The following programs will take place at the Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street. For information, call 617-730-2770 or brooklineseniorcenter.org.
February spotlighted volunteer opportunities: This month’s spotlighted opportunities include Coffee Duty from 8-9 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; Food Commodity Program on third Wednesday of each month — Russian and Chinese interpreters morning and afternoon shifts and people able to help with phone calls and/or lifting 30-35 pounds in the morning; Food Pantry volunteers for morning — able to lift 30 pounds — and afternoon setup, shopping assistance and Russian interpreters for 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays; one-on-one assistance for seniors with their smartphones and other technology. To apply for these or other volunteer opportunities at the BSC: Patricia, 617-730-2743, pburns@brooklinema.gov.
UPCOMING
AARP tax preparation assistance: Tuesdays, through April 10. AARP Tax Aide volunteers will once again return to the Senior Center on Tuesdays to assist with filing returns. Scheduling has begun. Please note that the Tax Aide program will again be using newer software this year. As a result, it is very important for to bring copies of 2016 returns to appointment. The tax aide volunteers will not be able to assist with any amended tax returns, other than for the year 2016. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 617-730-2777.
Blood pressure screening: 1-2 p.m. Feb. 14, Sussman House; Feb. 15, Senior Center; Feb. 28, Park Street. Barbara Westley, the nurse from the Brookline Public Health Department will provide blood pressure screenings.
Cake Decorating: 1 p.m. Feb. 8. To register: 617-730-2770. Heathwood Healthcare’s master chef presents cake decorating tips. Small cakes, frosting and supplies will be provided. Space limited.
“Dark Girls” documentary: 1:00 p.m. Feb. 9. To register: 617-730-2770. A screening of this controversial film which goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It explores the roots of classism, racism and the lack of self-esteem within a segment of cultures. Due to our space limitations, this film will be shown on the large screen TV in Room 103.
Barbershop Quartet: 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14. To register: 617-730-2770. Select members of the New Sound Assembly Barbershop Chorus will stop by the Center to perform loves songs in honor of Valentine’s Day.
“The Many Faces of Love:” 1:00 p.m. Feb. 15. To register: 617-730-2770. Stephen Collins leads an afternoon of sonnets and passages that are all about love.
Brookline Hearing Services: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Feb. 15. The staff from Brookline Hearing Services will provide hearing aid cleanings, maintenance and patient counseling at no charge. They will also be selling all sizes of hearing aid batteries for $5 per pack. All services will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
LGBT Out 2 Brunch Bunch: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Feb. 17, Goddard House, 165 Chestnut Street, Brookline. RSVP: Zoraida, meals@ethocare.org, 617-522-6700, ext. 306. Goddard house in partnership with the Brookline Council on Aging, ETHOS, the LGBTAging Project and the City of Boston Comm on the Affairs of the Elderly, supports the LGBT Older Adult out 2 Brunch Bunch.
Low Vision Group: 1:00 p.m. Feb. 21. A peer-led support group for individuals with limited eyesight.
Roland Hayes and John Wilson: 1:00 p.m. Feb. 21. To register: 617-730-2770. Roland Hayes, tenor, and John Wilson, artist, lived in Brookline for 50 years. Hayes was recently honored with a plaque in front of his former home. Wilson’s sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. was installed in Town Hall. Rob Daves has helped coordinate efforts to tell their fascinating stories. Daves, a Town Meeting member from Pill Hill, served on the Hidden Brookline Committee, The Committee to Commemorate John Wilson and the Town’s MLK Celebration Committee.
The Impact of the Equifax Breach and How To Protect Yourself: 2:00 p.m. Feb. 14. A presentation on the Equifax breach, how to protect one’s self and one’s identity, as well as other current scams and fraud. Handouts and light refreshments will be available. To register: 617-730-2770.
Let’s Go Out To Lunch Bunch: Noon Feb. 27. For reservations and transportation: 617-730-2770. Out to Lunch Bunch will dine at the Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill. The van will leave the Senior Center at 11:30 a.m. sharp.
Zumba Gold: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Thursdays, through March 8. There will be no class on Feb. 15. Cost: $45; for winter session; $7 per session; free for Brookline Housing Authority residents.
Mass College of Pharmacy: 1:00 p.m. Feb. 22. Students and faculty from MCPHS University present an interactive, informational session on osteoporosis. Faculty and students always encourage questions.
Gallery 93 show: Through Feb. 28. “Group Meditation,” watercolors by Shirley Selhub will be on exhibit in Gallery 93 Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Council on Aging meeting: 1:00 p.m. March 1. The Council on Aging will not meet in February. The March speaker will be Dr. Deepak Kumar from Boston University Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. Kumar will talk about University research projects geared towards developing more effective strategies to reduce pain and improve physical activity in middle-aged and older adults with knee pain.
Book discussion group: 2:00 p.m. Feb. 26. The community room at the Putterham Branch. We will discuss “Property of a Noble Woman” by Danielle Steele. harlotte Millman and Batia Bloomenthal are the discussion leaders for this book group.
Public issues book discussion group: 9:00 a.m. Feb. 27. Tom Faulhabe challenges your thinking every month with a nonfiction book discussion centered on public issues, history, current events and other nonfiction topics. We will discuss “Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy” by Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye. The Coolidge Corner Branch Library will have copies of the books available several weeks ahead of each meeting.
