What’s New at the Senior Center: Housing Tours, Art Class and a Trip to the Boston Pops

Submitted by Sherry Jackson, Needham COA Associate Director

In September, the Needham Council on Aging and Stephen Palmer Senior Center held a Housing Options Event, where participants learned about all kinds of housing options. As promised, we are coordinating tours to area senior housing communities.

Please reserve your seat early, as space is limited. To sign-up for either or both tours, call 781-455-7555.

This month, we invite you to tour either or both of the following communities:

• Traditions of Dedham—Friday, Nov. 16. Departs the Needham Senior Center at 11:30 a.m. On this tour you will be treated to lunch, a tour and will be entertained with a Western hoedown show. Traditions of Dedham offers spacious apartments chock-full of amenities, including the ability to cook on your own or use of their gourmet dining facilities, in-house laundry services, 24-hour security, and a range of daily living services that you can tap into should you have a temporary health issue or something that requires long-term attention.
• New Pond Village—Wednesday, Nov. 28. Departs the Needham Senior Center at 10 a.m. This morning tour will include coffee and New Pond’s tasty own signature coffee cake. New Pond Village resides amongst a 30-acre wooded suburban setting, complete with nature trails and convenient parking. Spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartment homes with full kitchens, balconies and walk-in closets. Also, on-site banking, a country store, library, exercise facility, fine dining and full activities program.

This Week and Coming Up

These free programs are coming up soon at the Needham Senior Center and require registration, unless otherwise stated. To sign up, call 781-455-7555.

Rep. Denise Garlick Office Hours—Needham’s state representative will be available to hear your concerns and to answer any questions on Monday, Nov. 5 from 10:45-11:45 p.m. No registration required.

Art Class—Needham’s older adults are invited to participate in an art class offered Mondays, Nov. 5 and 26 and Dec. 10 and 17 at the Needham Free Public Library. The class will be held in the library’s Community Room from 12-1:30 p.m. each day. Students bring their own materials and ideas for projects and will work on projects of their choosing with guidance from professional artist and teacher Ramune Jauniskis. Cost is $32 for the four-week class.

Walking Club—Walks are designed to offer variety and provide an opportunity to walk with other walking clubs. Walkers will also explore trails outside the local area, with transportation available. Upcoming walks: Friday, Nov. 9 at Cowassock Woods and Ashland Town Forest in Framingham.

Movies—Come watch a free movie at the Senior Center. Movies start at 1 p.m. Upcoming showings include: “Waitress” (2007) on Friday, Nov. 9.

Monday’s Lunch Bunch—Try someplace new, socialize, and enjoy a good meal. Meet at the Senior Center at 11:30 a.m., board our van and take a ride to: Agostino’s in Natick on Monday, Nov. 19. The suggested donation of $5 will be collected on the van. You will pay the cost of your meal separately at the restaurant.

Weight Management Support Group—Mondays beginning Nov. 19 at 12:45 p.m. Are you fed up with your increasing weight? Do you reach for food when you’re bored, tired, stressed, or anxious, instead of when you’re hungry? This program will teach you how to make doable lifestyle changes to achieve your weight-loss goals. The five-week class will be led by Pearl Pressman, a Certified Weight Management Consultant, who has lost over 100 pounds. Pearl is a member of the National Weight Loss Registry and has worked as a Weight Watchers group leader. Cost is $20; payment is due at the first class.

Lifelong Learning

These free programs are coming up soon at the Needham Senior Center and require registration, unless otherwise stated. To sign up, call 781-455-7555.

Lecture Financial Exploitation—Thursday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. Join us for an informative talk regarding current information on scams and how to spot and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and financial exploitation. Several FTC bulletins will be available to participants containing valuable information to help safeguard their identity and guidelines for action should they have a problem. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation. This presentation is offered by Sheila Pransky, coordinator of senior programs at Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s Office.

Trips with the Friends

The Friends of the Needham Elderly are off to the Boston Pops on Friday, Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. Register now by calling 781-455-7555 ext. 209. All tickets will require payment up front upon registration (non refundable). We need 36 people to operate this trip and tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis, upon payment. The cost of this trip, including transport, will be between $79 and $94 depending on seating preference. We are planning to reserve 12 tickets at $59 first balcony, center back and 24 tickets nearer the stage, first balcony, left-hand side at $74.. Please state your ticket price preference.

Exercise and Dance Classes

To secure your space for any of the following classes, call 781-455-7555. Please note: You may always try a class for free.

Zumba—Thursdays beginning Nov. 8, 10-11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church. Runs seven weeks. Cost is $28. Led by Louise Carbone.

Line Dancing Class—Mondays beginning Nov. 19, 12-1 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Runs five weeks. Cost is $20. Led by Regina Sharpe.

Ballroom Dancing Class: Waltz—Tuesdays beginning Nov. 6, 2 p.m. at YMCA on Chestnut Street. Runs four weeks. Cost is $16. Led by Betty Hood.

Senior Strength Exercise Class—Mondays beginning Nov. 19, 10:15 a.m. at the Senior Center. Runs five weeks. Cost is $20. Led by Pearl Pressman.

Senior Strength Exercise Class—Fridays beginning Nov. 2, 9:15 a.m. at the Senior Center. Runs nine weeks. Cost is $36. Led by Pearl Pressman.

Yoga—Mondays beginning Nov. 19, 9 a.m. at the Senior Center. Runs seven weeks. Cost is $28. Led by Sandi Levy. Students need to bring a sticky mat for floor and standing yoga poses.

Tai Chi Class—Mondays beginning Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church. Runs six weeks. Cost is $24. Led by Scott Brumit.

The Arthritis Exercise Class—Tuesdays beginning Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Senior Center. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $32  (or $64 for both sessions). Led by Lisa Cadigan.

The Arthritis Exercise Class—Thursdays beginning Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Charles River YMCA on Chestnut Street. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $32 (or $64 for both sessions). Led by Randi Sharek.

Better Balance Better Bones—Wednesdays beginning Nov. 14 at 2:45 p.m. at the Senior Center. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $50. Led by Leslie Worris.

Meeting Regularly

To sign up or learn more about these free programs, call the Senior Center at 781-455-7555.

Low Vision Support Group—The group meets on the third Friday of every month. The group provides an opportunity for newly blind and visually impaired persons to come together to discuss issues relating to their vision loss. The group addresses topics about how to use specialized equipment in the home or on the job; how to maintain independence, aging and vision loss, or the effects of vision loss on family and friends.

Hoarding Support Group—Mondays, 2-4 p.m. Lorraine G., a hoarder herself, has formed this support group for people with hoarding behaviors. She participated in a new approach to this problem with the Boston University Cognitive Behavior therapy treatment program. The support group will be utilizing the book, “Buried in Treasures” by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee and a workbook titled “Treatments That Work.” There is no fee for this program.

Table Tennis—Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 9-11:30 a.m. All are welcome at any playing level—old pros, intermediates and especially beginners. No fee or sign-up required.

Computer Lessons—Thursdays, 12-3 p.m. Learn about computers in a one-on-one session with an instructor. There is no fee for this class; call the Senior Center to schedule a 45-minute appointment.

Singers Needed for New Group—Tuesdays, 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the Senior Center. If you can read music or can carry a tune, please join us on Tuesday afternoons with Fred Shaw, who will lead us in song as we sing to our hearts’ content. No audition required.

Creative Writing Group—Second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Write your memoirs or try your hand at creative writing. This writing group is for all levels. Free; no sign-up required.