Did you know that almost 20% of Arlington's population is at least 60 years old?  Arlington's Council on Aging (COA) knows only too well as it strains to meet the needs of an ever-growing senior constituency.

A newly formed nonprofit group, Friends of the Arlington Council on Aging, wants to raise awareness of the COA's importance in the community, and to provide some fund-raising support for the COA.  The Friends invite Arlington residents to help raise the profile of the Arlington COA by:

1) Developing a plan for keeping residents and town officials informed of the many services and activities delivered by the COA; and

2) Identifying activities and events to raise funds for the COA.

Last year alone, the COA provided more than 2,200 health screenings and coordinated 900 visits to elderly residents to provide social services, case management and advocacy services, and to check in on nursing home patients.

They also provided several thousand rides to seniors to attend medical appointments and activities at the Arlington Senior Center. The center provides periodic podiatry, blood pressure, flu and pneumonia clinics, as well as exercise and fitness programs, community education workshops and health fairs.

To learn more about the friends, or to offer support, residents wre asked to attend the New Friends on the Block Party on Sunday, May 31, in the Robbins Memorial Garden (next to Town Hall) from 1 to 4 p.m.

Entertainment was provided by the Mystic Chorale and by singer, guitarist and songwriter, Liz Buchanan. A raffle was held to benefit the COA.

If you'd like to help brainstorm ideas and turn those ideas into action, the Friends of the COA would love to hear from you. The group hopes to attract a variety of people from all ages and backgrounds from across the community so that the work of the organization takes only a minimal amount of supporters' time.

For more information about the Friends, please contact Arthur Budnik at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 781-316-3400.