Good morning to Aushnet and surrounding area. This is the meeting of the Aushnet uh Council on Aging Board of Directors. We're located at 59 and 1/2 South P Street. I love that address. >> I know. uh in a Kushnet and uh today is
April 15th, 2026. Spring has sprung. Be very careful about the wasps and stuff like that that are out there, but uh it it's better than the alternative, which is the the horrendous winter we had. >> Okay. This meeting is being video and
audio recorded for later broadcast on local channel 18 and on the town of Aushnit's YouTube channel. And now I'd like to uh ask for a motion to call the meeting to order. Please. >> I make a motion to call the meeting to order. >> Okay. And second. >> Second.
>> Okay. Meeting. I forgot my g. >> Oh god. >> Should I get it? >> If you want to. >> It's not official without it. >> Oh, there you go. >> All right. >> All right. We have the board of directors here which are director uh
Lauren Golder, myself Daniel Smith the chairperson, Deborah Reposa, vice chair, Lind Gilbo uh secretary uh Joan Jerry >> Howland and Pauline Teera
>> and Paul is not here. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. Did we all get a chance to review the minutes from March 11th? >> Yes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. >> And second.
>> Approved. Mail. >> This is a soft spot with me, a sore spot with me. We have no mail still. Old business. The Kusha Council on Aging monthly newsletter delivered throughout businesses in a Kushnet and and they're the best businesses in a Kushnet. We
have gently used med medical equipment and incontinent supplies here at the accoa free of charge. Uh the medical equipment might be used but the incontinent supplies are not used. Inclement weather. If schools are closed, we are closed here at the ACOA.
Uh the director and custodial staff may be on site for emergencies, but if the town hall is closed, we remain closed. Also, uh reminder, we have uh our two outreach specialists are Patricia Murki on Tuesday and Samantha Ortiz on Friday.
uh and you can telephone them at the here at the Krishna Council on Aging 508-9980280 to make an appointment. Representative Mark Sylvia will be here on the first Monday of every month at 10:00. Representative Steve Wlette will be here
on the first Monday of every month at 11 o'clock. There's a veterans copy social at the ACOA the first Tuesday of every month with veteran service officer Brad Fish. I've met him. He's He's great. >> Mhm. >> Uh that's at 8:30. And to contact Brad,
call 508998 02 07 extension 4207. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the old business? >> I approve the motion >> and a second. >> Second. >> Approved. Now we move on to the new
business >> with our favorite person updates from the director Lauren Va. You're on. >> All right. Thank you. >> So the first thing that I just wanted to discuss was the veterans wall. I I briefly mentioned it in our last meeting. Um and then Brad and I were
able to connect and we were able to put together um some of the criteria of what consisted of, you know, having one of or having a veteran have a picture on the wall. Um, so basically he's looking for 8x10 or 5x7 photo of veterans in uniform. Um, and you have to reside in a
Kushna or were a resident of Ausha at the time that you had joined the military or a member of the Akusha VFW or the Ausha American Legion. So there's a number of different um, you know, avenues that you could go down. Um, and then along with your photo, we need your
name, your service branch, MOS, and years of service. And all of that can be either submitted here and I um you know hand it over to Brad. He's here once a month for the coffee social. So we've been in um in contact um and they've already started working on the wall. I don't know if any of you have had a chance to take a peek at it.
>> Saw it on Facebook. >> Yeah, they >> um so in our main lobby. >> Okay. >> Actually, where the the veterans we do our coffee social there. So I have I took a picture the other day of all of the veterans in front of it which was really nice. >> Now do we do they have to supply the um frame?
>> Nope. Brad has all of that. So, all that we need is just the photo and then just that information. >> I'll get mine to you. >> Oh, beautiful. Um, but so Brad, uh, he was here earlier in the month. Um, started working on it along with, um, I believe his name is Mike. He's the VSO for Fair Haven. So, they worked on that
together. Um, they had their levels out and their their lasers and they did a really great job and it it looks beautiful. So, I'm really excited. >> Deceased veterans are just live. >> Ah, I I believe deceased. >> Okay. Okay. >> We can double check with Brad. Okay. >> Um, but I I can't see why not.
>> Okay. >> Um, but so we're really excited. They did a really great job. So, I think it's a great addition to the to the center. >> Um, and then I wanted to mention too, I don't know if I had mentioned it previously, but I'm sure that most people have seen the the eyes source in the back of the lot with the two old vans that we had. Um, so the board of
selectman did approve to salvage both of the vans. They're no longer in service. We haven't used them in quite some time. Um, so one is we had two, one is gone. So, we're it's a work in progress. I wanted to thank DPW because they were um actually here and they removed the van
um and I believe that they're working on the second one. >> Um so those will no longer be there. >> I know lots of people have come and expressed their um >> their unhappiness with to just see them. But so that was you know an improvement.
