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THE ANCHORS.. at the center of it all

 

 

The Edgartown Council on Aging, also known as The Anchors,  is a department of the Town of Edgartown.  It provides programs, events and activities for which no membership is required.  Everyone, regardless of age or town of residence, is invited and welcome.  We also provide outreach, volunteer opportunities and healthy and delicious home made meals twice a week!

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To meet the needs of Edgartown seniors while promoting vital aging, growing older with dignity, independence and health. 

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10 Daggett Street, Edgartown, accessible by way of Main Street to Dock Street with a parking area across from Soft as a Grape.  Our phone number is 508-627-4368 and our hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Please stop by to say hello, meet the staff, pick up a NEWSLETTER or to sign up for one of our programs.

Mission Statement

 Location

Who We Are

Staff

theanchorsstaff-ray ewing (1).jpeg

Photo courtesy of Ray Ewing, Martha's Vineyard Times 11/22

Our talented staff is ready to serve your needs.  Pictured left to right are  Victoria Haeselbarth, Meris Keating, Lyndsay Famariss, Donna Paulson and Diane Wall.

 

Victoria, Anchors outreach worker, reaches out to the 55-plus community to answer questions, provide comfort and advocacy in times of need and unites residents with services that will help them age more successfully.  In her spare time, Victoria enjoys gardening, artwork, volunteering in the community and is writing a book.

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Meris, Director of Senior Services, develops programs to satisfy the requests of our seniors, leads day trips to interesting places and produces our colorful monthly newsletter.  As the mother of adorable four-year-old, Willow, she has little free time but fantasizes about reclaiming moments in her art studio.

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 Lyndsay, Anchors Administrator, began her role at the Anchors in September of 2020.  Lyndsay is a licensed social worker with over 25 years of experience serving Martha's Vineyard.  In her free time, Lyndsay enjoys participating in the Sail MV Rowing Club, paddle boarding, kayaking, gardening, hammock-reading and hiking on the island's beautiful trails.

 

Donna, Anchors receptionist, is here to greet you with a warm smile and friendly conversation. Come meet Donna, pick up our monthly newsletter and sign up for a class or lunch. In her free time Donna enjoys taking walks with her dog, reading novels and attending church. 

 

Diane creates delicious and nutritious meals for our Tuesday and Friday lunches and produces our popular array of frozen soups.  Outside of the Anchors, Diane enjoys gardening, cooking for her family and friends and time spent with her little granddaughter.  

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Our Board


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Rosemary Cunningham, Chair

Marvene O'Rourke, Co-Chair

Janice Belisle, Friends of ECOA representative

John Dropick

Nancy Ignacio

Jay Sigler

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The ECOA Board of Directors is five dedicated Edgartown residents who volunteer their services, providing valuable oversight and input in our policies and programming. We thank them deeply for their continuing interest in the health and welfare of Edgartown's senior population.  

Our Friends

The Friends is a non-profit volunteer organization, formed to support the Anchors through fundraising and other activities.  Many programs and events offered by the Anchors are made possible by, or enhanced through, the Friends financial contributions, including our surplus food program, exercise programs, craft classes and trips.  The Friends also subsidize discounts for Featherstone Center for the Arts and COMSOG Gardens.  The Friends group is an important and valued resource for the ECOA and Edgartown seniors. We thank you so much for your on-going support!
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Pictured below, from left to right, Alice Upham, Madeline Fisher (co-president), Janice Belisle (treasurer), Cheryl Best, Pat Johnson, Linda Smith (vice president), Barbara Phillips (co-president), Patti Dean. Missing are Carol Koser, Barbara Flanders, Janice Donaroma, Marge Willoughby and John MacKenty.

A Bit of History

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THE ANCHORS BUILDING

 

"The land where Captain Samuel B. Norton built his home in 1925-26 (now The Anchors Senior Center) was a gift from his parents, William C. and Malvina Vincent Norton.  They owned a bard and a large ice storage building just up Daggett Street from Manuel Swartz Robert's boat building shop, now the Old Sculpin Art Gallery.  Later on, Sam Norton acquired the adjacent property as we see it today.  In the 1800's this land, including the waterfront property on Dock Street, was owned by the Norton brothers and is now preserved by Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust.

Bailey Norton, son of Samuel B. Norton

 

 

THE SHIPS' ANCHORS

 

 

 

"The cluster of anchors near memorial wharf on Dock Street are the remnants of a collection once owned by my father, Captain Samuel B. Norton.  He purchased the anchors from local fishermen who had snagged them when dragging nets across the ocean floor.  If these anchors could talk, they would have great stories to tell of storms and lost ships.  In keeping with his nautical background, Captain Samuel B. Norton named his home The Anchors."

 Floyd Norton , son of Samuel B. Norton

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The Edgartown Council on Aging is part of the MASSACHUSETTS

COUNCILS ON AGING

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Massachusetts Councils on Aging serves a variety of roles to ensure local government assistance to seniors.  This assistance includes providing information, support services, programs and activities that encourage and enable seniors to participate in their community, remaining self-sufficient and independent.

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