Looking back on our first year at Waterstone

Just one year ago, we were welcoming our first residents to our community. What a difference a year makes! We’re nearly full, with limited apartment options available, and we’ve gone from a brand new space to one full of life, vibrancy and a true sense of community. Tonight we’re hosting a group of esteemed guests, including local dignitaries, officials and the family and friends of our residents, to celebrate one year since opening, and we’re thrilled about it. It’s been an exciting ride, and we’re looking forward to the next year as a complete and thriving community. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit us, stop by soon; we only have a handful of apartments left, and the grounds are looking stunning now that everything is in bloom! In fact, we recently hosted a golf tournament on our own putting green in the courtyard, much to the delight of our residents. It was a lovely afternoon of sunshine, fresh air and relaxing games with friends – not to mention some delicious food and drink from our own chefs.

We have a wide variety of events coming up in the first few weeks of June. After the success of our first “Author Series” event, we’re excited to welcome another fascinating writer, Caitrin Lynch, as she talks about her book “Retirement on the Line.” Later on we will welcome a local expert for a talk on the capes of New England, as well as the experts from Tower Hill Botanical to discuss horticulture. There truly is something for everyone. Keep reading for details, and we hope to see you

Caitrin Lynch discusses ‘Retirement on the Line’ – Tues., June 4, 7:30 p.m.

Author Caitrin Lynch will join us for a discussion of her book, “Retirement on the Line.

Michael Perry talks New England Capes – Wed., June 5, 2:30 p.m.

We will welcome Michael Perry for a discussion of the capes of New England.

Tower Hill Botanical to present – Mon., June 10, 2:30 p.m.

Officials from Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston will join us for a discussion of horticulture and related topics.

Upcoming author series at Waterstone

Wellesley and the surrounding area is known for having a lot of cultural opportunities and attractions. It’s also home to several places of higher learning. This means that our community is blessed to have a great number of accomplished authors living and working nearby. We’re exciting to be taking advantage of this by offering an author series through the spring and summer, starting next month. Keep reading for more details, and visit our website to RSVP as events come closer and dates and times are made final.

New York Times best-selling author William Martin – Tuesday, May 21, 7:30 p.m. – Martin will discuss his book “The Lincoln Letter.” This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP.
Caitrin Lynch will discuss “Retirement on the Line” in early June – Caitrin Lynch explores what Vita Needle Company of Needham, Massachusetts’s commitment to an elderly workforce means for the employer, the workers, the community, and society more generally.
Dr. Robert Martello will discuss “Midnight Ride, Industrial Dawn” in mid-June – Robert Martello combines a biographical examination of Paul Revere and his famous ride with a probing study of the new nation’s business and technological climate.
Barbara Shapiro will discuss “The Art Forager” in July – Shapiro crafted this thrilling novel about seeing—and not seeing—the secrets that lie beneath the canvas.

One Fund Boston Fundraiser

We recently held a One Fund Boston dinner fundraiser to raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Dinner was $10 and all proceeds went to the fund. We’re happy to say we raised nearly $1,000 and are proud to be donating that money to the One Fund. “We could not be more pleased with the turnout and outpouring of support for people affected by this tragedy,” said Kristine Tilton, Waterstone’s executive director. It was heartwarming to see so many individuals join us, and to make new friends in the process. If you were able to join us, thank you for your support. If not, we hope to see you soon!

Events this month – guitar, bestsellers and investments

The first week of May is packed full of some great events this month here at Waterstone. Keep reading for details, and join us if you can. Also, don’t forget about our upcoming Boston Marathon fundraiser dinner. It would be wonderful to see you there. Click here to read more, and to see what other EPOCH communities are doing to raise money for victims.

Guitarist Dwight Phetteplace to perform at Waterstone (May 5)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome guitarist and singer Dwight Phetteplace for a performance of traditional folk, blues and acoustic music on Sunday, May 5 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.

Lorna Ruby of Wellesley Books to visit Waterstone (May 6)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome Lorna Ruby of Wellesley Books, an independent book store, on Monday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. for a discussion of current best sellers. 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.

Waterstone hosts Tax Free Investments discussion (May 7)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome Rockland Trust for a discussion on tax free investments on Thursday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Representatives from the bank will offer tips for earning tax-exempt income. 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.

Animal Experience to visit Waterstone (May 8)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will host Animal Experience, a traveling petting zoo of various animals, to the community on Wednesday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. Founder Matt Gabriel will educate attendees on the lives and habitats of the animals he brings. 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.

Stephen Collins to perform at Waterstone (May 9)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome acclaimed actor Stephen Collins for a one-man show on Thursday, May 9 at 2 p.m. Collins will celebrate Shakespeare’s April birthday in a presentation of the bard’s works. 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.

Waterstone at Wellesley hosts dinner fundraiser for One Fund Boston

Waterstone at Wellesley will host a pasta dinner on Friday, May 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. to raise money for those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. Dinner and dessert will be $10, and all proceeds will go to the One Fund Boston, Inc., formed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help those most affected by the tragic events in Boston on April 15. Please join us as we support our community. For more information and to R.S.V.P., please call 781-235-1614 by May 1. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington Street.

Hearts and prayers

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the recent tragedy in Boston. All our sympathies to those who have suffered a loss in this tragedy; please know that we support you.

Sincerely,

The Residents & Staff of Waterstone at Wellesley

Red Sox, a cappella and more

Every year there comes a special day that is unlike any other. For those in the Boston area, the Red Sox season opener is, well, a bit of a big deal! That’s why we decided to celebrate in a big way here at Waterstone. We invited local celebrity Herb Crehan to deliver a lecture and facilitate a discussion about this famous team. Herb is a Boston baseball historian and author of several books on the topic. He has delivered talks at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, New England Cable News, WBZ radio and elsewhere, and has been regularly featured in Red Sox Magazine for the past 15 years. We also decked out the Waterstone River Room in Red Sox memorabilia and had a ton of traditional baseball fare, including hot dogs with all the toppings, freshly popped buttered popcorn, drinks and more. This event turned out to be a ton of fun for residents, guests and staff alike. Hopefully your opening day celebrations were just as fun!

We also had the pleasure to welcome the Jewish a cappella group Shir Appeal earlier this month. Shir Appeal is Tufts University’s only co-ed, Jewish a cappella group. They have almost two decades of experience, singing along the spectrum of Jewish music – from Hebrew Pop, Israeli Rock, Traditional/ Liturgical melodies and even English songs with Jewish themes. Our residents, a portion of which are Jewish, really enjoyed this unique performance and the company of the young college students who visited.

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.