The Council on Aging offices and the Harvard Senior Center are located at 16 Lancaster County Road. To participate in classes, events, or programs listed here—or to ask questions about any COA service—call 978-456-4120.
Movie day at the senior center. “Letters to Juliet” will be shown Thursday, June 4, 1 p.m. An American girl on vacation in Italy finds and responds to a long-unanswered love letter.
Container gardening. On Friday, June 5, at 10 a.m., Garden Club member Mary Maxwell will talk about container gardening, and how it gives control of the sun and water plants need. Afterwards, put the advice into practice with actual planting. Sign up by June 1 so that supplies can be ordered.
‘In the Whale,’ the award-winning film about a man who survived after being swallowed by a whale, will be shown Tuesday, June 16, at 1 p.m. Director and Pulitzer-prize winning reporter David Abel will discuss the film and take questions after.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft was 36 years ago, and nothing has ever been recovered. Author Bob Ainsworth will visit Thursday, June 18, 1 p.m., to talk about the heist, the suspects, and what may have motivated them.
Downsizing and organizing. On Tuesday, June 23, at 1 p.m., come for a presentation by Deena Cherenza of Caring Transitions. Learn strategies for deciding where to start, what to keep, and how to manage the feelings of sorting through years of belongings.
Ice cream social. Come have an ice cream sundae on the patio and visit with friends Wednesday, June 24, at 2 p.m. Free, for Harvard seniors and volunteers only, sign up by June 17.
Enjoy lunch at J’s Restaurant Friday, June 26, at 11 a.m. Housed in a restored 1923 farmhouse at the Nashoba Valley Winery, J’s provides panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards and orchards, with a seasonal menu emphasizing locally sourced ingredients.
The Impromptus a cappella chorus will perform Tuesday, June 30, 1 p.m., with a program of Renaissance madrigals, folk songs, and African spirituals. Founded by Harvard resident Jeannette McLellan, the group brings experienced singers from seven towns and five churches.
Movies for grownups. Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, this month’s film follows a group of women who form a choir on a military base while their partners are away serving in Afghanistan. At the Harvard Public Library, 4 Pond Road, Monday, July 6, 1 p.m.
Health tips: One common cause of leg cramping is dehydration. Elements which occur naturally in drinking water are essential to keeping muscles working properly. Without enough fluids, an imbalance can interfere with signals telling muscles to relax.
- Dental health is important. Poor dental health has been linked to heart disease, stroke, complications from diabetes, respiratory infections, worsening rheumatoid arthritis and frailty. Follow the 2-2-2-rule. Brush twice a day for two minutes and see a dentist twice a year.
Tick activity peaks from March through August and again in the fall. To minimize risk, use EPA-approved tick repellents, stay on trails when hiking, and shower within two hours of coming indoors.
The Healthy Incentives Program provides extra money for fruits and vegetables purchased on SNAP. Places that accept HIP include Lanni Orchard (Lunenburg), Dick’s Market (Lunenburg), Small Farm (Stow), and Growing Places home delivery CSA. Contact the COA outreach coordinators for details.
Congregate meals are served Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon at the senior center. Meals on wheels can also be arranged.
Weekly grocery shopping. The van to Market Basket in Littleton departs Fridays, 10 a.m.
Help with computers. Adam is available Tuesday and Friday mornings for one-on-one computer training or anything related to computers or technology. Call the COA (not Adam) for an appointment.
COA van guidelines. There is no fee for the use of the van. To schedule a ride, call the COA; 48 hours’ notice is requested. Wheelchair users, or anyone having a procedure or surgery that requires sedation or dilation of eyes, must be accompanied by a companion.
From the director: COA intern Saschi Gyger will be leaving for Switzerland at the end of June. She has worked alongside staff and volunteers, and supported our seniors with securing needed services and with companionship. We thank her, and will miss her.
Note: Information is drawn from the COA’s monthly newsletter, which contains additional valuable information for Harvard’s older residents. Call the COA to receive the newsletter via email, or find it at the General Store, the library, Town Hall, Carlson Orchards, Westward Orchards, and the Harvard Senior Center.