Celebrate nature in a watercolor class with Jane
October 4 at 9 a.m.
Rediscover your joyful soul through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Enjoy painting scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. Two classes of four sessions each will be offered on Fridays and Mondays beginning Fridays, Oct. 4 and 21 from 9–11 a.m. The cost is $30 for each class of four sessions, materials included. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.
Musical jazz lunch
October 4 at 12 p.m.
Celebrate fall by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with good old tunes. Bring old friends. Make new ones. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The band will play on Friday, Oct. 4 starting at noon.
Lincoln Academy with John Getsinge — Evolution of Science, Episode 2: Tom Swift and the Quantum Annihilator
October 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 7 at 12:30 p.m. when John Getsinger discusses “Evolution of Science, Episode 2. Tom Swift and the Quantum Annihilator.” From the publication of quantum math, matrix, and wave in 1928 to the invention of the digital computer, artificial intelligence, atomic fission, quantum annihilation, Tom swiftly foresees electronics technology, intelligent military robots, atomic bombs and… universal nonexistence. What can Tom Swift do to counter the existential threat to all humanity posed by the possibility of the Quantum Annihilator? Tune in for the thrilling sequel. The COA 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. All ages welcome.
Learn and play mah jongg
October 7 at 1 p.m.
Have you always wanted to learn mah jongg? Are you a new or former player looking to improve your skills? Are you an experienced player looking for a friendly game? Come to Bemis Hall each Monday from 1–4 p.m. for mah jongg lessons for those who would like to learn as well as a drop-in game for those who know how to play. Mah jongg is an exciting tile game which offers many of the same cognitive benefits as chess and bridge. Bring your own card or we will provide one for $9. For information or to register for lessons or a game, contact Joan Ingersoll at ingersollj@lincolntown.org or 781-259-8811.
Free wellness clinics for all ages
October 9 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Rd. in Lincoln Woods on Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m.–noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 9–11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House.
Treasures and challenges of living alone
October 10 at 10:30 a.m.
Do you live alone? Would you like to talk with others about the joys and challenges of living alone and share insights and strategies for making social connections? Join Carol DiGianni, MED, in a four-part group on Thursday mornings at 10:30 on October 10, 17, 24, and 31 at Bemis. You’ll also learn practices to help you create the life you want to live.
Are you a Lincoln history buff?
October 11 at 1 p.m.
Do you know about the great Waterworks Controversy? Or what happened on June 17, 1844 that made it important in Lincoln history? If so, compete in the Lincoln History Trivia Extravaganza, Part II, on Friday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The questions will be written by Jack MacLean, who will also judge using his book A Rich Harvest: The History, Buildings, and People of Lincoln. You can compete or simply sit and watch. Prizes will be awarded.
Lunch with Police Chief Kennedy
October 15 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch with friends new and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at St. Anne’s Church. The special guest will be Police Chief Kevin Kennedy. Come ask Chief Kennedy your questions and get to know him better. Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse, will offer free blood pressure readings. Please reserve by calling the COA at least a week ahead at 781-259-8811 even if you have previously attended. The cost of lunch is $5 per person. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let the COA 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.
Filing a claim for veterans compensation or pension and getting a veterans ID Card
October 17 at 10:15 a.m.
If you are a veteran or a spouse or survivor of a veteran, come find out how to file a claim for veterans compensation or a pension and get a veterans ID card when Peter Harvell, Lincoln’s veterans services officer, gives a presentation at Bemis Hall on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 10:15 a.m. He will go through these processes step by step and be available afterwards to provide one-to-one help.
Better balance and winter preparedness fair
October 18 at 1 p.m.
Find out how to improve your balance and be prepared for winter at a fair on Friday, October 18 from 1–3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The fair is free and sponsored by the Lincoln Fire Department, the COA, and Parks and Recreation. Come take workshops in how tai chi or aerobics and strength training can help maintain balance, fall prevention, CPR, and winter preparedness. Be screened for blood pressure and balance and come with questions about your medications. Bring home brochures and other information and enjoy delicious refreshments.
Lincoln Academy with Ian Watson: What is early music?
October 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 21 at 12:30 p.m. when Ian Watson discusses “What Is Early Music?” Early music encompasses many centuries of music and styles. Join Ian Watson, Music Director at First Parish in Lincoln as well as Associate Conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society, as he explores early music with musical examples and then draws some conclusions. The COA 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. All ages welcome.
Flu shot clinic
October 22 at 10 a.m.
Lincoln residents 65 and over are invited to come to the Board of Health/COA flu clinic at Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m.–noon. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt and bring your insurance card, but there is no out of pocket charge to you. We will have the quadrivalent form of the vaccine which makes up approximately 80% of available 2019-2020 vaccine and is indicated for a majority of the adult population. The high-dose vaccine will also be available to those 65 or older. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.
How is my brain health?
October 22 at 2:15 p.m.
How does our memory work and what can be done to improve brain functioning? Find out the answers to these and other questions when Emerson Hospital’s Claire Carrazco, DO, and Alina Carter, speech pathologist, come to Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 2:15 p.m. They will update you on the latest research and give practical advice and strategies for improving and maintaining your brain health.
Memory Café for elders with dementia and caregivers
October 24 at 10:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right-at-Home In Home Care and Assistance, and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. Enjoy the music of vocalist Wendee Glick in a fun, informal, social atmosphere. The Memory Café is held each fourth Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m.–noon at The Commons in Lincoln (except in November and December when it will be the third Thursday due to holidays). Call Elizabeth Kaupp of Right at Home at 781-275-1400 or the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.
Medicare open enrollment insurance update
October 25 at 10 a.m.
Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you’ll pay in 2020 when Don Milan, Anne Meade, and Diana Chirita, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE program (health benefits counseling for Medicare enrollees), come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. This is the time to understand the changes for 2020 and to be sure you’re satisfied with your current health insurance benefits. Medicare open enrollment period (October 15 to December 7, 2019) is your opportunity to make any changes to your Medicare coverage, effective Jan. 1st. Representatives from major health insurance plans serving Lincoln and surrounding Towns will be present and have 2020 information of Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans. Also present will be Peter Harvell, Veterans Service Officer.
Note: This program is designed to go over 2020 changes in basic Medicare, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Advantage insurance plans. On Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., SHINE will present an in-depth “Medicare 101” to go over the basics of Medicare and the different types of insurance plans (Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage) available to supplement coverage. SHINE provides accurate, unbiased information regarding health insurance and prescription drug options through community education and free, confidential counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For information about SHINE, call toll-free 888-222-6171 or visit www.minutemansenior.org. For information on the Medicare Update event, call the COA at 781-259-8811.
Disability awareness: language matters
October 25 at 1 p.m.
Chances are you have a family member, friend, neighbor, or acquaintance with a disability. Maybe you have questions or concerns about how best to be welcoming and inclusive of people with disabilities. As the disability rights movement has evolved, language and practices that were once acceptable may no longer be appropriate, and may even be perceived as hurtful or offensive. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. for a presentation by Joan Ingersoll of the COA on what people with disabilities want us all to know about being a disability-friendly community.
Lincoln Academy with Colm McGarry — Parish partnership with children in Caribbean and Central American nations
October 28 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 28 at 12:30 p.m. when Colm McGarry discusses “Parish Partnership with Children in Caribbean and Central American Nations.” Families and individual parishioners from St Julia’s in Weston and Lincoln joined Our Little Brothers and Sisters (Nuestro Pequenos Hermanos or NPH) in the Dominican Republic in June to share their experience and partner with NPH to provide for children in need. 250 children stay on a ranch near San Pedro near the southern coast of The Dominican Republic. Since its 1954 founding, NPH has raised more than 18,000 children and is currently caring for more than 3,200 boys and girls in 11 countries. The COA 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. All ages welcome.
Medicare 101: what to know, how to choose
October 30 at 7 p.m.
Come find out the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, Oct. 30 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 in 2020, but is also for those who just wish to learn more and understand their benefits better. Don and Anne will discuss traditional Medicare, Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare 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. Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For info on SHINE, call 888-222-6171 or visit www.minutemansenior.org. For info regarding the Oct. 30 program, call the COA at 781-259-8811.
Toni Lynn Washington and Sax Gordon Beadle sing and play the blues
November 3 at 2 p.m.
All ages are invited to a free concert by renowned Boston-area blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington and acclaimed saxophonist Sax Gordon Beadle on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance is the third annual Ronna Cooper Memorial Concert and is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. It is a gift from Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother’s life.
Washington received the Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, had seven Blues Music Award nominations, and released five CDs. Sax Gordon, known for his “hard-blowing, exciting, gutsy” signature style, has performed around the world, won numerous awards, and recorded six CDs. Marty Ballou on bass, Bryan Claunch on keyboard, Tom Avery on drums, and Cheryl Arena on vocals and harmonica will back up Toni Lynn and Sax Gordon for this fabulous afternoon of music. For more information about the concert, call Carolyn Bottum at the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.
Perspective in drawing and painting
November 6 at 10 a.m.
Beginners and experienced artists alike are invited to learn more about perspective in a special two-session class to be given by Lincoln artist Sarah Chester on Wednesdays, November 6 and 13 from 10 a.m.–noon. Sarah will discuss how our brains perceive distance in three dimensions and how artists convey that distance in two dimensions. You’ll produce a simple drawing or painting of a Lincoln scene using the principles of perspective. Materials will be provided. The cost is $25 for both sessions. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.
Fall Feast of Flavors
November 8 at 12 p.m.
You are invited to a special luncheon/ cooking demonstration at The Commons in Lincoln, a Benchmark community, on Friday, Nov. 8 at noon. Sadie Daniels, The Commons registered dietitian, will discuss farro. What is this magical ancient grain? Why is it such a nutritious food to include in your diet? And how the heck do you cook it anyhow? Transportation is available or meet at 2 Harvest Circle. Please reserve your spot by calling The Commons at 781-272-3433.
Save the date:
Edward M. Kennedy Institute of the Senate
Join the COA on Wednesday, Nov. 20 for a trip to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute of the Senate and lunch at the famous Doyle’s in Jamaica Plain. The group will take an air ride bus, leaving the Donelan’s parking lot at 9 a.m., and returning at 4 p.m. After a private tour of the Institute and time to explore, you will join high school students in the “Senate chamber” to participate in the debate of the day. Then you’ll go to Doyle’s, the famous Irish pub. This trip is rated moderate for physical ability, as there will be a walking tour and some stairs involved. The cost is $28, including bus and admission to the Institute. Lunch is off the regular menu and is on your own. Space is limited. To reserve a space, send a non-refundable check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Virginia O’Brien. 4 Linway Rd., Lincoln MA 01773 with your phone number and email address. Your reservation is complete when your check is received. Questions? Call Ginny at 781-259-0421, or email her at vobrien39@yahoo.com.
