Submitted by Sherry Jackson, Needham COA Associate Director

If you haven’t heard about Sages and Seekers yet, join the Needham Council on Aging for a special, informative luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 14 at noon.

Sages & Seekers is a project designed to bring together teens and older adults to share their unique gifts. In tribal cultures, the elders have a vital and important role; they are the keepers of the memories and the wisdom. Needham seniors have so much to offer the world. Their maturity, history and experience allows for a larger perspective of life for the younger generations to learn from. 

Local seniors, ages 70 and older, are invited to meet seniors that have participated in this program, and a short film will be presented. This is an uplifting event that will leave you inspired about your life and that of future generations. 

Seniors also can sign up for the Sages & Seekers program, which will be offered at Needham High School this fall. For more information, call Elly Katz at 508-444-8821. There is no fee for this luncheon, but individuals should reserve a spot by calling the Council on Aging at 781-455-7555.

This Week and Coming Up

These programs are going on this week or require registration. To sign up, call the Stephen Palmer Senior Center at 781-455-7555.

Weekly Flicks—Friday Flicks are held on most Fridays at the Senior Center. The free movies are shown at 1 p.m. Call to sign up. Coming up: “My Week With Marilyn” (2011) on Friday, Aug. 10 and “W.E.” (2011) on Friday, Aug. 17.

Monday’s Lunch Bunch—Try someplace new, socialize and enjoy a good meal with Monday's Lunch Bunch. The group meets at the Senior Center at 11:30 a.m. to board a van to the lunch destination. Coming up: Grassfields in Waltham on Monday, Aug. 13 and Conrad’s in Norwood on Monday, Aug. 20. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected on the van. Participants also pay the cost of their meals.

Narrated Historic Tour of Needham—Friday, Aug. 17, 11 a.m. Board the Council on Aging van for a narrated historic tour of your town. Gloria Greis of the Needham Historical Society will narrate the tour. Participants will find out about the bank robbery, the Odd Fellows’ Fire, and the Mark(ed) Tree, the valley where the dirt was excavated and used to fill in Boston’s Bay neighborhood, among other elements of the town’s past. This trip is limited to 11 passengers, so sign up early.

Book Review—Monday, Aug. 20, 1 p.m. Gail Rice will lead a discussion of the book “The Piano Teacher” by Janice Lee. Sign up is recommended. The story starts in 1952, when Claire Pendleton and her husband come to Hong Kong and Claire is hired by the wealthy Chen family as their daughter's piano teacher. Claire's husband is an English engineer who has been hired to oversee the construction of a new reservoir. Claire starts out by leading an insulated life, socializing with the other expatriate wives. But as she involves herself with the rich and powerful Chen family, Claire soon enters a world of deceit, passion and dark secrets that will deeply shock Hong Kong society and change Claire forever. The Piano Teacher is a spellbinding tale of human frailty and passions reminiscent of “The English Patient.”

Friends Trip to Lobster Fest

The Friends of the Needham Elderly will take a trip on Wednesday, Aug. 22 to Lobster Fest in Holyoke. As part of the trip, they will enjoy a performance by "The Ponytails"—an all-girl tribute band that plays music from the 1960s. Cost is $74. Sign up now to secure a spot; call the trip desk at 781-455-7555 ext. 209.

Dance and Exercise Classes

Get fit and learn something new with Council on Aging dance and exercise classes. Sign up in advance by calling 781-455-7555. Payment is due at the first class.

Zumba—Thursdays, Aug. 9, 16, 30 and Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Senior Center. Louise Carbone leads this five-week class. Cost is $20.

Ballroom Dancing: “Tango”—Tuesdays, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 at 2 p.m. at the YMCA on Chestnut Street. Betty Hood is the instructor. The cost for the four-week class is $16.

Senior Strength Exercise—Mondays, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 at 10:15 a.m. at the Senior Center. Pearl Pressman leads this four-week class. Cost is $16.

Senior Strength Exercise—Fridays, Aug. 10, 17, 24, 31 at 9:15 a.m. at the Senior Center. Pearl Pressman leads this four-week class. Cost is $16.

Yoga—Mondays, Aug. 6, 13, 20 at 9 a.m. at the Senior Center. Sandi Levy leads this three-week class. Cost is $12.

Better Balance Better Bones—Wednesdays, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 at 2:45 p.m. at the Senior Center. Leslie Worris leads this four-week class. Cost is $27.

The Arthritis Exercise Class—Tuesdays, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 at 2 p.m. at the Senior Center. Lisa Cadigan leads this four-week class. Cost is $16.

The Arthritis Exercise Class—Thursdays, Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30 at 2 p.m. at the YMCA on Chestnut Street. Randi Sharek leads this four-week class. Cost is $16.

Line Dancing Class—Mondays, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 at noon at First Baptist Church. Manny Correia leads this four-week class. Cost is $16.

Try Something New

Computer Lessons—The Council on Aging offers computer lessons on Thursday afternoons by appointment. Those who would like to learn about computers in a one-on-one session with an instructor are invited to these classes. Lessons are offered on Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. (by appointment). There is no fee for this class. To make a 45-minute appointment, call the COA at 781-455-7555.

Singers wanted—If you can read music or can carry a tune, join this new group that meets on Tuesday afternoons from 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the Senior Center. Fred Shaw will lead the group in song and will provide the lyrics to songs old and new. No audition required. Sign up is appreciated in order to have enough song sheets for all to participate; call the Senior Center at 781-455-7555.