Musical jazz lunch
January 3 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis Hall while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.
Explore the poetry of Robert Frost
January 4 at 2 p.m.
Join Stephen Collins for a free four-session interactive seminar on the poetry of Robert Frost at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 4, 11, and 25 at the Lincoln Public Library, and on January 18 at Bemis Hall. Sponsored by the Council on Aging and the library. Stephen performs one-man shows and teaches courses on historical figures like Melville, Walt Whitman, James MacNeill Whistler, and William Shakespeare.
What new discussion groups would you like?
January 6 at 10 a.m.
The COA loves to offer discussion groups for people who would like to discuss their experiences in a supportive group environment where they can share with others their concerns and challenges and get and give tips and strategies. We want to make sure that they are providing the groups you are most interested in. In the past, they have held groups about coping with losses, change, and difficult family issues. Which of these topics would you like to see offered again or what new topics would you like to talk about? Come to Bemis Hall at 10 a.m. on January 6 to brainstorm with the COA, or call Carolyn at 781-259-8811 with your ideas.
Lincoln Academy with Heidi Webb: “Rocking the law in Finland”
January 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 6 at 12:30 p.m. when Heidi Webb discusses “Rocking the Law in Finland.” Lincoln attorney Heidi Webb will talk about her recent hike through Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park including the site of the Icelandic people’s “law rock” dating from 930. The “law rock” was where Icelanders came together from far and wide each summer to hear anyone who wanted to speak and be heard, and was the locus for their system of governance until 1262 when Iceland came under rule of the Norwegian King. Heidi will share some of the history surrounding how and why it became central to the development of Icelandic law, and ask questions surrounding the importance of place as it relates to rules, regulations, negotiations and mediation, both then and there and now and here. Heidi will also share photos from her recent trip to Iceland as well as a 2004 trip when she visited with her sister and mother, former COA volunteer Gertrude Webb. 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.
Coffee with Sheila Beenhouwer: “Russian art and my own work”
January 7 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Sheila Beenhouwer at a coffee with the artist on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 2:30 at Bemis Hall as she shares art from her traveling life in Russia and a bit of her own work. Sheila lived in Moscow and traveled to large and small art communities for two years. The exhibit will be up in the Bemis Hall Gallery through the end of February.
Writing and sharing memoirs
January 8 at 10 a.m.
If you are interested in writing your memoirs or just curious about what goes on in the memoir group, please come to the first spring meeting of the group at Bemis on Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 10 a.m.–noon and find out what they do. If you like what you hear and want to continue, the cost of the 10-week term is $75. The dates for the term are January 8 and 22; February 5 and 19; March 4 and 18; April 1, 15, and 29; and May 13. If you want more information, call Connie Lewis 781-259-9415 or email her at conlewis1000@gmail.com.
When it’s more than just the winter blues
January 8 at 10 a.m.
Winter can be a time when it’s easy to feel blue, but if your mood lasts a long time or interferes with your ability to enjoy life, it’s time to do something about it. Some people feel depressed at the holidays, reminded of loved ones or good times lost, or may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Come find out more about the difference between clinical depression and everyday sadness, SAD, and what to do if you think you may need help when Lincoln’s public health nurse, Tricia McGean, comes to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m.
Scam update with the Lincoln Police
January 10 at 1 p.m.
Anyone can be caught by a scam. Scammers are professionals who know how to get people to give away information and money. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to know what scams are going around and some basic rules to follow that can help you be safe. Find out more when Kevin Kennedy, Lincoln Police Chief, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m.
Lincoln Academy with Ray Anthony Shepard: “The MLK You Don’t Know”
January 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 13 at 12:30 p.m. when Ray Anthony Shepard discusses “The MLK You Don’t Know.” Award-winning author and historiographer Ray Anthony Shepard discusses his forthcoming collective biography, A Long Time Coming: Chronicles of Six African Americans from Ona to Obama. Written in flash lines of verse, prose, and quotes, it tells the story of six African Americans’ quest to transform the United States into a multiracial democracy. Ray will share how he compressed two and a half centuries into less than 300 pages and why he chose to tell that history in free verse. In honor of MLK’s birthday, he will also read from his story poem on Martin Luther King Jr., “A Man in a Hurry.” For more information on our speaker, click here. 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.
Free wellness clinics for all ages
January 14 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 10 a.m.–noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 9 a.m.–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.
Veterans benefit for in-home care
January 16 at 10:15 a.m.
If you are a veteran or spouse who needs in-home care or you know someone who is, please come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10:15 a.m. when Lincoln’s veterans services officer, Peter Harvell, will explain the Aid and Attendance Veterans Benefit. These benefits will pay for in-home care, such as that provided by visiting nurses, so that veterans and spouses can age in place. Bring your questions and concerns.
