HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-9 Council on Aging Minutes
Department of Elder Services Kathy Shelp, Director
Connecting our Community through Service, Experience and Advocacy
North Andover Council on Aging
North Andover Senior Center
September 9, 2025 - 9:05 A.M.
Minutes
Attendance:
Members Present: Lucius Michel {Chair}, Quentara Costa {Secretary}, Joan Thompson, George Kangos, Allen Naffah,
Maria Rosati, Patricia Riley, David VanArsdale, Remo Zimbaldi
Absent: Jennifer Abou-ezzi, Eileen Elliot, Wendy Venti
Others Present: Kathy Shelp, Director of Senior Center; Denise Casey, Deputy Town Manager , Anthony Petronio
Call to order: 9:05 AM
Roll call by Lucius Michel
Minutes: Review of August 2025. Motion to approve by Joan. Seconded by Maria. Unanimously approved.
Update from Advocacy Committee, Lucius Michel:
Dave has joined the Advocacy committee. We still have an opening on programming.
Discussed inviting member of fire department to discuss protocol on inspecting retirement communities in light of
the Fall River incident.
North Andover Community Connect – registration for your home to let public safety certain particulars of the
home (dogs, access, etc)
Update from Membership Committee, Quentara Costa and Lucius Michel:
Motion to endorse Anthony Petronio to select board by Al. Remo approved. Unanimously approved.
Opening on Program committee.
o We can let Wendy know these are open and recommend advocacy to Dave given his interest in that topic
specifically.
Update from Kathy Shelp, update on Senior Center:
Working with intern from Merrimack College to create a podcast – “Hears to You.” Where we celebrate the past
to invigorate the future. Will take place at CAM.
Photographer coming in for headshots that coordinate with the podcast, that can be displayed at a later in the year
formal reception with sound bites of the people on the podcast.
Creating an onsite STEM Program aimed at grandparents raising grandchildren. More information to come.
Video creation and editing program in the works to enhance the existing senior show on CAM.
o For example, if there is a trip somewhere someone can record and edit to ultimately share on the show.
North Andover Elder Services 481 Sutton Street North Andover MA 01845
978.688.9560 www.northandoverma.gov kshelp@northandoverma.gov
Men’s and women’s breakfast club will continue. The women’s breakfast will follow the new trend of the “I
Don’t Care Club.” The men’s breakfast continues to grow and gain popularity.
Resilience and financial programs coming. They ran a canning program recently and canned 250lb of tomatoes.
The cans were then given out.
They have been running focus groups, and both the grant writers involved and the participants really benefited
from the conversation.
Discussion on bringing back a “friendly face” program to act as an ambassador for the center to those who are
new participants.
Adjournment at 10:10 A.M. Motion to adjourn by Al, seconded by Luke. Unanimously agreed.
Respectfully submitted,
Quentara Costa, Secretary
North Andover Elder Services 481 Sutton Street North Andover MA 01845
978.688.9560 www.northandoverma.gov kshelp@northandoverma.gov