Marathon on the mind

Last year, the Boston Marathon arrived at our doorstep after Waterstone had been open just a few weeks. We did our best to show support with a water station that handed out bottles and cups to weary runners. It was a good time, of course, but since we had JUST opened, there weren’t too many folks on hand to help pass out refreshments. This year, however, things in and around Waterstone are quite different. We are bustling with activity, our apartments are rapidly filling up, and the sense of community and neighborliness among our residents, families and staff is growing day by day. It’s lovely to see and be a part of that. That’s why we are excited to be hosting a water station again this year, and we’re inviting friends to join us as we show the runners our support. Last year we were told that our station was in an ideal spot, because there wasn’t another before or after us for quite a while. Come cheer these athletes on with us; it’s sure to be a fun time. We are expecting several dozen residents to join in on the fun, and their friends, family and guests as well, so you’ll receive a warm welcome.

A look at what’s happening in April

Birds are chirping, the weather is warming, and flowers are starting to peek up out of the dirt. It’s finally feeling like spring around here! I hope you’re enjoying it as much as we are here at Waterstone. As you probably know, if you’re a New Englander (or know anyone from the area), baseball season is starting again and that means the Red Sox opener is coming up. Of course, we treat this event as the holiday it is here in the Boston area. We’re excited to be hosting a special opener event next month, as well as a slew of other fun events. For a peek at what’s going on, keep on reading, then check back for more activities in mid and late April. Hope to see you soon!

• Archie Richards entertains for Happy Hour at Waterstone (April 5)  – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome performer Archie Richards for a show on Friday, April 5 at 4:30 p.m. Richards will perform Broadway hits on his electric piano for happy hour. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St.
• Shir Appeal to perform at Waterstone (April 6) – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome a cappella group Shir Appeal on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Shir Appeal is Tufts University’s only co-ed Jewish a cappella group and one of the oldest collegiate Jewish a cappella groups in the country. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St.
• Red Sox opening day at Waterstone (April 8 ) – Waterstone at Wellesley will host a party for Red Sox opening day on Monday, April 8 at 1:30 p.m. Join Waterstone residents and staff to cheer for your favorite team! We will have traditional baseball snacks, games, and a presentation from a local Red Sox expert. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St.

Senior art show at Wellesley next month

We’ve written here before about our much-loved art classes here at Waterstone. Residents gather once a week to paint using a variety of mediums and techniques, from still lifes to portraits and more. That’s why it seemed a natural partnership to join forces with the Wellesley Council on Aging to host their upcoming senior art show. Both Waterstone residents as well as individuals in the greater community will be contributing their own artwork to the show, which we will be hosting in our community. As you probably know, Wellesley is full of unique and interesting folks – it seems to attract them! – so we are sure to see some downright astonishing pieces from local seniors at this show. We are holding an opening artists’ reception in late April for the artists, local dignitaries and officials, and then the pieces will be available for viewing during tours of our community in the days following. For more information or to reserve your space, contact Waterstone’s Beverly Carver at 718-235-1614, or Ilene Sharp at the Wellesley Council on Aging at 781-235-3961.

Tap dancing, music and fashion – a little bit of everything

Happy Hour isn’t just for young professionals – it’s one of the best times of day here at Waterstone, and something we enjoy. We often host impromptu gatherings over cocktails and wine, and they are usually accompanied by entertainment of some sort, from bands to solo musicians to jack-of-all-trades performers. It’s a lovely way to socialize and continue to develop our community. Just recently we welcomed a new face: Tappin’ Ted Powers. Ted was a member of a rock band for many years before branching out to learn more instruments and skills, and then learning tap dancing. Ted’s unique performance had everyone else’s toes tapping along with him.

Earlier this month, also welcomed Bill Graham of the shop ‘Beautiful Things’ in Salem, who brought his popular “Little Black Dress” event with him. Bill uses his skills in decorating and accessorizing to explore the ways a woman can take a little black dress and adapt it to different circumstances and styles using accessories. Since first introducing this event in 2006, its popularity has exploded, and Bill has brought it to garden clubs, social clubs, and other gatherings across New England. We loved welcoming him to Waterstone, and the ladies of our community especially liked learning some new and fresh ways to revamp a classic black dress. Finally, we welcomed back the US Navy Band Northeast Woodwind Crosswinds, who performed and also socialized with residents, much to our delight. We hope to have them back again!

