Senior Citizens Prepare for Fall Fair and Centennial Ball-August 31, 1972

A whirlwind of activity fills the elderly drop-in center in Norwood as local seniors put the finishing touches on preparations for their upcoming Fall Fair, scheduled for September 30.

Craft Workshops and Fair Preparations

Spearheaded by center program director Mrs. Arnold V. Arsenault—who was appointed shortly after the center opened in May—well-attended workshops have been buzzing with members crafting pine cone wreaths, seashell flowers, handmade candles, macrame, leather goods, paintings, weaving creations, and needlework.

Organizers have distributed responsibilities across the membership:

• Arts and Crafts Display: Co-chaired by Mrs. Kay Shea.
• White Elephant Table: Co-chaired by Madeline Altonen, who invited residents to drop off donations at the center (located in a downstairs room of the United Church), coordinate through the town hall switchboard, or contact Mrs. Arsenault directly.
• Featured Offerings: Children’s items, homemade food, plants, and popular handmade potholders.

Raffle tickets are also currently being sold for dinners for two at six area restaurants to benefit both the fair and an upcoming milestone celebration.

“Centennial Tribute” Ball and Community Activities

Excitement is also building for a major social highlight: a November 16 formal ball titled “A centennial tribute to our town’s golden agers.” Mrs. Arsenault secured Concannon’s Village, a mammoth new function hall opening on Lenox Street in October, to host the 400 anticipated guests. Admission will be free for senior citizens, with costs covered by advertising booklet sales. The evening will feature continuous entertainment by the Vin Perry orchestra, a unique fashion show modeling historic gowns preserved by the historical society, humorous monologues by center member Mrs. Margaret Kennedy, and a prospective barbershop quartet.

Honorary tickets will be presented to selectmen and Town Manager John P. Morgan, whom Mrs. Arsenault praised for his steadfast support of the center.

The center operates as a true community beehive. Recent activities include members stuffing envelopes for a muscular dystrophy drive, card games, a newly formed 30-member choral group, a Monday morning bowling league, and monthly bingo games. A robust guest speaker series has featured probate court prosecutor Richard Griffin, Fire Chief Irving J. Dobson, Housing Authority Executive Secretary Lawrence J. O’Brien, Housing Authority Chairman Frank L. Walsh, and police narcotics officer William Casey.

Council on Aging Surveys and Community Needs

Tabulations are underway for senior citizen questionnaires distributed by the Council on Aging (headed by Arnold Arsenault). The surveys revealed pressing local needs, chief among them being transportation for the elderly. The council plans to meet with the Norwood Automobile Dealers Association to explore transit solutions. Other primary concerns highlighted by seniors include housing, medical clinic access at the center, and soaring property taxes following revaluation, which Mrs. Arsenault noted had forced some seniors back into the workforce. Additionally, 4,000 new identification cards featuring the town seal and space for vital medical data have been issued by the council for seniors over 60.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger