Watertown Senior Center The Watertown Senior Center is ready for St. Patrick’s Day.
See what’s going on at the Watertown Senior Center in December.
The following items came from the December Watertown Senior News provided by the Department of Senior Services.
Uber Safety Lesson with WPD, Monday, December 4, at 12 pm
Detective Grady and her colleagues from the Watertown Police Department will present a list of safety measures you should be aware of while using ride-sharing applications like Uber and Lyft. They will also address holiday safety, package thefts, and shopping safety tips.
Ukulele Absolute Beginner Class Continuation with Marisa Ferracane Cacciatore, Tuesdays, December 5 and December 12, at 10 am
The Beginner Class will continue for the same group of participants for another five weeks starting November 14. By the end of the second five-week course, you will learn how to tune and hold the ukulele, play basic chords and strums, and obtain and read chord and lyric sheets for thousands of popular songs.
“From my Harp to your Heart” with Susan Regan
Tuesday, December 5, at 2 pm
Susan will play delightful arrangements of some old favorites, a few classical pieces, and holiday music. The harp has been proven to have positive psychological effects, such as relaxation and eliminating tension. Join us for a fun afternoon of lovely “Harpy Holiday” music with Susan. As you all know, Susan is our jazz dance instructor, and she was a dancer, choreographer, and instructor at her studio, Dance Right, in Watertown for 52 years. After she retired, she wanted to continue serving the community while mentally staying active. The sound of the harp always called to her, so after studying for a few years, she desired to share her love of harp and music with others. Now, she plays for family, friends, and seniors in the surrounding area. Her purpose is to spread joy and peace to others, and her motto is: “FROM MY HARP TO YOUR HEART.”
Zoom Program Group, Wednesday, December 6, at 9 am
Come to discuss ideas for educational and recreational programs to be offered by our Center. Call us to get a link, if your will be joining for the first time.
“Thriving While Aging” Conversational Group with Julie Norstrand,
Wednesday, December 6, and December, 20 at 2 pm
Getting older can be challenging, but a positive attitude, perseverance, and humor can shift your outlook! So, if you want to talk about things on your mind, join us for some thoughtful discussion.
This is not a support group; however, we hope you will find camaraderie and support from each other as we tackle some challenging life stages. Julie has her Ph.D. in Social Work from Boston College and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Drexel University.
Flowers with Ernie, Wednesday, December 6, at 3:30 pm
Our yearly Boxwood Tree class happens again! To add to your creation, bring your decorations to give your tree a personal touch! These Boxwood trees have been known to last and redecorate for Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, and Spring. Class is limited to 30 only! The price is $10.
Classic Music Program with Levon Hovsepian and Todd Brunel,
Thursday, December 7, at 1 pm
Levon Hovsepian, pianist, and Todd Brunel, clarinetist, and sax player, will perform romantic music by J. Brahms, Broadway tunes by G. Gershwin, A. Rosenblatt’s jazzy Carmen Fantasy, and Armenian folk tunes. Levon Hovsepian has performed solo and with fellow musicians at the Senior Center for the last four years and has been very popular with our community. He is a faculty member at the Lowell and the Power Music School in Belmont and a prize winner at the Arlington Concerto Competition 2014. Levon appeared as a soloist with the Salem Philharmonic and the New England Philharmonic Orchestras. His “Favorite Piano Masterpieces” CD was played on WGBH Radio. He was the guest artist at the reception honoring the President of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrossian, and Senator Edward Kennedy. Todd Brunel performs extensively as a classical and jazz musician, working with The Irish Tenors, WGBH Television, The Greater Boston Stage Company, The Central Square Theater, The Reagle Music Theater of Greater Boston, and The Wheelock Family Theater. Come to enjoy this beautiful duo. Admission is free.
“It Takes a Village” with Jan Latorre-Stiller Cambridge Neighbors (CN), Tuesday, December 12, at 1 pm
Jan Latorre-Stiller, Executive Director at Cambridge Neighbors (CN), a nonprofit membership organization that covers Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Somerville, and Watertown, will speak on CN, part of the village movement that supports aging in place. CN offers a variety of supports so that members can remain in their homes and communities in later life. Come and find out why the village concept is a growing phenomenon. CN is a membership-driven organization dedicated to helping older adults in our service area stay in the homes and communities they love for as long as possible with the support they need to do so successfully.
Jazz Concert with Elaine Woo and Bob Winter,
Tuesday, December 12, at 3 pm
We are happy to welcome Bob Winter and Elaine Woo, who will play for us for the fourth time in the last several years. They will perform a version of Autumn Leaves like a Bach fugue. Elaine and Bob have got a gorgeous quartet of songs from the movies (Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Bells of St. Mary’s, Cinema Paradiso, and Raiders of the Lost Ark). They will welcome the holidays with a wish for peace and suggest relief from the anxiety of the times with the best medicine: a song sung proudly and loudly with friends. Elaine and Bob will share the love and music – who doesn’t need some peace and at least a smile in these challenging times? Join us to enjoy this lovely event. Admission is free.
Hybrid Book Club, at the Watertown Free Public Library, Wednesday, December 13, at 9:45 am
Our Book Club hybrid meetings will take place at the Watertown Free Public Library in December, January, and February. We will meet at 9:45 am instead of the regular 10 am in the Savings Bank’s Room, which has accommodation for Zoom meetings. If you are new to the Book Club and have decided to join in December, please call us either to get a Zoom link or to receive directions to the room at the library. This month, December, the Book Club will be discussing The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys. This book is set in early 1941 in Britain, when the war seems endless and, perhaps, hopeless. London is on fire from the Blitz, and a young woman gardener named Gwen Davis flees from the burning city for the Devon countryside. She has volunteered for the Land Army, and is to be in charge of a group of young girls who will be trained to plant food crops on an old country estate where the gardens have fallen into ruin. Gwen will inspire the girls to restore the estate gardens, fall in love with a soldier, find her first deep friendship, and bring a lost garden, created for a great love, back to life.
The Paper Owl Stamp Holiday Cards with Pamela Vershbow
Tuesday, December 14 at 2:30 pm
Pamela was introduced to the Stamping world 20 years ago and has been all in ever since! It started as a hobby as she attended her friend’s “Stamp Camps” and learned how to make beautiful cards that you can use for all occasions. Come and give it a try to create holiday stamp cards. Chatting and meeting new people while creating beautiful cards to take home is a lot of fun.
December Holiday Party,
Friday, December 15 at 11:30 pam to 3 pm
Join us at the traditional Winter Holiday Dinner Party at Hibernian Hall. You will enjoy a memorable holiday dinner served by Maria’s Catering, meet your friends and acquaintances, listen to your favorite music, and have a chance to dance. Our Mellowtones Group lead my Anne Silverman will sing holiday songs at 1 pm. The ticket price is only $10.
Handcrafts with Arlene Smith,
Wednesday, December 20 at 2:00 pm
It is the most beautiful time of the year! Let’s get together and craft some winter cheer. We will be making easy gifts, package tags, and cute cards. Put a little “YOU” in this joyful time of year. No craft experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. Let’s drink cocoa and craft together.
Free One-on-Ones with Trust and Estate Authority Dale Tamburro, Thursday, December 21, 1 pm
Dale has been conducting educational sessions for our community for the last several months. Dale offers four free 45-minute sessions in December from 1 pm to 4 pm. Call us to schedule a free presentation if
· you started an estate plan or need to update an existing one, or
· you want to know how to avoid probate and how to protect your assets, and
· it would help if you learn more about housing options for elders.
Please call us to register.
See the entire issue of December Watertown Senior News by clicking here.