We have a number of other great events to round out March, including a cappella on the 27th and a fascinating history lesson with Gary Hylander on the 28th. Stop by for either, or both!

Connecting with professionals in the community

Waterstone at Wellesley is committed to building relationships with senior experts in the local community. That’s why we will host several events in the upcoming months to connect with these professionals and give them the opportunity to network, learn from each other and enjoy themselves. The way we look at it, we are all devoted to providing a variety of options to local seniors, and understanding and learning from each other is a key part of that.

This month, Waterstone will partner with local chocolate boutique, The Chocolate Truffle, to host a port wine and chocolate tasting. The Chocolate Truffle will share the freshest, handmade, hand rolled truffles and hand dipped chocolates from their shop, as well as a variety of port wines to complement these delicious chocolates. If you haven’t had an opportunity to enjoy the offerings the Chocolate Truffle has, make a point to stop by their shop the next time you’re in their neighborhood – you’ll be glad you did.

This event is a fun way for Waterstone staff and local experts to get to know one another, learn from each other, and build professional relationships. Waterstone will invite key experts and professionals specializing in geriatrics, the health care of aging adults. Professionals that will attend the event include geriatric care managers, geriatric psychiatrists, long-term care managers, counselors, and more. Theses individuals work with seniors and their families every day, on issues ranging from moves to respite stays to rehabilitation and more. Naturally, I’m sure we’ll all have plenty to talk about!

Events at Waterstone: Entertainers, music and intelligent discussions

We’re excited to be moving out of February – which flew by – and into a new month because it means we are that much closer to spring. Soon we’ll be enjoying snacks and drinks out in our courtyard and once again meandering along the walking path next to the Charles that winds around our community. In the meantime, though, while the snow melts and things begin to thaw, we’re staying cozy inside with some fun and engaging events this month. Keep reading for more on what we have planned for the first half of the month, and check back soon for more about the second half. Hope to see you!

Entertainer Rick Walsh to visit Waterstone (March 3)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome musician and entertainer Rick Walsh for a show on Sunday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Tappin’ Ted Powers entertains for Happy Hour at Waterstone (March 6)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome performer Ted Powers, also known as Tappin’ Ted, for a show on Wednesday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

U.S. Navy Band Northeast Woodwind Quartet at Waterstone (March 13)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome the talented U.S. Navy Band Northeast Woodwind Quartet for a musical performance on Wednesday, March 13 at 2p.m. . This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Acclaimed actor Stephen Collins to perform Shakespeare at Waterstone (March 14)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome acclaimed actor Stephen Collins, who was recently highlighted in the Boston Globe, for a reading of Shakespeare on Thursday, March 14 at 2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Musical performances, furry friends and a Nor’easter at Waterstone

It may be a short month, but we’ve done a lot here at Waterstone to pack February full of interesting events, good music and even better company. From musical performances that had our entire community tapping their toes to delicious Valentine’s treats to weathering our recent winter storm with ease, it seemed there was always something happening. Hopefully you made it through the recent snowstorm as pleasantly as we did. We held an impromptu “Martinis in the Storm” event as residents, family members and guests sipped cocktails, played word games and watched the snow fall among friends. We know others were not so lucky and our hearts go out to them. There’s nothing quite like cozying up inside during a tough storm, tucked away while the wind howls outside. After the storm settled, we moved on to Valentine’s Day and all the fun that comes along with it. A large table at the front of our community showcased the couples among us, and we welcomed the New Sound Assembly Barbershop group for a performance that had our entire community out and whistling along. We also enjoyed some delicious treats, including light and airy mousse and more decadent chocolates. Finally, we  also welcomed friends of the four-legged variety from our local animal shelter, Save a Dog, who were very willing to share some kisses with us. I hope your February was just as full of relaxation and fun as ours, and if you’d like to stop by soon, just visit our upcoming events page. See you soon!

