Town of Hudson, MA -

First!!! THANK YOU TO MRS ELLEN SCHUCK FOR THE USE OF HUDSON HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER LAB. We have just under 60 seniors signed up for fall classes. Our students enjoyed the computer lab with all the bells and whistles. Everyone has their own station with a WORKING computer. John and George, our computer instructors also like this arraingement. On behalf of all Hudson Seniors: THANK YOU”.

We have a lot to share with you this month! First, there will be a PUBLIC MEETING September 10th 2007, 5:30pm at the Town Hall Auditorium. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Towns receipt of Community Development Block Grant funds from the Department of Housing and Community Development. This funding will enable the Town to hire an architectural firm to perform design work to renovate and expand our Senior Center as well as continue the Façade Improvement Program which will provide funds for commercial building exteriors within the Town’s approved Blight Target Areas. The funding will also rehabilitate the South Street parking lot. This meeting is planned to start at 5:30 in the hopes that many seniors will attend! The Senior Center Project will be discussed first. If you would like to go and need a ride please call the center and we will find a ride for you. It is very important that we all stay informed about this project. Please attend and support your Senior Center Renovation Project.

Our “Friends” meeting resumes September 12, 2007. The Friends Organization is looking for a new President. What an exciting time to hold this position as we work towards improving our building, providing more volunteer opportunities not only within our elder population but throughout our community ,and raising additional money for more health, educational, and fitness programs. (Oh did I forget to mention a few parties, dances and trips?)

To “KICK—OFF’ our new exciting year, we are having our first “Friends” meeting at the Portuguese Club for a Free breakfast buffet including waffles, scrambled egg omelets bacon and home fries. Our goal for this meeting is to encourage both existing and new members to commit to a level of involvement which will hopefully revitalize this organization. As mentioned before, this is an exciting year of change and we all need to work together to fulfill the goals we will outline at the breakfast. To reach our goals, everyone must contribute in some fashion. It is not realistic, nor is it fair to expect a small number of people to do all the work that could be and should be shared by many. Remember, there is no job too small and all jobs are important! The FRIENDS ORGANIZATION is alive and well and will work hard to raise funds for our building, buses and programs for all Hudson seniors.

We also recognize there is a lot of “BRAIN POWER” out there in our retirement communities and our Friends Organization would very much like to tap into your knowledge, experience and perseverance. Sooooo, if you are ready to get involved within your community meet some great people and have fun in the process, please call and sign up for our FREE breakfast at the Portuguese Club Sept. 12, 2007. 978-568-9638. Who knows? Maybe YOU will be our next Friends President. (A most prestigious position)! (Please call the center if you would like to more information on this position)

In partnership with Berlin Country Club, a nine hole course, the Hudson Senior Center would like to offer a FALL GOLF LEAGUE. This league for both men and women, starts September 25th with a “T” time of 10am and will continue every Tuesday till the end of October. The cost is $13.00 for walkers and $20.00 for riders. To “KICK-OFF” this event, Marlborough Hills is sponsoring lunch on the 25th at the Country Club for those registered. Call the senior center to sign up by September 18th so we can give a count to the club for lunch! (You don’t have to be a pro you know!)

The third grade students in Mrs. Mullen’s class at the Mulready School are looking to team up with friends from the Hudson Senior Center. Each student would like to pair up with someone from the center and interview him or her about his or her fondest memories. The students will then create memory books for their new center friends. Also, the students and their senior center friends will work together to create a quilt about their Hudson memories. The quilt will then be displayed throughout the town and community members may purchase a raffle ticket to try and win the quilt.

This project will begin in October and last until the end of the school year. Students will visit the center beginning in October. We would love to have you partner with us for this great project…Sincerely, Mrs. Mullen. (We are looking for 18 men and women to participate in this program). Call 978-568-9638. This promises to be an experience you will treasurer!

Lou Tagliani starts his 7week Tai – Chi program September 6^th at 9am at the Hudson Town Hall Auditorium on the second floor. Please take the elevator. The dates are September 6^th,13^th, and 27^th. Followed by every Thursday in October. Thank you Lou for offering this fantastic class!

