HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
May 3rd - May 7th

Check out our new programs, detailed below for May and June. Don't wait, we are filling up fast! Call us at (781) 235-3961 to register today!

We are trying out a new method for folks to sign-up for upcoming programs. See something in the highlights section you like? Click here to sign-up. Remember, all Zoom links will be sent out by 4 PM the business day before the program. If you want to sign-up for a program happening the same day, the best way to register is to call us at (781) 235-3961.

Tuesday, May 4th, 11:00 AM (In Person)
Community Concerns (7 spaces available)

Join our Social Worker, Kate Burnham, as she launches the first of her four topic facilitated discussion groups. This program will be held at the Tolles Parsons Center on the Patio.

Tuesday, May 4th, 2:00 PM
Organic Gardening for Everyone (space available)

Please join John Root, Naturalist and Landscaper for an informative session on organic gardening. “Organic Gardening for Everyone” is a 60-minute PowerPoint presentation providing practical advice and inspiration to gardener of all ages and physical conditions on growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers organically. Topics include: composting and mulching to promote healthy soil; using space efficiently; growing plants from seed; succession planting; inviting beneficial wildlife; controlling weeds and pests naturally; and preserving homegrown produce. Questions and comments will be welcome at the conclusion of the program. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Wellesley Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Wednesday, May 5th , 10:15 AM & 1:15 AM (In Person)

Movies at the COA

We are excited to announce the return of our weekly movies. Sign-up for a showing of this week's movie at either 10:15 AM or 1:15 PM. We will be showing the same movie both times. Seating is limited to five Wellesley residents per showing. To sign-up for a movie, please email us here or call us at (781) 235-3961. This week's movie is The Keeper. "A look at how a German POW and a young English woman overcame prejudice, personal tragedy and public hostility as World War II came to an end."

Wednesday, May 5th, 1:30 PM

Grandparenting Discussion (space available)

Does your grandchild have special needs? Join Attorney Karen Mariscal in a discussion on how you can help. She will educate you on a special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, adaptive summer camps, and more. Questions welcomed. Call 781-235-3961 to register.

Thursday, May 6th, 2:00 PM
8 Days a Week (space available)

Join Frank, former WBUR radio host on Thursday, May 6th at 2:00 PM for this musical lecture that features one song for each day of the week. Songs include Simon & Garfunkel’s first hit, one of the Gershwin's most beautiful songs, a funny Al Jolson number, a “Saturday” medley by our greatest crooners, and an ultra-rare Rodgers & Hammerstein flop. Special thanks goes to BAYADA for generously sponsoring this program.

Friday, May 7th, 2:00 PM
Davis Museum (space available)

Pour a cup of tea and join us for a virtual gallery talk led by Wellesley
College Student Guides on tea objects from the Davis’s
permanent collections.

Sign-up for a Zoom Fitness Class Today

To see all of our fitness offerings, check out our newsletter.

Mondays, Starting May 3rd

Zumba Gold (space available)
At 1:00 PM
Easy to follow choreography which focuses on balance, range of motion, strength and coordination. $40 for eight week class

Restorative Yoga (space available)

At 2:30 PM (drop-in class)

This is a new fitness class on Mondays for 30 minutes and is a drop-in class, the cost is $3 per class.

Tuesdays, Starting May 4th

Balls and Bands (space available)
At 10:00 AM

A free 45-minute class. This class uses a ball and a band for supplies. You can purchase one on your own, or call us to purchase a ball and band for a one-time for $5 fee- please call us at (781) 235-3961.

Tai-Yo-Ba (space available)
At 1:00 PM

A 45-minute class. The cost is $32 for eight weeks.

Wednesday, Starting May 5th

SAIL (space available)

At 1:00 PM

SAIL stands for Stay Active and Independent for Life. SAIL is a safe and effective fitness class for adults incorporating research-tested
strength, balance and flexibility exercises. This is a 45-Minute free class that runs for eight weeks.

Thursday, Starting May 6th

Seated Strength & Balance (space available)
At 9:15 AM
This class is 45-minutes long and the cost is $32 for an eight week session.

Friday, Starting May 7th

Qi Gong (space available)
At 9:15 AM
This class is 60-minutes long and the cost is $40 for an eight week session.

Saturday, Starting May 8th

Mixed Bag (Sign-up Now)
AT 9:15 AM

Each week the class offered will be a different type of class and instructor. We will announce in the email news blast which type of class will be offered the following Saturday, and you are welcome to sign-up and join in to try it out! Priority is given to Wellesley residents age 60 and over. If space permits, non-Wellesley residents age 60 and over are welcome to participate. Space is limited and set by the instructor each week. Registration will open when the class is announced in the email news blast. Priority will be given to Wellesley Residents. Out of Town residents are encouraged to call to see if space is available for the Saturday's class the Wednesday before.

This week's class is:

May 8th
Chair Yoga with Rebecca Reber

9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (45 minutes)

Max: 30 people
Wellesley Residents sign up today!
Non-Wellesley Residents, call us on May 5th to check availability.

