Friends Of Newtown Seniors (FONS) has received a grant from the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to put toward expenses for a pivotal One Town One Read program tied in to the recently launched “Timeless Newtown” series.

“Timeless Newtown: Embracing Every Generation” is a series organizers hope will break through stereotypes and destructive thinking toward aging and the elderly.

There are three areas of focus for the year-long series. The first is to clarify for seniors what the aging process is about and let go of some of the negative stereotypes they have absorbed from society.

The second area of focus is to recognize that aging is a natural process. The third area of focus is to pull the full community into the discussion and tackle issues. Public events for all ages will carry the series through spring, summer and early autumn.

The series is being presented by FONS, C.H. Booth Library, the Commission on Aging, and Newtown Senior Center, among others. The series formally launched January 24 with a Lunch & Learn presentation at the senior center. FONS Founder and President John Boccuzzi Sr introduced the concept of the series and invited attendees to suggest ideas for future programs.

FONS recently learned it has been awarded a $4,977 CT Humanities Quick Grant, just short of the grant cap of $4,999.

Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the NEH. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources.

The grant awarded to FONS is to be used, according to the application from FONS, which was shared with The Newtown Bee, to enable “Timeless Newtown” organizers to bring Dr Tracy Gendron to Newtown for a key activity in the series. The funds will be used for the author honorarium, travel expenses and an author talk planned for September 18 at Edmond Town Hall.

The grant was one of nine announced by CT Humanities on March 11 to "Connecticut cultural and high education institutions for initiatives and projects rooted in literature and cultural history."

One Town One Read

“Timeless Newtown” will include a One Town One Read collection of events around Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How To End It by Gendron.

Funding has been acquired to purchase 1,000 copies of Gendron’s March 2022 account of the history and present-day realities of age bias.

In his presentation to the Commission on Aging a few months ago, Boccuzzi said the book inspires readers “to reflect on our behavior and take small, positive steps to grow as individuals and as a community.”

The September presentation will explore gerontology and ageism.

The book jacket, Boccuzzi said in the application to CTH, best describes the author’s work: “Exploring ageism’s roots and history in order to better understand its present-day realities, Ageism Unmasked opens readers’ eyes to the structural and cultural forces that cause us to tolerate and promote behaviors toward people based solely on their age. Gendron’s thought-provoking stories and information inspire us to examine how we treat others as they grow older and to contemplate expectations and assumptions we have about our own aging.”

The book emphasizes that aging is a natural and universal process in that everyone ages, Boccuzzi also noted in the CTH application.

“It also emphasizes that each individual ages differently. As the author puts it, ‘If you have seen one old person, you have seen exactly one old person,’” Boccuzzi also wrote, adding Gendron inspires “people of all ages to embrace aging as a lifelong process of continual development — biological, psychological, social and spiritual.”

Ahead of the September event, Ageism Unmasked will also be used for book discussion groups, panel presentations, and other events. The townwide read will culminate with the mid-September visit by Gendron.

The book-related events will begin July 1. Distribution of the book will begin closer to that date.

“Timeless Newtown” organizers have also identified A Kids Book About Ageism by the CT Age Well Collaborative as a companion read to Ageism Unmasked. Twenty copies of that hardcover book will be purchased and available for circulation from the town library.

In addition to the town library, FONS and COA, “Timeless Newtown” partners include Newtown Economic & Development Commission, Newtown Forest Association, Newtown Hikers, Newtown Senior Center, Nuvance, and NYA Sports & Fitness Center.

Sponsors include Caraluzzi’s, Newtown Commission on Aging, Anne Rothstein, and The Jeniam Foundation. Those who would like to become partners and/or sponsors are invited to contact John Boccuzzi Sr 203-430-0633 or info@FriendsOfNewtownSeniors.org or C.H. Booth Library Director Jennifer Nash at 203-426-4533 extension 1 or jnash@chboothlibrary.org.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.