Our formal painting class will start the first Tuesday in October. In August our instructor has undergone some surgery and feels she will be ready to teach in October. However, all painting students are welcome to come on Tuesdays in September to start your projects at no charge.

The Hudson Senior Center is pleased to welcome the Assabet Valley Camera Club, which will begin holding it’s meetings at the Senior Center in September. The Club was founded in 1985, and has members from Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, and beyond. The Club’s members have witnessed first-hand the digital revolution in photography, and have volunteered to help out anyone who interested in learning more about taking pictures with today’s new cameras. (Or with yesterday’s film cameras, for that matter) The Club will meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month, at 7:30pm from September through June, in addition to taking field trips to photo opportunities both near and far. Membership is open to anyone who is interested, with membership rates for individuals, households, and seniors. Come by on September 5^th to learn more! (Learn a new hobby, this should be fun!!!)

Everyone in the Silver Threads Quilting Class has completed their quilts or pillows. Plese check out our Website and see their beautiful work. It is just amazing. What else can they work on, you may ask? Well now they are talking about making quilts and bags for the American Cancer Society. These items are usually given to woman diagnosed with breast cancer. I am so proud of what they have accomplished so far! Karen Jacobs has done a fantastic job teaching. Come to the center and see what they have done or go to Town of Hudson and click on senior center, then pictures and see their works of art! You too may join this fun group. Oh and by the way, men are also attending this class.

We are excited to offer Group Exercise classes that are appropriate for older adults who are fit and active as well as those who are sedentary, intimidated or unfamiliar with exercise and ALL those who enjoy a positive, upbeat social environment. Our classes will be fun and allow students to move to the music through a variety of exercises designed to increase cardiovascular and muscular strength, range of movement, and activity for daily living skills. In addition to the resistance and cardiovascular training the classes will focus on stretching and relaxation exercises.

In addition to offering two classes a week from September through June, you will have 2 options for your third class. We will offer open floor hours on Friday morning’s from 8:30 am – 12:00pm. Friday mornings must be scheduled as we can only handle 10 at a time for circuit training. You must sign up for 1, one hour session every Friday. This will allow senior members to come to Anytime Fitness Hudson and use all of the equipment – treadmills, Bikes and Nautilus circuit. Certified personal trainers will be available by appointment to help guide them, answer questions and provide a safe and effective experience. If you choose not to use the equipment on Friday you can select a third day exercise class which will also be on Friday.

I see this collaboration with Anytime Fitness to be as successful as moving our Computer Class to the Hudson High School. The variety of fitness activities should appeal to a lot more people! Offering low impact and more aggressive workouts! Enjoy!

Seniors may know that Social Security benefits are exempt from being collected to satisfy debts when you are sued by a creditor and taken to court. Such income is “Judgment proof” which means a judge cannot order a person to make payments on a debt out of their Social Security benefits.

In addition to Social Security benefits being judgment proof, federal law (42 U.S.C.&407(a)) also states that such funds are exempt from execution, levy and attachment, even if they are co-mingled with non-exempt funds. This means that if your bank receives an order to attach an account, freeze it, or remove money from it to repay a debt, and you deposit your Social Security benefits into that account, the bank should not honor such a request.

If you bank tells you that they have received such a request from a creditor, you should inform them that honoring it is prohibited by law. You can also report them to the Comptroller of the Currency and/or the Commissioner of Banking of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

If you reach the gap in your Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) that is often called the “donut hole, you will have to pay up to $3,051.25 out of pocket for your medications before your Part D plan will start paying again. If you find yourself in this situation then you need to come to the senior center and find out about Prescription Advantage. To recap last months info, if you are single and your income is less than $30,630 or if you are married and your combined income is less than $41,070, Prescription Advantage can help to pay for drugs covered by your Part D Plan when you reach the donut hole. You will only have to pay Prescription Advantage co-pay. If your income is higher, you may be eligible for benefits that would put a cap on the amount you would have to pay. Come to the center we have all the info applications and great people to help you apply!!!!! SAVE MONEY NOW!