OF WELLS, WATER AND GHSS

In their infinite wisdom the Hillsborough budget for 2016 pretty much cuts Greater Hillsborough Senior Services off. The rational is that funding for Hillsborough Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) covers GHSS expenses. Yes, SAC does cover some (not nearly all) of the expenses for the GHSS newsletter (in which SAC has DEMANDED one full page free 'advertisement' for each issue) and SAC pays the monthly $100 charge for use of St Mary's church hall (a hall that is no longer available to anybody because of structural problems).  But to say that SAC covers all the many services provided to Hillsborough seniors is way beyond disingenuous.  To begin with, tiny Deering (pop 1800) GIVES -- as in, no strings attached -- to GHSS at least $2000 (the town BOS has recommended upping that to $3000 for 2016 in a warrant article).

What does SAC do? Well, as far as I can see SAC itself only organizes a few bus trips to admittedly interesting places. Thanks for that.

Pat Mathison, GHSS president, published a letter in the Villager and Messenger newspapers on 4 March outlining the many benefits of GHSS to area seniors. What she did not say (for reasons I cannot understand) is the reason for the letter: the shameful failure of Hillsborough  BOS to recommend funding for GHSS in 2016.


So, what DOES GHSS do for Hillsborough senior citizens?  Following is a summary taken from 2015. 

I sincerely hope that the two or three people who actually read this blog will be pretty darned upset and encourage their fellow Hillsborough residents to ATTEND TOWN MEETING AND SUPPORT ART. 27. TOWN MEETING IN HILLSBOROUGH IS TUESDAY, 8 MARCH beginning at 7:00 pm

You know the saying about wells and water: you're not going to miss the latter until the former runs dry! SUPPORT GHSS, Hillsborough's senior source!

Greater Hillsborough Senior Services in 2015

35% of the Hillsborough population is over 65

An increase of 14% in participation at GHSS activities/events, 1800 seniors have used the services

Volunteer Driver Program  handled 452 trips, accumulating 9200 miles driven and 576 volunteer hours

Maple Leaf trips (24 a year) were handled by seniors volunteer drivers, saving $2400 from the Youth Service budget

15 monthly senior luncheons were offered, food expenses were covered by luncheon fees. 

 GHSS supported senior tai chi classes held in Deering Town Hall.

A bus was purchased in June. Its purchase was supported by many donations, most notably from Shaw's and Osram. No funds from the town of Hillsborough were used to purchase the GHSS bus. The bus has become a community resource, serving the residents of the town of Hillsborough in ways that the town itself cannot. However, the expense of maintaining the bus is borne by GHSS. (anybody have an idea where we can park our bus, which currently sits at the back of Wyman's lot?)

The bus went into immediate service. Here's what we did:

- 55 trips were offered to seniors (excluding the Maple Leaf trips)

- the number ofg seniors enjoying trips doubled from previous years

- the "community" bus was used to support the Living History event, a Youth Service trip to the Verizon for the circus, and United Methodist Church to a  choral event and potluck supper.

Volunteer hours by seniors accounted for 2200 hours of service:

- created and distributed 140 holiday plates for the Lions Holiday baskets

- aided a senior in knotting and preparing quilts for distribution Concord Hospital

          - prepared congregate meals 15 times in the year

          - drove 576 hours to get seniors to appointments

          - newsletter functions and publicity