Egremont — The Councils on Aging (COA) of Egremont and Mount Washington put their efforts together to kick off the Fall 2015 season on October 21 with a tea party. The nonagenarians of the two towns were celebrated at the Egremont Village Inn owned by Sara Keene. Everyone was welcomed to a delightful tea salon for a festive and happy occasion.
Bruce Bernstein, chair of COA Egremont, welcomed everyone and told us of some of the projects in the past year and projects planned for the coming season. Chet Delaney, a COA member, stepped up as the M.C. of the day. He welcomed everyone but focused on the 90-year-olds and heralding the contributions and history in the lives of this group of people.
When Chet asked the honorees if they wanted to say a few words, Stan Farnham read two of his poems which were so heartwarming. Bill Weigel spoke about his appreciation for his life experiences and his role in WWII.
Egremont Selectman Charles Flynn continued about the importance of events experienced by his generation: World War II, The Depression and social changes, to name a few. He then presented a citation of recognition from the State of Massachusetts to our five present nonagenarians.
Kim Bach of Verdigris Tea Shop in Hudson, N.Y., graciously offered her expertise in leading us on a fascinating exploration of tea. “Tea, so much like people, has a strong sense of place due to soil, temperature and seasons,” she explained. We learned about the different teas, origins and brewing techniques with the “pièce de résistance,” a blooming flower tea that went from a tight pod to a beautiful flower. Kim then invited us to enjoy four teas from the wide selection of teas she carries in her shop. Everyone enjoyed the tea tasting paired with delicious tea sandwiches, cookies and cakes.
The mission of Councils on Aging is to improve the lives of seniors in our communities. This was a wonderful example of fulfilling this mission for the 40 people of Egremont and Mt. Washington who enjoyed this tea party. “What a lovely joint COA Tea Party,” commented Barbara Greenberg of Mt. Washington.
The next event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, and will address the issue of scams directed at seniors. The event will again take place at The Egremont Village Inn.
