From drawing to pastel painting with Juliet
January 4 at 10 a.m. (first class)
Express your most vibrant self with the brilliant colors of pastels in a new class with Juliet Rago. She will begin with a short introduction to drawing for those who feel they need it. The class will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on January 4, 11, and 25, and February 8, 15, 22, and 29 at Bemis Hall. No experience necessary. All materials will be furnished. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Limit of six people. The fee is $40.
Tai chi: new year, new you
January 4 and ongoing
Beginners may now sign up for the COA’s winter tai chi classes which will run 12 weeks from the week of January 4 until the week of March 21 on Mondays from 2-3 p.m., Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:15-10:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall. You may take one or two classes per week at a cost of $60 for one and $80 for two. You will learn qi gong warm-up, six moves from tai chi form, and how to integrate tai chi principles into daily life. Sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.
Dance your way to fitness with Zumba Gold
January 5 at 1 p.m. (first class)
PLACE: B POD
Enjoy the easy-to-learn dance moves that are sure to exercise your heart and muscles in this total workout combining cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, and flexibility that’s less vigorous than regular Zumba. The class, taught by Katrina Rotondi, will be held Tuesdays from 1-1:45 p.m. from January 5 to February 23 at the B Pod on Ballfield Road. The fee is $50. You may register on the Parks and Recreation page on the town website at www.lincolntown.org or at the COA at Bemis Hall. Co-sponsored by Lincoln Parks and Recreation and the COA.
Join the memoirs group
January 6 at 10 a.m.
Winter is a good time to settle in and start new projects such as your memoirs. Without any obligation, please come to the first meeting of the Memoirs Group on Wednesday, Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Bemis Hall and find out what they do. If you like what you hear and you want to continue, the cost of the eight-session term is $75. The dates for the term are January 6 and 20, February 3 and 17, March 2 and 16, and April 6 and 20. For more information, call Connie Lewis 781-259-9415 or email her (conlewis1000@gmail.com).
Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
January 6 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. to meet with Anthony Moreschi, Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. He will be available to assist residents with Social Security, Medicare, and MassHealth/Medicaid. You are also welcome to discuss other matters with him that he may be able to help with.
Medicare 101: basics for those about to sign up and others
January 6 at 7 p.m.
Come find out the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselors Don Milan and Anne Meade. This introduction to Medicare is especially for those who will be signing up soon, but is also for those who just wish to learn more and understand their benefits better. Don and Anne will discuss traditional Medicare, medigap plans, Advantage plans, and medication drug coverage (Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D), how to go about choosing the plan or plans that are best for you, avoiding penalties when you sign up late, and more. Bring your questions and concerns.
Wellness clinic for all ages
January 8 at 10 a.m.
All Lincoln residents are invited to meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods’ Community Building at 50 Wells Road on Friday, Jan. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.
Celebrate the new year with the trad jazz sextet
January 8 at 1 p.m.
Don’t miss the free New Year’s offering of traditional jazz of the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s on Friday Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Enjoy all the favorites of those days including music of such greats as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Waller, played by the sextet, a fun group of retired professionals who come together to enjoy playing and providing some toe-tapping enjoyment for you. If you’re one of the regulars, you know what to expect; if you’ve never been before ask one of the regulars what it’s all about and then come to find out for yourself. (Please note the new day and time, making it easier to get home or we can play longer or both.
Football 101
January 10 at 2 p.m.
When you are at a Super Bowl Party or a grandchild’s football game, do you wonder what’s being touched down when there’s a touchdown? And how does that crazy point system work? What does a quarterback actually do to earn all that money? Why do all the announcers say “OFF-ense” and “DEE-fense” instead of pronouncing those words the right way? Come to Football 101 with Stacey Mulroy from the Parks and Recreation Department on January 10 at 2 p.m. in the Tarbell Room at the Library to find out. Stacey will explain the basics of football, answer your questions, and get you off the bench and into the game! All ages welcome! Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Public Library, the Parks and Recreation Department, and the COA.
Lincoln Academy with Jane and Pip Moss—knights and ladies and lions and dogs: brass rubbing in the English countryside
January 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 11 at 12:30 to hear Jane and Pip Moss discuss “Knights and Ladies and Lions and Dogs: Brass Rubbing in the English Countryside.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.
