Community Corner

Caring, Singing and Swimming by the COA

Belmont Open Sings preview, the swimmers are meeting and caring for those in hospice care.

Fitness Assessment

Friday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m.

Participants will enjoy a brief presentation on health and wellness.  Topics include fitness facts & myths, proper workout intensity, general nutrition guidelines, and exercise benefits. This presentation will be followed by free fitness evaluations, which will include body circumference measurements, body fat measurements, and flexibility testing. This is presented by Fitness Together. Please call to sign up.

Caring and Conversation

Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m.

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Come listen, learn and share as we talk about Care Alternatives and your loved one’s hospice benefits as covered under Medicare. Speaker Andrea Cooperstein, M. Ed. (Care Alternatives Hospice) will talk about additional services available and explain the 10 Most Common Myths about hospice. 

Belmont Open Sings preview (With the Bel Aires)

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Thursday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.

Join Mary Beekman, artistic director of Powers Music School’s Belmont Open Sings program, in an informative and entertaining lunchtime talk on the work that will be read-through at the Belmont Open Sings event on Sunday, Oct. 16: Beethoven's Mass in C Major. Beekman's pre-concert talk, which will use audio excerpts and vocal scores, will acquaint you with this powerful and celebratory work by one of the greatest classical composers of all time.

The full Belmont Open Sings event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 pm at Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St. in Belmont. Participants will experience the thrill of singing Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, accompanied by a professional-level orchestra, and revel in arias sung by some of Boston’s finest soloists. Vocal scores and a choral warm-up will be provided. Tickets are $10 per person; no reservations are needed.

Swimming Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m.

Due to the high rate of swimming inquiries following the summer season, we will be holding a meeting to discuss our swimming program.  We will review costs of operation, attendance, and feasibility of holding swimming outside the summer months.  Your comments and ideas will be welcome at this meeting.  Please call to sign up for this meeting.

Art Exhibit in the Lounge

Photographs and paintings by Karla and Robert O'Brien will be on exhibit through Nov. 11. The O'Briens were the Beech Street Center's first exhibitors back in October/November of 2009 and we felt it was time for a re-visit. Please come and re-enjoy the talents of these two exceptional Belmont artists.


English as a Second Language at the COA

Registration Thursday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m.

English as a Second Language classes will be held every Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m., starting Oct. 6. Classes are available for beginner through advanced levels. Please call Joan Bishop at 617-924-6110. Reasonably priced at $50 for the initial course and $30 for returning students for the next series of classes.

Reminders

Satisfaction Survey

The Council on Aging are currently conducting a program satisfaction survey. You may complete one at the COA office or online at the http://beechstreetcenter.org. 

Senior Gay Men’s Support Group

Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

There are crucial issues facing gay and bisexual men as we age. Developing a social support network and knowing which resources are ‘gay friendly’ are important aspects of aging with dignity. Too many gay seniors are going back into the closet at a time in their lives when they are the most vulnerable. Don’t let this happen to you. The group will be facilitated by Peter Frenette, Licensed Social Worker. There is no fee. To contact Peter, email: jag8641@gmail.com  or call 617-470-8072. Bring a friend or just yourself.

Strength & Flexibility: Fridays

At 1:15 p.m.

Due to the popularity of our Strength and Flexibility class, we are offering additional classes on Fridays for the month of September.  This is the perfect opportunity to try the class for the first time or supplement your current fitness program. Classes will meet in the fitness room on the second floor. Cost is $10 for 4 classes. Please sign up at the front desk.

Drawing and Painting

Started Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

An introduction to a range of techniques in all drawing and painting media; beginners welcome! We will start each class with a short lesson covering such topics as color mixing, light and shading, creating perspective, as well as use and care of materials. If the class is interested we may cover portraiture and landscape painting as well. Students should bring their own supplies to work in the medium of their choice. This is a new class with a new teacher. Cost is $40 for 8 sessions. 

Cardio & Conditioning

Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 5:30 p.m.

Each class begins with low impact aerobic exercise to limber up, and gradually prepare the body for the workout to follow. We will continue moving in the first half hour to a steady pace, using all of the major muscle groups of the body. Intensity can be adjusted so that each individual stays within his or her target zone. After a gradual cool down, we will move on and focus on conditioning specific muscles (abdominals, upper body etc.) with the use of light resistance. The entire class emphasizes proper technique, improving posture, balance and coordination while getting in shape. An hour well invested! This class is not chair-based and requires movement across the floor. Cost is $20 for 6 sessions.

Attention: Residents with Special Needs

We were fortunate that everyone stayed safe and no damage was reported following Tropical Storm Irene. However, the Council on Aging wants to be prepared so that if people need to evacuate their homes in an emergency they can do so safely and that public safety officials have vital information available for those who need special help evacuating.

If you need such special assistance we strongly encourage you to please register through the Council on Aging.

To register, call the Social Worker Janet at 617-993-2983. Please leave a voicemail message if you do not reach a live person.Boston to

Wii Thursdays

The Council on Aging is now the proud owner of a Nintendo Wii console gaming system. On Thursdays, the Wii will be available to play in Classroom A from 9 a.m. to noon. Directions on how to use the device will be available.

Tuesday Extended Hours Programming

There is still time to join our extended programming on Tuesdays, including Meditation, Cardio & Conditioning Exercise, and Drawing and Painting class. Please call for more information.

Rentals

If you wish to rent space at the Beech Street Center for a private event, please call 617-993-2990.

Council on Aging Transportation

TRIP TO MARKET BASKET

We will be offering trips to the newly-renovated Market Basket in Burlington on the first and third Thursday of the month. Pick-up will be at 8:30 a.m. A minimum of 6 people must sign up. In the past, interest in the Market Basket trips has been very low. If this remains the trend, we will discontinue the service. Suggested donation for a ride from the Council-On-Aging for any purpose is $2 each way.

Day and Overnight Trips

Wednesday, Oct. 12: Mohawk Trail. This trip is filling up fast. The trip includes The Bridge of Flowers, Atkins Farm, and lunch at the Salem Cross Inn. Meal choice: Chicken Pot Pie of Baked Scrod. Cost is $58 per person. A $5 waiver fee is available in case of cancellation. Check payable to Fox Tours.

Thursday, Nov. 10: Angelica’s Ballroom, Middleton, MA. Lunch and entertainment, featuring stunning impressionist, Mark Verselli. He does impressions of Sinatra, Dean, Davis, Elvis, etc. Meal choice: Yankee Pot Roast or Baked Boston Schrod. Cost is $69 per person. Check payable to Gateway Travel.

Friday, Dec. 9 to Sunday, Dec. 11: White Mountain Hotel and Resort. Our annual 3 day, 2 night trip. A $50 deposit is due by August 31. Cost is Single $467, Twin $367, or Triple $357. Waiver fee is available for $5.  Check payable to White Mountain Hotel.

Friday, Dec. 30 to Sunday, Jan. 1: Sheraton Hotel, Leominster, MA. Our annual New Year’s Eve trip is now taking deposits.
Website

We are happy to announce that the Beech Street Center has a new website at http://beechstreetcenter.org. Thank you to Margo Cole and The Friends of the Belmont Council on Aging for all their hard work, which made this website possible.

About the Senior Center

The Belmont Council on Aging Center, 266 Beech St., invites community members to attend a wide variety of events and to make use of the many services offered. Please do not hesitate to call or visit for more information: Belmont Council on Aging. Main number (617) 993-2970, Transportation (617) 993-2980.


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