Conversation with inventor Jim Nicholson
April 3 at 10:30 a.m.
Have you ever spent time in a hospital bed and they put those big white stockings that inflated and deflated around your legs every so often? Well, come and hear your neighbor Jim Nicholson, an MIT graduate inventor and holder of over 50 international patents, tell his story of how he created this life saving system which has saved probably tens of thousands lives from a deadly blood clot on Friday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m. Jim will be interviewed and videoed taped by Harold McAleer and there will be time for discussion after he tells you his story.
Choosing the right home contractor
April 3 at 1 p.m.
Whether you need ice dam removal, a renovation, or something else, learn to choose and work with the right contractor when Dan Walsh, Lincoln’s Building Commissioner, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 3 at 1 p.m. He’ll explain about the process for getting good estimates, determining a contractor’s credentials and insurance, criteria for choosing a contractor, legal requirements for contracts and permits, inspecting the work when completed, and what to do if you have a problem.
Have some fun with Arabic conversation!
April 6 at 9:45 a.m.
Azza Omer from Sudan has generously offered to teach a free informal, light and easy conversational Arabic language class on Monday, April 6 at 9:45 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Learning something completely new is great for brain fitness and having fun. You’ll learn some common words and phrases. Come give the class a try!
Sing with the Lincoln Nursery School
April 6 at 10:45 a.m.
Sing along with the children from the Lincoln Nursery School on Monday, April 6 at 10:45 a.m. at Bemis Hall. The kids will visit with their teachers to sing some of their favorite songs.
Lincoln Academy with Ray Shepard: “The 54th Massachusetts’ Fight for Freedom and Citizenship”
April 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 6 at 12:30 to hear Ray Shepard discuss “The 54th Massachusetts’ Fight for Freedom and Citizenship.” 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.
Laughter is the best medicine
April 7 at 1 p.m.
Have fun, relax and have a blast with Lolly Evangelista! Spend an afternoon of easy, informal fun that’s great for your well being—a little laughter, a little singing, and a few jokes—on Tuesday, April 7, at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Bring a joke or a song, and if you give the COA the words to the song in advance, they’ll print them up for a singalong. Come and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment and loving life!
The birds of Lincoln: spring migration, summer visitors
April 10 at 10 a.m.
Birds, with their cheerful songs and beauty in flight, are one of spring’s most wondrous delights. Lincoln is home to many fascinating bird species. Come to Bemis Hall Friday, April 10 at 10 a.m. when Norman Levey and Gwyn Loud will open your eyes and ears to spring birds, their behavior and songs, emphasizing what to look for here in Lincoln. Come learn about birds through this multimedia presentation.
Get the facts with the Better Business Bureau before buying
April 10 at 1 p.m.
Find out how you can check the complaint history and other essential information of retailers or home improvement or other services before you buy when Candice Carrington of the Better Business Bureau comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 10 at 1 p.m. By going to the BBB website, you can create a list of service providers or vendors in our area, learn about complaints against them, find out how long they have been in business and how many employees they have, and read customer reviews, all for free!
An afternoon of Kurdish folk tales to fascinate and delight
April 12 at 2 p.m.
One Thousand Doorways: Journey Among the Kurds of Turkey is the true account of storyteller Diane Edgecomb’s decade long quest to document the vanishing folk tales of the Kurds of Turkey. This performance, suitable for middle school and older, takes us on an exotic journey from Diane’s first humorous meetings with carpet dealers and chain-smoking elders to her travels up sheer mountain passes to remote villages usually forbidden to outsiders. All Lincoln residents middle school age and older are invited to come to Bemis Hall on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. for this event supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Lincoln Academy with Susan Kahn: “New Discoveries in Reading Education”
April 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 13 at 12:30 to hear Susan Kahn discuss “New Discoveries in Reading Education.” 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.
Yoga just right for you
April 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Yoga has been shown to help with flexibility, strength, relaxation, blood pressure, your immune system and more. Would you like to try yoga but are concerned it may be too rigorous for you? Try the COA’s Easy Yoga class with experienced instructor Jai Kaur Annamaria San Antonio. The class will be held on eleven Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. beginning on April 15 at a cost of $110 for the course. You may do the class on the floor or in a chair and the instructor will help you adapt the poses to your special needs. You may try one class free! This class is appropriate whether you have taken previous yoga classes or not. This class is subsidized by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.
Medicare 101: basics for those about to sign up and others
April 15 at 7 p.m.
Learn the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselors Don Milan and Anne Meade. Come if you’ll be signing up soon or you just wish to understand your 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 questions and concerns!