Music appreciation: unwrapping the music
January 12 at 9:30 a.m. (first class)
It’s time to develop your musical listening skills and music appreciation, and the COA has the course for you: Music Appreciation: Unwrapping the Music, presented at the COA by the Concord Conservatory of Music. Learn about different musical genres by covering the music history, and the forms and function that shaped the musical styles. Soon you’ll recognize musical elements, identify style, time, and even the artists. The class will be held 10 Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m. beginning January 12 at a cost of $90. The class will be taught by flutist Ela Brandys, DMA, of the Conservatory’s faculty. This class is appropriate both for those who took the fall class and those who didn’t and will focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. Sign up now by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.
Yoga for overall well being
January 13 and ongoing
Yoga increases strength and flexibility, reduces stress, enhances emotional health, and more. All are welcome to join our easy yoga class that can be done on the floor or in a chair. You’ll learn poses for stretching and building muscle tone, breathing, and meditation. The class will be on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and will run for 12 weeks beginning January 13 at a cost of $120. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up. Taught by Jai Kaur Annamaria San Antonio.
What is life like for your relative with dementia?
January 15 at 1 p.m.
One of the most difficult aspects of caring for an elder with dementia is understanding what they are experiencing that leads to certain feelings or behaviors. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. for a “Virtual Dementia Tour” with Maryellen King of Senior Living Residences’ Concord Park. This interactive training uses sensory modifications and role playing to demonstrate what those with dementia face. You’ll also learn about what dementia is and how to recognize it, communication tips, and practical tools and techniques.
Senior dining
January 19 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at St. Anne’s Church. We have new diners often—please come and give us a try! We need you! Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead even if you have previously attended. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let us know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club. And the volunteer serving staff consists of your Lincoln friends and neighbors.
Have a tax prep question?
January 21 at 10 a.m. to noon
If you have a simple question about your taxes or preparation of your returns, come to Bemis Hall Thursday, Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon when Packy Lawler will hold “office hours.” Packy is one of Lincoln’s highly trained AARP/IRS TaxAide counselors who provides free preparation of federal and state tax returns each year.
The justice course: Michael Sandel on the best way to seek a just society
January 22 at 10 a.m.
Same-sex marriage, abortion, stem cell research, and the divide between liberal neutrality and the common good… Is it possible to settle questions of justice and rights without addressing controversial questions about morality and the common good? Is engaging rather than avoiding the moral convictions of our fellow citizens the best way of seeking a just society? These are some of the issues which will be considered and discussed in the 12th and final installment of the Justice course, which will be held at Bemis Hall on January 22 at 10 a.m. Michael Sandel’s “Justice” course at Harvard is reputed to be its most popular course. Experience it when Steven Perlmutter, a Lincoln attorney, shows a video of an one-hour lecture from the course about the above issues and facilitates a discussion. The course is about what is justice or the right thing to do, drawing upon the great philosophers and contemporary issues. Perlmutter will encourage the exchange of a wide range of ideas about the “justice” issues raised in the lecture and will seek to ask thought-provoking questions that will spark a spirited discussion.
Coping with hearing loss: hearing aids and more
January 22 at 1 p.m.
You don’t need to stop doing activities or being with people just because of your hearing loss. Come to a talk by Kevin Franck—audiologist, designer of products and services for those with hearing loss, and a board member of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)—on Friday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Dr. Franck, who does not sell any hearing products, will discuss sound, what can go wrong with hearing, and differences between kinds of hearing professionals and between various products and services. He will discuss interesting government happenings around how hearing aids might be sold in the future, and how the HLAA can help. All ages welcome.
Top of the Town
January 23 at 5 to 8 p.m.
Are you planning to go to the Top of the Town Winter Gala on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the deCordova Museum? If so, please send in the reservation form on the invitation mailed to you in December. The form must reach the Friends of the Lincoln COA (FLCOA) at PO Box 143 or Bemis Hall by January 14 to confirm your attendance. This is a catered party, and an accurate head count is important! Because there is a space limit of 200 persons, the FLCOA will start a wait list if replies reach that number. The FLCOA requests that you let them know promptly if you must cancel so we can notify the next person on the list. The FLCOA are pleased to host this event with free admission for Lincoln residents. The Friends are grateful for donations to show your support for this event. The snow date is January 24.
