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By Christina Perrone
Hometown Weekly Intern
“It’s so satisfying when I can make a difference in a senior’s life,” said Karen Segreve, the Outreach Counselor at the Westwood Council on Aging (COA). On Tuesday June 13, the Westwood COA had its fourth annual summer barbecue. Despite the 90-degree weather, many seniors turned out to attend the annual barbecue - so many, in fact, that there were hardly any seats left. While the seniors and staff ate hamburgers and hotdogs, the band Jumpin’ Juba played summer hits while donning in Hawaiian shirts.
Westwood COA staff along with Selectman Michael Walsh and Senator Mike Rush. Photos by Christina Perrone
The event was co-hosted with the Ellis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. The Ellis works closely with the Westwood COA, and has been owned and operated by the Franchi family for over 40 years. Danielle Franchi, whose father, Anthony Franchi, owns Ellis Nursing Homes Inc., helped at the barbecue. She has attended the event all four years and in her words, her favorite part is, “Just seeing everyone enjoy the food and the kickoff to summer. Because it seems like everybody enjoys the hot dogs and the hamburgers and the music. So, it’s just a fun time watching the seniors get into the music and have a fun time. So, I’m happy to have a part in this.”
Sen. Rush shares a laugh with Westwood seniors. Photos by Christina Perrone
Senator Mike Rush (D-Boston) and Selectman Michael Walsh also showed up to barbecue. “Whenever I’m invited I come,” said Sen. Rush, “These are great events and you guys have a phenomenal senior outreach here in town.” Senator Rush is an Iraq War veteran and Lieutenant Commander who served for 22 years in the United States Navy. Currently, he represents the Norfolk and Suffolk districts in the State Senate of Massachusetts. “We do a lot on the state level to make sure that our towns have strong council on aging facilities, and this is one of the exceptional programs. It gets seniors out and about and on the move and has nice social programs to get them out of their houses. This is really the epitome of that,” said Sen. Rush. The senator complimented Westwood’s commitment to providing care for its seniors: “This is certainly a community that puts so much emphasis on the health, wellness, and wellbeing of the seniors. It’s great. Lina [Arena-DeRosa] does great events, she does a great St. Patrick’s Day event, all sorts of great things here for the seniors. And they appreciate it.”
The woman behind the event is Lina Arena-DeRosa, the director at the Westwood COA. One does not have to be at the senior center long before realizing what a vital role she plays. Her favorite part of working at the Westwood COA is the seniors themselves: “It’s like working with your grandmother or mother. They’re smart, they’re kind, they’re thoughtful, they’re funny. It’s just fun. I’ve been working with elders my whole life. And I’m passionate about it. I’m passionate about taking care of them. And I’m passionate about making sure they get what they need, including an event like this where they can come together and have a hamburger,” said Arena-DeRosa.
Westwood resident Milly Reissfelder, who volunteers at the COA, also chipped in to talk about the senior center. “Well I can tell you one thing,” she said. “I volunteer at the front desk, so I see the way it has so changed everyone who comes in here. And it’s such a happy place. Everybody’s happy and smiling. I love coming here. It’s a fun time. It’s a wonderful thing that we have here in town. There are so many opportunities, and it’s great. You just stay here for a while and you get the whole feeling.”