Minuteman Senior Services: there when you need them
April 17 at 10 a.m.
Minuteman Senior Services is the state-designated agency providing an array of services to residents of all ages, especially those 60 and older and those with disabilities, including information and referral, subsidized home care, care management, caregiver support and education, legal services, health benefits counseling, protective services for abused or neglected elders, Meals on Wheels, and more. Find out more about what they provide, eligibility, and more when Minuteman’s Hilary Viola and Diana LaVancher come to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m.
The “Justice” course: are markets moral?
April 17 at 2 p.m.
Is today’s paid voluntary army, in which lower-income people disproportionately serve and risk their lives for our country, fair? What are the moral boundaries of modern reproductive technology and pregnancy for pay? Who is the real parent of a baby born through artificial means—the biological mother or egg and sperm donors? These are some of the issues which will be considered and discussed in the fifth installment of the Justice course, which will be held at Bemis Hall on April 17 at 2 p.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 a one-hour lecture from the course about the above issues and facilitates a discussion. The course is about what justice, or the right thing to do, is, 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.
“Shrek the Musical”
April 19 at 2 p.m.
Meet for Shrek the Musical at the Wheelock Family Theater on Sunday, April 19 at the Lincoln Mall parking lot at 2 p.m. to board the Doherty’s school bus and plan to return about 6 p.m. There may be a short walk from the bus to the theatre and there are a few stairs with a railing. If you haven’t signed up, but want to go, please call Sally Kindleberger at 781-259-1169.
You can prevent and manage kidney disease
April 21 at 10 a.m.
One in three Americans is at risk for kidney disease, which can result in disability, the need to be on dialysis or have a transplant, or worse. Kidney disease can be caused by overuse of analgesics, diabetes, high blood pressure and other factors. Find out what kidney disease is, who is at risk, and how you can protect your kidneys when Caryl Diengott of the National Kidney Foundation comes to Bemis Hall on April 21 at 10 a.m. Bring your questions and concerns.
Senior dining
April 21 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, April 21 at St. Anne’s Church. They have new diners often—please come and brighten your spring by giving the luncheon a try. 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 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, and St. Anne’s. And the volunteer serving staff consists of your Lincoln friends and neighbors.
Indulge in the art of embroidery samplers
April 24 at 10 a.m.
For centuries, people learned to make embroidered samplers and then continued creating these lovely personal and unique pieces throughout their lives. Learn this art, which is just perfect for those quiet, meditative times, when Barbara Straus comes to the COA on Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m. Please sign up in advance by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 and also let them know if you would like to purchase a sampler sewing kit for $15 to take home with you.
Be a smarter driver!
April 24 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The COA is pleased to offer the AARP Smart Driving program on Friday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Find out about the new technologies in cars, get a refresher on the rules of the road, and learn to compensate for health-related changes and how to handle road rage. The class involves no tests or driving, and you will receive a certificate upon completion that may qualify you for reduced insurance rates. Bring a lunch! Sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.
Lincoln Academy with Susana and Clark Bernard: “Dunes to Deltas—A Safari to Namibia and Botswana”
April 27 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 27 at 12:30 to hear Susana and Clark Bernard discuss “Dunes to Deltas: A Safari to Namibia and Botswana.” 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.
Express yourself in watercolors with Jane
Rediscover the joyful soul within you through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Jane will offer fun dabbling in watercolor painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. Four classes will be offered each Monday and Friday beginning May 4 and then another session of four classes will begin on May 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $15. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.
Visit historic Mount Auburn Cemetery in May
See some of the fascinating and beautiful places and monuments in this amazing historical and nature site on Friday, May 22. The trip will include a 60-minute walking tour of the cemetery and transportation by Doherty’s bus. Trip limited to 30 people. For more information, including details about the time and cost, call Donna Rizzo at 781-257-5050 or email her at donna@ECACBED.com or Claire Mount at 781-259-8695 or email her at Mounts781@gmail.com.
Cushing House Museum & Gardens in June
Come on Monday, June 22 for a COA coach trip to Newburyport for a guided tour through the 21-room, Federal-period Cushing House Museum and Gardens featuring period rooms and galleries about the history of Newburyport. The house was the home of Caleb Cushing who, in 1844, negotiated the first trading contract with China. Newburyport, founded in the 1600s, was a fishing and shipping town. After the tour, you will have lunch at a seaside restaurant at your own cost. Please note that the museum is on two floors, with a long stairway, and there is no elevator. For more information or to sign up, please contact Peggy Schmertzler at 781-259–0465 or alpegs@verizon.net. Sign up by June 5.