Bird Calls

The Swampscott Senior Center’s Poet Laureate, Maria Mello

For 10 years, I have taught the creative writing class at the Swampscott Senior Center. During that time, I have come across a wide variety of intelligent, thoughtful, talented, and wise people who have had one thing in common: they loved to write. Like any creative endeavor, the ability to write is a life-sustaining gift. It clarifies your thoughts, it allows you to share what’s important with others, it heals past injuries, and for those reasons and more, I have always felt grateful that people have been willing to walk into my class and share part of their lives. One writer, however, stands out—Maria Mello. Her drive to perfect her work is matched by a perfect ear for rhythm, acute perception of the human condition, and a gift for words…

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Musings: A Column on Local Culture

Man From Laos Speaks to Swampscott Writers

From the North Shore to Laos with Michael Sebastian’s SMILE Project

  Until recently, Bounthan, who hails from Luang Prabang, Laos and is 20 years old, had never been on a plane. Or an escalator. Or an elevator, or seen a microwave oven. But last Wednesday found Than, as he is called for short, at the Swampscott Senior Center, speaking to the writing class, in English. Accompanying him was Michael Sebastian, son of class member Nancy Diaz and the founder of SMILE, Supporting Monks In Learning English. The youngest boy of a farming family, Than was born in the countryside. Than’s parents could not afford the school fees required by every school in this tiny Southeast Asian country, which borders Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, and is called Lao by its people, not Laos, a name given by the French …

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Obituary: Pat Sherman

Patricia Sherman will be sorely missed by her fellow knitters!

  Age 68, of Swampscott, passed away peacefully on May 27, after a brief illness. She is survived by her beloved husband of 28 years, John R. Sherman, a retired law professor, and by her brother, Thomas M. Davis, a ret. Fire captain of Peabody and her sister, Francine Harryman and her husband Thomas of Muskeegan, Michigan. Also by her two loved and loving cats, Ally and Val. She is also survived by her cousins, Kathy Jacobitz, Cynthia Carlsted and Loretta Stafford. Also by her very dear and special friend, Linda Hinchey and her wonderful neighbor, Sheila Sullivan and her gardening friend, Wendy Conaty and her daughter, Maeve. Also by her loving and supportive neighbors, Elaina and Howard Seidel and Dennis and Connie Callahan. Patricia was …

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Senior Center to Give Saturday Openings a Whirl

The action will fill a void in seniors' lives. Saturday's St. Patrick's celebration was a dry run on the road to opening the Center future Saturdays.

  The guests came early and want to come more often. That was the point of Saturday's first St. Patrick's Day breakfast at the Swampscott Senior Center. Weekends are a lonely time for many seniors — days and hours of television and silence, said several Friends of the Swampscott Senior Center, the group that served up Saturday's festivities. The Center, located at the rear of Swampscott High, is open only weekdays. But the Friends want to see about opening on Saturdays. The St. Patrick's breakfast was a trial run, of sorts, said Rod Pickard, the Center's assistant director. The Center hopes to launch a full-fledged pilot program next month whereby it will be open for three or four hours on Saturday, occasionally. It might be open every …

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Rep. Ehrlich to Hold Office Hours Monday

Speak to the state representative at the Swampscott Senior Center from 10 am to 11:30 am.

  State Rep. Lori Ehrlich will hold district office hours Monday, Feb. 6th at the Swampscott Senior Center, 200 Essex St, Rear, from 10 am until 11:30 am.  Residents from Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn are encouraged to attend and speak with Representative Ehrlich.   What: Representative Lori Ehrlich’s monthly office hours When: Monday, Feb. 6th, 2012 Time: 10 am – 11:30 am Where: Swampscott Senior Center, 200 Essex St, Rear, Swampscott   If you have any questions prior to the scheduled office hours please contact Representative Ehrlich’s office at 617-722-2014.

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Bankers and Knitters Unite

Local members of Spirit of State Street and Swampscott Senior Center join together to donate to Children's Hospital

Since retiring from State Street Bank, Joe Paluzzi has taken an active role in the community.  A member of the Spirit of State Street Alumni Volunteer Program and regular at the Wednesday afternoon Poker League at the Swampscott Senior Center (along with his volunteer work at the Center teaching puzzles) Joe stays pretty busy.  At a recent Spirit of State Street volunteer function, Joe learned about the group’s involvement with the “Caps for Kids” program at Children’s Hospital in Boston.  Joe “thought it was such a neat worthwhile effort” and wondered how he could participate. Shortly after, on a Wednesday afternoon at the Swampscott Senior Center, Joe noticed the women in the Knitting Group (which also meets on Wednesdays) “busily …

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Senior Central

Dancing, Knitting and Poker at the Senior Center

Here's the calendar of activities from the Senior Center's July newsletter.

Snippet from the July newsletter submitted by Don Wescott. Bill Foley is the Senior Center's new resident Outreach Counselor and is available every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Elena Kirios our SHINE Counselor will be here every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by appointment only. Each appointment will be 30 to 40 minutes long; you must bring your Medicare card, your supplemental insurance card and drug plan card and a list of your prescriptions. To make an appointment, please contact the Senior Center or sign up at the Senior Center desk. Next Month The Center is planning art classes and a free barbecue. 

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