Newtown Commission on Aging (COA) voted in members to fill three board positions during a hybrid meeting January 23 based at Newtown Senior Center.

After some housekeeping details at the start of the meeting, Director of Human Services Natalie Jackson expressed her gratitude to everyone who attended Larry Passaro’s Celebration of Life event at the senior center on January 14.

Passaro was an active member of the senior center who created and led many programs. He was also the treasurer of COA at the time of his death in late 2022.

Jackson said it was “really heartwarming” to see so many people come out to remember Passaro. She said a potluck lunch was part of the event because that is what he would have enjoyed himself.

“Thank you all for making that happen,” she said.

During the meeting it was mentioned that seniors have not been signing up for as many trips despite requests for more options. Commissioner Lia Levitt voiced that it may be due to it being winter.

Others brought up that some of the trips have been to places that are not handicap accessible.

The COA is still awaiting more seniors to sign up for the St Patrick’s Day Celebration to Aqua Turf Club on Tuesday, March 14.

(More information on this event can be found in The Newtown Bee’s Senior Notes column this week.)

At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting, members nominated and subsequently voted to re-elect Anne Rothstein chairman, Barbara Bloom to continue as vice chairman, and LeReine Frampton to become the new treasurer.

The next COA meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 27, at 4 pm, at Newtown Senior Center.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.