Gourmet lunch with Parks and Recreation
January 21 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, Jan. 21 at St. Anne’s Church. Our special guests will be Dan Pereira and David Sequeira from Parks and Recreation. Come meet them, ask them your questions and give your ideas. Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse, will offer free blood pressure readings. 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.
Be prepared for winter storms
January 21 at 2:15 p.m.
Winter storms, with power outages and the possibility of not being able to leave your home for days, can be dangerous. The Fire Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and Council on Aging invite residents of all ages to come learn how to be prepared to weather whatever comes our way on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 2:15 at Bemis Hall. Interim Chief Brian Young and Ben Juhola of the Fire Department, David Sequiera of Parks and Recreation, and Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse, will discuss shelter opportunities in Lincoln, how to prepare a winter emergency storm kit, maintaining your health during a storm, creating a support network should you need help, and more.
Memory Café for elders with dementia and caregivers
January 23 at 10:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right at Home In-Home Care and Assistance, and the Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. Enjoy delicious refreshments and an interactive creative program with ElderPlay specialist C.C. King in a fun, informal, social atmosphere. The Memory Café is held on the fourth Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m.–noon at The Commons in Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Kaupp of Right at Home at 781-275-1400 or the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.
Taking the mystery out of hospice and palliative care
January 24 at 10 a.m.
Hospice and palliative care can be the right choice for many people with a life-limiting illness and their families. But too often people are not aware that this opportunity is available or avail themselves of it only in the last days of life. Come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. for a program for families and friends presented by Care Dimensions, which offers hospice, palliative care and support services. The program will feature a discussion of the common myths and misconceptions of hospice care along with an overview of the benefits of hospice and palliative care services and how to access this help.
South Lincoln planning update
January 24 at 1 p.m.
Revitalizing South Lincoln has been a major initiative for many years, and the South Lincoln Planning Implementation Committee (SLPIC) will be putting forth a number of proposals at next March’s Annual Town Meeting. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. when Jennifer Burney, Lincoln’s Director of Planning and Land Use, and Gary Taylor of the Planning Board and SLPIC will update you on the work of the committee and listen to your concerns and ideas. This is your chance to make your voice heard in an informal, conversational milieu.
2020 Top of the Town Winter Gala
January 25 at 5 p.m.
The Friends of the COA invite all Lincoln residents 60 or over to the Top of the Town Winter Gala on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 5–8 p.m. at the deCordova Museum. Meet and greet old friends and new at this elegant gala party. Enjoy beverages along with finger food, small plates, and delicious desserts. Be sure to send in the reservation form you will receive or may have already received. If you are a Lincoln resident 60 or over and do not receive an invitation by January 10, please call the COA right away. The form must reach the FLCOA at PO Box 143, Lincoln, MA 01773 or Bemis Hall by January 17 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. They request that you let them know promptly if you must cancel so they can notify the next person on the list. While the Friends of the Lincoln COA are pleased to host this event with free admission for Lincoln residents, they greatly appreciate your donations to help defray expenses for this event.
Lincoln Academy with Michelle Tristani: “Ageism and the language we use”
January 27 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, at 12:30 p.m. when Michelle Tristani discusses “Ageism and the Language We Use.” Despite today’s heightened sensibilities and belief in diversity, the majority of older persons have experienced ageism. Language carries and conveys meanings that feed assumptions and judgments that can lead to the development of stereotypes and discrimination. When treated and spoken to as if negative stereotypes and prejudices about aging were actually true, older people can experience diminished self-regard and their functional health can worsen over time as a result. In contrast, those with positive perceptions of aging live longer. Join Benchmark Senior Living’s Corporate Director of Memory Care Michelle Tristani for this presentation that outlines steps each of us can take to counteract ageism, discrimination, and stereotyping on the basis of age. The goal is for all of us to foster pride in aging.
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.
Sages and seekers
January 29 at 10 a.m.
Sages and Seekers is a national program that brings together older adults with high school and college students to break down barriers through simple conversation. The program at The Rivers School in Weston is interested in finding some older adults to participate in Sages and Seekers there this spring. Come find out more when parent volunteer Ingrid Cornetta comes to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m.
Celebrate Lincoln’s generations with a singalong
January 31 at 3:45 p.m.
The LEAP After-School Program, the Lincoln Council on Aging, and the Magic Garden Children’s Center invite Lincoln residents of all ages to enjoy a free multigenerational concert and sing-along as part of the Winter Carnival on Friday, Jan. 31 at 3:45 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The program will include singing groups from each of the three organizations. Members of the audience will enjoy favorite folk songs, children songs, and more. Come enjoy some songs that are beloved from childhood and others that are new and delightful.