Memory Connections Café: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Feb. 28. For information or RSVP: Jamie, 617-730-2753. A free monthly Memory Connections Café for people with early memory challenges and their care partners to participate in socialization and can partake in refreshments and a variety of enjoyable programming in order to gain support and engage with others in a relaxing environment. Either party can attend by themselves, but a care partner must accompany those who require any care assistance.
Aging Together Senior Children and Their Parents: The Senior Center is looking for senior children, aged 65 and older. Led by Dr. Kathrin Boerner, of the University of Massachusetts Boston, the team wants to learn what their relationship is like, what challenges they may face and what support they may need. Learning about their experience will help the team better understand how parents and children age together. Participants will be interviewed at a place of their convenience. they will each receive $40. For information: 617-901-1082; agingtogether@umb.edu.
Spanish Immersion Brookline: Thursdays, through March 29. For information or to register: Giovanna Tapia, 617-953-7016. Spanish I will be offered from 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. and Spanish II is offered from noon – 1:00 p.m. There is a small fee.
Real estate tax exemption: 10:00 a.m. – noon Feb. 20. Sandy Spector will have information for seniors on real estate tax exemptions and abatements in the gallery area of the Senior Center. Those interested can drop by with their questions.
ONGOING
Library books: For those who need someone to pick up and return library books during the winter weather, and who would like to have someone read the same book and then discuss the book. For information: Patricia Burns, 617-730-2743.
Job and Volunteer Search Network Series: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Feb. 27, March 6, 13 and 20. Attendees share experiences and resources for their job or volunteer search. This series led by Patricia Burns is free, however registration is required. To register: Patricia, 617-730-2743.
Individual job search skills appointments: Patricia Burns, the REAP Program Job Skills counselor, is available for one-on-one/individual appointments to assist with essential job search tools — resume writing or updating, job-specific cover letters and LinkedIn profile development, interviewing — phone, Skype, in-person or mock — as well as identifying transferable skills from past experience to use in your next job. Appointments required. Contact Patricia at 617-730-2743 or pburns@brooklinema.gov.
Greater Boston Food Bank Food Commodity Program: The Greater Boston Food Bank Commodity Program provides shelf-stable food to low-income seniors. Two shopping bags of food for each approved participant are delivered to the Brookline Senior Center at 93 Winchester Street, Sussman House at 50 Pleasant Street and O’Shea House at 61 Park Street on the third Wednesday of each month. The program is actively recruiting new applicants to participate. For information or to set up an appointment: Patricia, 617-730 2743, pburns@brooklinema.gov.
SHOP “Students Helping Older People:” The Brookline High School will start recruiting students to shop. Seniors who would like to have a student shop for them should call Patricia, the volunteer coordinator, at 617-730-2743 or email her at pburns@brooklinema.gov. The SHOP Program has been a community service program at Brookline High School for many years. It is a volunteer opportunity where students grocery shop for an elder in Brookline and seniors share their actual history and experience with students. It is a weekly to biweekly commitment that is usually shared with a partner student. It starts with visiting the senior’s home to get a grocery list and cash, then shopping, and returning with the groceries and checking the receipt. Besides getting the groceries for the senior, the most important part of this program is developing meaningful multigenerational relationships.
Learn to play or improve your chess game: Three Brookline High School seniors who are co-captains of the high school Chess Club will be at the Senior Center from 3 to 5 p.m. each Friday. Those interested can drop in for a lesson or a game. For information: Patricia, 617-730-2743.
Springwell Lunch: Copies of the menu will be available to pick up at the Senior Center during the last week of the previous month. To register: 617-730-2747. Lunch should be reserved on the business day prior before 10:30 a.m. To reserve a lunch on the business day prior before 10:30 a.m.: 617-730-2747. For reservations for Monday, those interested should call by 10:30 a.m. the previous Friday. Springwell can only guarantee a lunch reservation until 12:15 p.m. each day. Those who will be arriving late for lunch should let Kristine know in advance. Those arriving arrive after 12:15 p.m. with no advance notice, cannot be guarantee a meal for that day. On Feb. 14, the lunch of the day will be vegetarian lasagna with tomato sauce, green beans and red peppers, snowflake wheat dinner roll and chocolate mousse. On Feb. 19, the Senior Center is closed for President’s Day. No Springwell lunch. On Feb. 20, February birthdays will be celebrated at the monthly Birthday Lunch. The sponsor of this lunch has provided a complimentary lunch and a small gift to all February birthday celebrants. Wingate at Chestnut Hill will provide the monthly birthday cake.
ELF: The program has some bariatric equipment available, including a transport wheelchair, rolling walker and commode. To request these items or to donate other items: Jamie, 617-730-2753.
Computer One-on-One: Computer One-on-One has resumed in the computer lab. Fran Pechenick is available for one-hour appointments to assist with PC issues. Dan Siagel is available for one half-hour appointments from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays to help with smart phones, apple and PC instruction.
ICARE — Independent Clients Accessing Rides To Eyecare: The Council on Aging, through the HELP program, has announced a new program in partnership with ITNAmerica, through their generous grant funding. The HELP program will be able to provide free transportation to scheduled eyecare appointments in the Greater Boston area. To access, contact the HELP line at 617-730-2752 at least a week before scheduled appointment.