Join Rebecca Reber for a gentle and relaxing class, with stretching and range of motion exercises. Yoga is excellent for loosening tension and maintaining range of motion for the joints.

Programming on Public Access Cable

Catch our weekly programming on Comcast 9 and Verizon 39 for a special program only available on your TV. This week's program is scheduled to air on: Mondays 2:00 PM, Wednesdays 6:00 PM, Thursdays 8:00 PM, and Saturdays 11:00 AM. Please note that times are subject to change without notice. Local cable TV channels are courtesy of Wellesley Media. All programs can be watched online here on demand.

Journey Through the Past: Martin Luther King

Monday, May 3rd at 2:00 PM

Award-winning historian John Horrigan presents the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Journey Through the Past: Paul Revere

Wednesday, May 5th at 6:00 PM

Award-winning historian John Horrigan talks about Paul Revere, his
famous Midnight Ride on April 19th, 1775, and three other relatively obscure rides he made to alert colonists of potential attacks by the British Army. He will also trace his capture and follow the trails of other express riders on the eve of the Battle of Concord and Lexington including; Samuel Dawes, William Prescott, and Israel Bissell. Presented by the Wellesley Council on Aging.

Musical Baseball Show
Thursday, May 6th at 8:00 PM

Opera Talk- Pavarotti: King of the High C's

Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 AM

COA Notes/Reminders

Lunch at the COA

Stay tuned for our News Blast tomorrow, Friday, April 30th announcing Lunch starting May 5th and other May Reopening changes!

Registration/Signing Up

Registration is on-going and the most common programs patrons sign up for on registration day are fitness classes and groups. Interested in attending? To participate, there are a few ways to sign-up: (1) You can click here and complete the form to sign-up for classes for the upcoming week: (2) You can sign-up on My Active Center; (3) You can email us here; or (4) You can call us at (781) 235-3961. Zoom links are sent to registered participants the business day before the program.

Wellesley Heath Department Update: Homebound residents

The Wellesley Health Department is updating its list of residents who are homebound or have health issues requiring medical assistance (i.e., oxygen or other). This will help emergency personnel better understand the needs of the resident when responding to a call at their home. To be added, please call the Wellesley Health Department at (781) 489-4356 or email Public Health Nurse Supervisor Ann Marie McCauley, here.

Zoom Link Emails

We have recently been shifting the responsibility of sending out zoom links from one staff person to another. To help with finding our materials in your email, we will routinely use "Wellesley COA Zoom Link -" as our subject line. If you regularly search for our links, please search for that line and you should find our materials. If you have looked and it's been more than a few minutes, please give us a call at 781-235-3961.

Movies at the COA

We are excited to start having people back into our building to view weekly movies. If you were able to sign-up for a seat, please keep a few things in mind: (1) You will be required to enter our side door at the TPC; (2) You MUST sign-in when you enter and sign-out when you leave; (3) You will not be able to enter for the movie until 5 minutes before show time (please stay in your car or venture to our patio for some fresh air); (4) You will be required to wear a mask for the duration of the movie; (5) You will be required to maintain social distance of six feet; and (6) You will be able to use the handicap bathroom at the far end of the multi-purpose room door.

Beware of Vaccination Scams

You can report scams by calling the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program’s Report-A-Scam line at 978-946-1243 or email by clicking here. Never give your Medicare number, your bank account information, your credit card numbers, your Social Security number, or any other personal information to anyone you do not know and trust. Don’t get scammed. For additional guidance call the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMPP) Program at 800-892-0890 or visit www.MASMP.org.

Appointments Available

We have a myriad of services available at the COA. These services are currently offered by phone/zoom or live in some instances. Call today to schedule your appointment.

IT Help - In-Person Appointments

Lois will be in-house at the TPC for your one-on-one appointments on Tuesdays. Each appointment will be 45 minutes long and appointments will be at: 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Call us today at (781) 235-3961 to schedule an appointment.

IT Help - Virtual Appointments

Do you have IT questions but prefer to get remote assistance? Do you have questions on your device? Want to expand your IT skills? Schedule an appointment with our longtime volunteer, Lois, remotely! She will still conduct her Thursday appointments virtually and is available at 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM. Call us today at (781) 235-3961 to schedule an appointment.

Metro West Legal Services – Free Legal Consult Call

Attorney Stephanie Ozahowski will be available for 30-minute legal consultation calls on senior resident questions the first Thursday of every month, from 1 PM- 3 PM. MetroWest Legal Services provides free legal aid to seniors on: housing, public benefits and social security matters; durable power of attorney, health care proxy, and simple probate matters; Medicaid, nursing home issues, and limited domestic relations; as well as consumer and bankruptcy. The next appointment date available is Thursday, May 6th. Call us today at (781) 235-3961 to schedule an appointment.

SHINE Appointments - Virtual

SHINE counselors are available to assist patrons with Medicare enrollment and counseling. Did you know that in 2021 more people qualify for help to pay for Medicare B and more through the Medicare Savings Program? If your individual income is under $1,755/ month and assets are under $15,940, you may qualify. Talk to a SHINE counselor for more information on programs that can save you money on health care costs. Call us today at (781) 235-3961 to schedule an appointment.

