By BRENDA BURNS
NEWPORT — The proceeds from the sale of sausage grinders at the Apple Pie Crafts Fair were intended to go towards the renovation project currently in progress at the Newport Senior Center.
However, we were informed last week that one of the rooftop furnaces is not working and will need to be replaced. We have not received a quote for replacement at this time, but expect to receive an estimate within the next week.
Every time we think there is a light at the end of the tunnel something seems to happen. We know that everyone has their problems and concerns and we all have to work through it. There are some advocates out there who are interested in learning what the concerns are for so many seniors in the community.
Yvonne Goldsberry, President for the Endowment for Health, is one of those people. The Endowment for Health provides grants to organizations that improve the health of New Hampshire people. The endowment also act as advocates to move important issues forward, especially when others are unable to speak out.
Goldsberry and other members of the endowment can’t help if they are unaware of the issues you face. You have the opportunity to share your concerns about access to healthcare, isolation or other issues you may be facing with Yvonne from 9-10 a.m. on Sept. 14, at the Newport Senior Center.
Yvonne, along with Representative Virginia Irwin, will take this information back to share with their colleagues to determine what they can do to help. We will provide coffee and light refreshments.
SCNS will be sharing with Yvonne and Representative Irwin the difficulties of obtaining and retaining qualified help. We have been searching for Meals-on-Wheels, permanent and per diem, drivers for several weeks now, with no luck. We know this is not a unique matter with us because when you drive down the road, you can see help wanted signs everywhere. Also, we have participated in workshops where other businesses talk about the struggles they have with hiring. I remember reading the paper about the county facility having difficulty finding qualified help and they were paying over $25 per hour.
One thing we did not have difficulty doing was obtaining enough participants for the balance screening. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces willing, ready and able to participate in the free balance screening. The 27 people who participated, walked away smiling and grateful for the opportunity provided by Dartmouth Centers for Health and Aging.
Follow-up to this screening will be the Matter of Balance class starting on Sept. 12 and will run through Oct. 31st. This will take place each Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This is different than the Strength, Balance and Flexibility class that will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Don’t forget to get your yard sale donations in this week as the yard sale is coming up quickly on Sept. 1st. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to drop off your donations during the weekdays. No electronics, books, VHS tapes or bedding material will be accepted. The yard sale will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thank you to all those who donated to the yard sale and thank you to Coronis Market and Kevin Onnela for donating the rolls for the sausage grinders. We could not be successful without the help of each of you.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.