Lincoln Academy: John Cowles—Living in Lincoln during World War II
January 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 25 at 12:30 to hear John Cowles discuss “Living in Lincoln During World War II.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.
Fireside chat: refugees in America
January 27 at 10 a.m.
For those around the world suffering oppression and hardship, the United States is a place of hope and promise. But recent events have shown that Americans are not unified in their opinions about our system of asylum. Come join a chat with other residents and special guests Sharon Carlson and Andrea Hewitt, co-founders of the organization Dignity in Asylum, on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Come find out what others are thinking through a process of questions and answers that is respectful of many different points of view. The discussion is facilitated by Sharon Antia.
Enjoy coffee with photographer Barbara Peskin: moments in nature
January 28 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Barbara Peskin on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 2:30 p.m. to celebrate her exhibit “Moments in Nature” shown in the Bemis Hall gallery in January and February. Her photos share moments in nature from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, the Machias Seal Island puffin colony in Maine, and Lincoln and surrounding areas. Barbara has exhibited her photography at the Lincoln Library, Cary Library in Lexington, and Bemis Hall; some of her Great Meadows photos have won awards from the Parker River Wildlife Refuge photo contests.
“Really Big Show”
January 29 at 1 p.m.
All are welcome to come see your friends and neighbors at the COA’s free “Really Big Show,” a variety show and part of the Winter Carnival at Bemis Hall on Friday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. The show will feature music of many genres, samples of some of our COA classes, a dramatic performance or two, and more! The show will be fun and entertaining!
SeniorSpeak theatre performance
January 30 at 1 p.m.
Join the SeniorSpeak group for a theatre performance on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall as part of the Winter Carnival. The performance is an outgrowth of the work participants have been engaged in as they worked to rediscover their voices as older adults. Drawing upon memories, feelings, and life lessons, participants have created a performance piece that incorporates pivotal moments and events that shaped their lives both as individuals and as a group. The piece uses scenes, poetry, and music as tools to capture key moments. After the performance, all are invited to join a discussion with the performers about the development of the theatre piece and the insights gained in the process.
Also of note:
Free income tax preparation help
Volunteers certified under the AARP TaxAide program will prepare your federal and Massachusetts personal income tax returns or answer your tax questions. This free service can answer most of the tax issues faced by low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those over age 60. Appointments begin in February. Call the COA office at 781-259-8811 to schedule a confidential appointment and get a list of documents to bring. You may speak to a volunteer without an appointment on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. till noon.
Do you have toiletries you can donate?
Women and children who are in shelters remaking their lives after experiencing domestic violence need toiletries like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, hand and body lotions, and more. If you have unopened toiletries from hotels or stores that you can’t use, please bring them to Bemis Hall at Bemis Hall by Friday, Feb. 6. A volunteer will take them to local domestic violence organizations for Valentine’s Day distribution.
See the sculptures of Cyrus Dallin in Arlington
The celebrated American sculptor Cyrus Dallin created the Museum of Fine Arts’ iconic sculptures Appeal to the Great Spirit and Boston’s Paul Revere, all while living and working in Arlington. Join the COA for a trip to the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum in Arlington on Tuesday, Feb. 23, with a snow date of March 1. You will experience a private tour of this exquisite collection of sculptures, coins, medals, and paintings. Find out more about his special Lincoln connections. The group will depart from the Lincoln Mall at 10 a.m. by Doherty school bus. After the museum tour you will have lunch together at your own cost at a nearby restaurant in Arlington Center returning to the mall by 2:30 p.m. The non-refundable cost of the trip is $7 per person, payable by check to FLCOA Trips and sent to Rob Todd, 126 Old Concord Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Please include your phone number and email address. Group size is limited to 25 and reservations must be made by February 19. Questions? Contact Rob at 781-259-8820 or hmbt@comcast.net.
Are you an intermediate bridge player?
Bridge is a great way to keep your mind sharp and get to know others who love to play as much as you do. The COA’s intermediate bridge group that plays each Friday at 1 p.m. is seeking new members. An intermediate player is defined as knowing basic conventions, including weak twos and transfers. If you are interested in playing, please contact Neville Harris at nwh827@comcast.net to discuss the group and get on the email list so you’ll know if there are enough players on any particular Friday.