Zoom Help- Virtual
Are you uncomfortable using zoom? Would you like to have a one-on-one tutorial? Schedule an appointment with a volunteer today. Call us today at (781) 235-3961 to schedule an appointment.

Outside Programming/Offerings

Programming here is listed on behalf of an outside agency. You will need to follow the directions below and/or contact that agency to register/participate in the programming.

Friends of the Wellesley COA

Wellesley Conservation Land Trust

Flower Power

On Thursdays, May 6th and May 13th at 7:00 PM, the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust (WCLT) is partnering with Sustainable Wellesley and Wellesley Natural Resources Commission for a town-wide effort "Pollinate Wellesley" by increasing Wellesley's native plants/trees/shrubs/flowers to support native pollinators, birds, and animals.

The WCLT's major contribution will be to offer a series of three, free virtual education programs under the overarching title " Flower Power! How Native Plants Can Save our Bugs and Birds". Click here to register. For More information, click here.

Senator Becca Rausch
Virtual Coffee Hour

Join Senator Becca Rausch on Zoom for Virtual Coffee Hour on Friday, May 7th at 10 AM. All are welcome to share their questions and opinions on state issues with the Senator and her Beacon Hill team. To comply with public health precautions during the pandemic, the virtual conversation will take place over Zoom. Seniors can join the conversation either via phone or webcam. To register for this event, please click here. If you are having difficulty registering or have any questions, please email Becca or call 617-722-1555.

Next Step Elder Care
Parkinson's Support Group

Join Niki Sinopoli Fein from Next Step Elder Care as she hosts a monthly virtual support group on Zoom for anyone with a diagnosis of Parkinson's and/or a family care partner of someone with Parkinson's. The group meets from 10:30 AM -11:30 AM each month. To participate, contact Niki here.

American Cancer Society
Relay for Life of Charles River

On Saturday, May 22nd at 4 PM the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Charles River will have a Car Parade through Needham. All cancer survivors, caregivers and families are invited to attend. We hope to have many participants helping to bring awareness of the good works of the American Cancer Society. The parade will begin at the Sunita Williams School, 585 Central Ave, Needham. Feel free to show your spirit by decorating your car. Please register by clicking here. If you need help registering or have any questions, please contact Margaret at 781-431-1462 or by clicking here. Find more info here.

Massachusetts Council on Aging
Walk Massachusetts Challenge

Lace up your sneakers - the Walk Massachusetts Challenge is back! This year features more walking options and more prizes! With five individual goals, there's a challenge for everyone - from walking 65 days to walking 692,000 steps - each tied to a fun Massachusetts fact. The first 500 people who participate will receive a handy reflective wrist band and sports pack, perfect for carrying your water bottle, keys and phone. Others will be entered for a chance to win a drawing. For each person who completes the challenge, your COA gets entered into a drawing to win up to $1,000 for future programming! Click here for more info.

Programs for the Week Ahead (Online)

All of our programs for the week ahead are listed below. All of our programs are online and require pre-registration. If you see a program you would like to enroll in and we have availability, give us a call and you may be able to join a program that is already in session.
For a detailed description of the television programs, please see above.

Monday, May 3rd:

9:15 AM - Seated Strength & Balance A
11:00 AM - Pilates Class A
1:00 PM - Zumba Gold
2:00 PM - Television Program
2:30 PM - Restorative Yoga

Tuesday, May 4th

9:15 AM - Mixed Yoga A
10:00 AM - Conversational
German Group
10:00 AM - Balls and Bands
10:30AM - Mixed Yoga Class B
11:00 AM - Community Concerns
1:00 PM - Tai-Yo-Ba
2:00 PM - Organic Gardening for Everyone

Wednesday, May 5th

9:15 AM - Cardio Sculpt Class A
11:00 AM - SAIL

12:30 PM - Lunch on Patio (Pre-paid)

1:30 PM - Grandparenting Discussion

6:00 PM - Television Program

Thursday, May 6th

9:15 AM - Seated Strength and Balance
11:00 AM - Mindful Living
2:00 PM - 8 Days A Week
3:00 PM - Pilates Class B
8:00 PM - Television Program

Friday, May 7th

9:15 AM - Qi Gong
11:15 AM - Senior Muscle Conditioning
1:00 PM - Cardio Sculpt Class B
2:00 PM - David Museum

Saturday, May 8th

9:15 AM - Mixed Bag -
Chair Yoga with Rebecca Reber

Governor Baker's Latest Announcements

Face Coverings Order:

Effective April 30th, the Face Coverings Order will be relaxed for some outdoor settings. Face coverings will only be required outside in public when it is not possible to socially distance, and at other times required by sector-specific guidance. Face coverings will still be required at all times in indoor public places. Face coverings will also continue to be required at all times at events, whether held indoors or outdoors and whether held in a public space or private home, except for when eating or drinking.

For the rest of Governor Baker's Orders, please see here.

Please do not reply to this e-mail. For additional information please call the COA at 781-235-3961 or visit our website at www.wellesleycoa.org

HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEKMay 3rd - May 7th