Caring for yourself during a tough winter

Winters in New England can be, as you probably know, a bit difficult. Brutal cold, heavy snowfall, intense wind, and dry air can all contribute to our skin, hair and nails feeling dry and uncared for, even if we slather on the lotion and creams. Treat yourself to a little pampering next month when we welcome some local experts for a skin care and pampering seminar. We will offer individualized skin care consultations as well as a discussion about the types of products to use depending on your skin type, as well as what to avoid. Should you really spend $100 on that tiny tub of face cream or would a $15 jar from the general store work just as well? Get answers to such questions and much more on March 26 at 2 p.m. at our community.

In the meantime, here are some tips and techniques for keeping your skin in good shape throughout the winter months.

• Hydrate! Think about caring for your skin from the inside, out. If you aren’t hydrated, your skin is going to feel extra dry. So be sure to drink plenty of water.
• Moisturize, of course. Whether cream, lotion or oils, moisturize early and often. Keep a spare bottle of your favorite product on your desk, by your nightstand, in the bathroom, in your purse, etc., so you can apply at any time.
• Use a home humidifier to make the air in your home (or at least your bedroom, when you’re sleeping) more moisture-rich, as it will prevent your skin from drying out further.
• Turn down the water temperature. It may be tempting to take a piping hot bath or shower when it’s so chilly out, but the hot water will have a serious drying effect on your skin. Keep bathtime short and use lukewarm water.
• Exfoliate, but not too much. Use a gentle exfoliant once a week or so to make your skin soft and even more able to accept moisture. But don’t overdo it – too much and you will just dry yourself out.

Out and about: Waterstone residents visit local attractions

While we strive to fill our days here at Waterstone with a variety of events and activities – everything from art classes to Tai Chi to yoga to discussions about current events – we’d be sorely remiss if we didn’t take advantage of the great locations, attractions and gathering spots that we’re surrounded by here in Wellesley. It’s a huge benefit to our residents that we are so close to Boston, and in such a culturally rich, engaging area. Recently, we went to the Mohegan Sun Casino, visited the Harvard Glass Flower Collection, and saw Madeleine Albright at Wellesley College. Below are some of the outings we have planned for the next few weeks. If you’d like to join us, please call and ask for more information. Many trips are popular and fill up quickly but we would love to have you if you’d like to come along and meet some of our residents.

Trip to the Prudential Center in Boston: Why not start right here in the middle of everything Boston has to offer? Here you’ll find unique shopping, including places like Vineyard Vines, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, and Vera Bradley. Plus you’ll find a variety of popular activities, and restaurants such as Legal Sea Foods and 5 Napkin Burger, and it’s all under one roof.

Oscar Nominated Movie Night: We’ll all venture out to the local theater to catch a matinee of one of the Oscar-nominated movies playing. Life of Pi and Amour are two choices, but we’re open to suggestions for others!

Trip to the Wellesley Council on Aging: We’ll drop by the Wellesley COA to hear a talk with Herb Crehan, a noted baseball historian, discuss the much-loved Boston Red Sox.

Luncheon at Captain Mardens: This is a Wellesley favorite. The freshest fish and an extensive menu compliment the fairly priced menu.

Art experimentation – join us next week for a class!

One of the most popular events we host regularly here at Waterstone doesn’t involve an impressive musician, laughter-inducing comic or a cooking demonstration from a local chef, even though we’ve had all those events and more and have enjoyed them quite a bit! No, it’s our simple, relaxing art class that seems to have drawn quite a bit of interest. It’s no wonder – anyone who has taken a moment to slow down, pull out some painting or drawing materials, and create something beautiful knows just how engaging and rewarding art can be. Plus, studies have found that regularly engaging in creative activities, like painting or drawing, improves brain function and may help stave off aging-induced memory loss. Our regular art classes have become social events, as residents gather to chat with each other while also creating something beautiful. We will be hosting another class on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. These events are led by a staff member here at Waterstone, so there is some structure, but ultimately participants are encouraged to do what feels right for them and the piece they are creating. If you can, stop by – we would love it if you’d join us.