What's New at the Senior Center: Ride the Turkey Train to Scenic Lake Winnipesaukee

Submitted by Sherry Jackson, Needham COA Associate Director

The Friends of the Needham Elderly’s next trip is coming up on Monday, Oct. 15 and will include a two-hour scenic trip by train around Lake Winnipesaukee while enjoying a full turkey dinner with all the fixin's. The day will start with a visit to the Christmas Tree Shop and end with a stop at Apple Hill Farms—a perfect fall adventure.

The motor coach will depart at 8:15 a.m. from Linden and Chambers and at 8:30 a.m. from the Stephen Palmer Senior Center, returning between 6:15 and 6:45 p.m. Cost is $76 including tips.

This tour does require a minimum of 40 passengers to operate—so tell your friends and book early. Reserve a space by calling 781-455-7555 ext. 209. Full payment is due upon reservation along with your luncheon choice and pick-up location.

Please make checks payable to “F.O.N.E” and mail to: Needham Senior Center, 83 Pickering St., Needham, MA 02492, Attn: Trips. (No refunds if cancellation is received within 10 days prior to departure, unless a replacement can be found.)

This Week and Coming Up

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

Celebrate Diversity in Honor of Latino Heritage—Friday, Sept 28, noon, at the Senior Center. Sign-up is required. RSVP by Sept. 24. Join us for this interesting presentation and luncheon. All are welcome to attend.

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, Sept. 28 at Lake Waban, Wellesley College; Friday, Oct. 5, Jamaica Plain Pond; Friday, Oct. 12, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Boston; Friday, Oct. 26, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain. 

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: Ninety-Nine Restaurant in Walpole on Monday, Oct. 1. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected on the van. Participants also pay the cost of their meals.

Movies—Come watch a movie at the Senior Center. This program is free, but registration is required; call 781-455-7555. Upcoming movies: “Singing in the Rain” (1952) on Friday, Oct. 5 and “The Affair of the Diamond Necklace” (2001) on Friday, Oct. 12.

Learn Something New

Spanish Class for Beginners—Tuesdays beginning Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m. This five-week class is for individuals with little or no previous experience with the Spanish language.  Both instructional and conversational, this class will give you tools to learn Spanish and will be great fun for all. Lumareli Marcaccio, director of operations with ComForcare Senior Services of Norwood, is the instructor. This program is free, but registration is required; call 781-455-7555.

Art History: “American Art” Part 3 (1950-90)—Wednesday, Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m., at Avery Crossings. In the second half of the 20th century, America breaks free of its European bonds to defy convention and then dominate the entire art world. There was an explosion of creativity on this side of the ocean. American Art grows up and demonstrates its own unique personality—innovative, and sometimes controversial. But whether you swear by it, or at it, it is always fun.  Join us for a look at how art in America evolved in the modern era, from Pop Art to Grandma Moses, how it took the seat of power with all its new directions, energy and nerve. You can’t “like” it all, but you may go home with more than you thought. Where in the world do you think it is going next? This program is free, with no registration required.

Ballroom Dancing Class: “Waltz”—Tuesdays beginning Oct. 9, 2 p.m., at the YMCA on Chestnut Street. Instructor Betty Hood will lead this four-week class. Cost is $16. Please wear shoes that allow movement on a wood floor – not rubber soles. Call 781-455-7555 to sign up.

Meeting Regularly

The Council Players—Thursdays, 1-2:30 p.m. Like acting or thought about being in a play but you don’t want a huge commitment? Then the Council Players may be just what you are looking for. Starting in the fall, a play reading group will begin that will meet once a week and present a performance toward the end November. All you have to do is show up and read lines—no memorization or complicated staging. Just fun! Judie Strauss has volunteered to facilitate this group. As soon as we have enough members to join, the group will begin in September or October. If you think you might be interested, contact Sherry Jackson at sjackson@needhamma.gov or 781-455-7555 ext. 205.

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. She states, “This is a problem that can be worked on. Most people have been accumulating items for 20 to 30-plus years and expectations need to be realistic.” 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. To sign up, call Sherry Jackson at 781-455-7555.

Table Tennis—Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 9-11:30 a.m. Table tennis is more than good fun! Playing a game or two is great exercise and an enjoyable, social, active indoor sport. All are welcome at any playing level—old pros, intermediates and especially beginners. You may just become a champ! No fee or sign-up required.

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

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. Fred will provide the lyrics to songs old and new. Fred says that his interest in music sprang from listening to barbershop and leaning to harmonize certain tunes. Shaw has performed for a wide variety of locations and audiences, however, he may be best known for his role as ‘Ring Master’ of the mid 1960s television show “Bozo the Clown.” No audition required. Sign-up is appreciated in order to have enough song sheets for all to participate. Call 781-455-7555.