annual Holiday Luncheon this past Wednesday at the NorFolk Golf Club.
With light streaming in off the fairways and across the packed dining room, 135 senior members of the Westwood community, town representatives, the police department and the North Pole enjoyed a...
Council on Aging hosts Halloween party
By Robby McKittrick
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On Tuesday, October 30, the Westwood Council on Aging hosted its annual Halloween party for the seniors in the community.
Around 80 residents, many of whom were dressed up in the holiday spirit, visited the community center to enjoy live music, great food, and socializing with friends for the holiday.
The room was...
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Women’s choir harmonizes the Center
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Wednesday mornings at the Westwood Council on Aging are relatively quiet. Usually, an exercise class will meet and SHINE counselors make themselves available to those with appointments.
But there’s one group that truly animates the Center through the power of music.
Though they don’t yet have a name, the...
COA celebrates Valentine’s Day
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Tucked between Thurston Middle School and Westwood High School is the Westwood Council on Aging. Though it may be small in comparison to the two buildings that sandwich it, the senior center puts on some huge events, like the annual Valentine’s Day party last Wednesday.
In the center’s multi-purpose room,...
Community spreads ‘Messages of Hope’
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The World Health Organization estimates more than 300 million people suffer from depression. Depression doesn’t target any particular group; any person of any age of any race can be affected, but still, there is a social stigma surrounding mental illnesses.
To help eradicate the stigma and support those – particularly...
The art of appreciation
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
A group of seniors sat around the conference table at the Westwood Council on Aging, each studying a handout with three different photographs printed on it. On the left side of the page was a photo of Donatello’s bronze sculpture of David, who stood with a feminine build, a...
COA aims to be brain fit
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
From childhood, we’re taught to be kind to our bodies. Eat all your vegetables to nourish your body. Get enough sleep at night for your body to grow. Spend time exercising every day to stay fit and strong. But as we age, we must also continue these practices to...
WWC hosting ‘Carpe Diem’ presentation
On Thursday, January 18, at 1:30 p.m. at the COA, teacher Dr. Ted Zarrow will present an afternoon of classroom innovation on the ancient Latin language. Dr. Zarrow teachers at Westwood High School. Guests are welcome....
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Westwood Woman’s Club celebrating Christmas early
The Westwood Woman's Club (WWC) will meet on Thursday, December 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the at the Westwood Council on Aging.
The COA choir will perform, led by Director Carol Abel. Peg Looughnane at the piano will accompany a group sing-along. Members and their guests are asked to join in the toy drive for...
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Bridges by EPOCH sponsors Thanksgiving lunch for seniors
On November 16, the Westwood Council on Aging hosted their annual Thanksgiving luncheon, complete with a full turkey dinner sponsored by Bridges by EPOCH.
“We care for people with memory impairment, but really we’re all about family,” said Paul Jones, of Bridges by EPOCH, a senior care provider with a facility in Westwood. “We want to...
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A luncheon to be thankful for
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Westwood Council on Aging does quite a bit for their members. From exercise classes to knitting groups to lifestyle discussions, the COA provides seniors with countless opportunities to stimulate the mind, body, and spirit. There’s one program, though, that the seniors enjoy most, and that’s the monthly party....
Seniors enjoy a COA Halloween treat
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Halloween costumes are certainly not only for trick-or-treating children. The wise seniors of Westwood’s Council on Aging know that, and proved that people of any age can join in on the celebration of costumes and candy at their annual Halloween party.
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Seniors collaboratively cook at Powisset Farm
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Sweet and savory aromas filled the Powisset Farm test kitchen on Thursday, October 26, as members of both the Westwood and Dover Council on Aging joined Chef Didi Emmons in making a three-course meal with delicious fruits and vegetables.
Didi, who has published several vegetarian cookbooks, prepared an afternoon with...
Westwood COA samples the MIND diet
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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
A diet full of ripe fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains could keep a person bursting with energy from sunrise to sunset, whereas living off of microwave dinners and fast food could cause a person to feel sluggish and unmotivated all day long. Most people consider a diet to...
Westwood COA celebrates 50 years
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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Lina Arena-DeRosa, Director of the Westwood Council on Aging, never does anything small.
When the Patriots won the Super Bowl, she put together an impromptu celebration party to watch the parade in Boston and sit with friends eating hamburgers and potato salad. Opening day for the Red Sox was...
Farm hosts seniors for French cooking
By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Westwood Council on Aging (COA) provides more events for their members than many of them know what to do with. Not only do they offer exercise classes, painting courses, and weekend excursions, but they have recently begun to partner with Powisset Farm to offer cooking classes, as well. The first...
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Westwood Seniors produce amazing watercolors
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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Every Monday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., a group of artists gathers together at the Westwood Council on Aging (COA). This group comprises the advanced watercolor class, though given the crowd’s rambunctiousness, one might never know that it’s made up entirely of seniors. This group is one of three...
Westwood COA visits WWII Museum
Twenty-one seniors from the Westwood Council on Aging traveled to the World War II Museum in Natick on Thursday, April 20, and enjoyed a tour. Participants found the artifacts truly amazing and were stunned by the quality and quantity of the pieces...
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