Um and then the sprinkler heads that is an ongoing um project that we're working on along with the HVAC. Um, so the sprinkler project was actually supposed to start yesterday. Um, and then we had a little bit of a hiccup. Um, so more to come on that. It is on my radar and I'm
just as frustrated as everybody else. So having to repeat the same thing month after month. Um, unfortunately it, you know, things just take time and lots of red tape with things. So we're just trying to get everything in order. So, sprinkler heads, more to come on that, but I I do understand that that is a a
huge concern of making sure that we have adequate systems in place. Um, and then along with the HVAC units as well, um, we did put the jobs out for bid, so we're still just in the bidding process. So, we're working on that. Um, but we do know that there is a strict timeline because we did get an earmark from the
state and the, um, the project has to be completed by June 30th in order to obtain that funding for it. So, we're on a little bit of a time crunch, so we're working on it. Um, so more to come on that, but >> it's it's on everybody's radar, >> unfortunately. Fortunately,
>> um, and then also just, uh, new trips coming up. So, our summer and fall trips will be, uh, released soon. Jan Barrett, um, she's our trip coordinator. She's been working diligently on those, and I just wanted to always, of course, shout her out. She does so much for us, and it is on a volunteer basis. Um, and I don't
know if a lot of people do realize that, but she puts a lot of time and effort into these snow as well, too. >> Yes. Yeah. We're we're very fortunate to have her and I'm very grateful. Um, so, but more to come on summer and fall trips. >> Cool. >> And that's it from me. >> All righty. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. I want to take over now. >> All right. Good. >> Uh, we have beginner watercolor classes, $10 per person. That's Wednesday, April 8th and April 22nd. We We missed the April 8th one. >> Yes.
>> Uh uh 10:30 in the morning. Registration required. Improve your hearing today. Complimentary hearing screening, hearing aid cleaning, video ear exam. It's a video ear exam. >> It's like a camera in your ear.
>> Yeah. >> Should be coming back. Yes. Huh? >> Yes. Um, >> I don't know if it's in the I just released the new dates. I don't know if it's >> okay. I don't think it's in there. >> Yeah. So, she comes once a month. >> Okay. So, people can uh check they can call if they would like to have this
done. They if they would like to have this done, they can call the center and find out the dates. >> Okay. If you'd like to have this done, call the center and find out. Additional demonstration. Barbara can I pronounce that correct? >> Can you?
>> I don't know. Can you Community nurse, Wednesday, April 22nd at 12:30. Registration required and light refreshments will be served. I guess that means like helium >> like >> it means that
>> there are days >> some nice nutritional >> items and then after you look at the them she'll you can she cooks live in front of the attendees really right in our kitchen. So, it's fun >> and it's light.
>> Spring bingo party. >> Thursday, April 23rd. Sign in is at noon. Raffle closes at 12:45 p.m. and from I guess it's from 1 to 3:00 p.m. and you can call us here at 5089980280
to schedule it. Come on, John. >> Okay, green builders. This should do it. >> Yeah, this is going to do it. >> A cognitive wellness program for adults. Free classes to help improve memory, word finding, and thinking skills. 60
years old and older. Just missed it. Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon April 15th and 22nd. That's today, so you're probably not going to see this. You'll you can make the 22nd one. Reservations are required. Now, speaking of cognitive skills, there was a a
neuroscientist on on uh the internet who said since the 1800s, every generation has gotten better at cognitive skills until Gen Z. In 2010, they began to get less cognitive skills
than their parents. and they believe it's because of the computers learning and the and the uh screens and stuff like just something to think about. A lot of countries have taken computers out of schools because of that reason. >> Yeah, Sweden did swim.
>> Fireside Grill lunch. Ooh. Friday, April 24th. Complimentary transportation, but you're responsible for your own meal. There are limited seats available and registration is required. You can call right here at the ACOA. the travel
program Thursday. Yesterday, no. Uh, wait a minute. Where are we? Thursday. >> That should say Tuesday. Yeah, this that's already gone by. >> Um, but Thursday, May 28th is a three-hour Cape Cod Canal cruise and
lunch at Seafood Sam's. Friday, uh, June 19th, Hampton Beach Sand Sculpture Tour. I love Hampton Beach. >> Yeah, it's beautiful. >> Tuesday, July 14th, Boston Tall Ship
Cruise and Quincy Market. We have some great trips coming up. >> That's wonderful. Would you be interested in a trip to Springfield Fair? If so, save the date. September 24th of this year. Let us know. Leave your name and phone number
at 508-998-0280 here at the Krishna Council on Aging. Um, so just quick too, um, Jan was Jan Barrett was looking to, um, get as many names as possible. She was thinking about making that a trip. It hasn't officially been planned. Um, but I think
that she was looking for about 40 people that would be interested and I think we were almost there. So, it seems as though that that might be um, a trip on the horizon, but if anybody else is interested and you wanted to put your name on it. >> Yeah. So, please call if you're interested in the Springfield Fair. Again, that's September 24th of this
year. and uh you can call them and leave your name and phone number if you're interested. 508-998-0280. We want to make you aware of the events that take place regularly here at the Krishna Council on Aging. Flyers are always available well in advance at the
front desk on the bulletin board facing the front desk and also at select wonderful businesses here in Kushnik. Uh, I don't know if they have the flyers, but sometimes people do go and put flyers out. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah, I have seen some flyers.
Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve new business? >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. And a second. >> Second. >> Approved. Do we have any other information or questions from board members? >> No, sir. >> Anything at all?
>> Nobody wants to know if I'm single or not. >> Don't make me There's a weapon right here. >> Please, please, please visit the following websites. A Krishna Council on Aging, a Kushnet Library, a Krishna Cultural Council, which can be found on
the town of Aushnet website. Our next meeting will be held on June 10th, 2026. We're going to we're going to skip next month for reasons that I can't say. And do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Seconded. We are adjourned. Who did the
second? >> Thank you. Sorry.