A presentation with Wellesley Books bookstore

In the days of Borders and Barnes & Noble, supporting your community’s locally-owned and independent book store has become more important than ever. These establishments bring culture, interesting topics, and character to their communities. In Wellesley, we’re lucky to have Wellesley Books, known locally for its outstanding children’s section as well as robust stock of bestsellers.

In addition to bringing numerous local authors to our Waterstone community for book signings and discussions, we’re excited to welcome Lorna Ruby of Wellesley Books on Monday, June 17 at 2:30 p.m. Lorna is a senior book buyer at the store. She will be discussing current best sellers as well as giving residents, friends and guests the inside scoop on the books to keep an eye out for as they ascend the best seller’s list. As an experienced book buyer, Lorna knows the ins and outs of the industry and will be offering us some really intriguing insights, as well as sharing with us what it is like to work for an independently-owned book store in a place such as Wellesley. If you enjoy reading, or are curious about the inner workings of the book industry, please join us! Or, stop by for one of our upcoming author discussions. See you soon!

Waterstone at Wellesley named winner in 2012 Multi-Housing News Excellence Awards

Waterstone at Wellesley has been named the silver winner in the “Best New Development: Senior Housing” category for the 2012 Multi-Housing News Excellence Awards. The annual, national MHN Excellence Awards acknowledge the most outstanding people, companies and properties in the multifamily industry. Winning this prestigious award is truly an honor and means you’re at the top of your field.

The 2012 winners were selected by a panel of judges with expertise across all multifamily disciplines. The judges took a number of factors into consideration, including financial performance, customer service, resident satisfaction and design excellence. Waterstone shone in all of these categories and was specifically acknowledged for creating a homelike, comfortable and non-institutional community for seniors while also meeting safety requirements.

Waterstone was announced winner in its category at the MHN’s special awards party in New York. Additionally, the community was published in the October issue of MHN’s magazine, and received a personalized award to display in its community.

Elkus Manfredi Architects designed the Waterstone campus, and Wellesley Design Associates designed the housing interior. The community includes both independent and assisted living rental apartments for seniors 62 and older, as well as retail and medical space. It is built on the former site of a Grossman’s hardware store, which sat vacant for years before being demolished prior to Waterstone’s development.

Exploring our creative side at Waterstone

The residents at Waterstone at Wellesley and EPOCH Assisted Living at Waterstone are a diverse bunch. Many have unique interests and passions, which is part of the reason they chose Waterstone over other senior living options: we have opportunities for them to explore their interests and to discover new ones. A growing group of residents, for example, has recently uncovered their mutual interest in art. And not just fine art in museums and hanging on walls, but their own art. The Life Enrichment team at Waterstone recently set up an art class for EPOCH Assisted Living at Waterstone residents, and the response has been really positive. Now residents from our independent living wing are asking to join in on the fun. Below are a few pictures from our latest gathering. Getting creative through activities like painting have been shown to improve brain function and stave off memory-related illnesses. Plus it’s lots of fun!

Chocolate tastings, local cheeses, and antiques: coming up at Waterstone

We have a variety of great events coming up at Waterstone at Wellesley. From decadent chocolates to delectable cheeses to cherished treasures, you won’t want to miss out on these exciting opportunities. They’re sure to be a lot of fun and will give you a chance to get to know the wonderful residents at Waterstone at Wellesley. Keep reading to find out more!

Waterstone at Wellesley to host a Chocolate Tasting (Sept. 25)

Attention chocolate lovers! Waterstone at Wellesley will host a chocolate tasting on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. The chocolate will be provided by The Chocolate Truffle, a high quality chocolate boutique that first opened in Woburn, Mass. in 1990. The boutique is proud to offer top-quality, hand-rolled truffles and hand-dipped chocolates. Their chocolates have been featured in publications such as The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald, and even appeared on Rachel Ray! Ray featured The Chocolate Truffle’s Peanut Putter Cup as her snack of the day. With such high quality chocolates to sample, you won’t want to miss out on this event! This is the perfect opportunity to have fun and meet the vibrant Waterstone residents and welcoming staff. R.S.V.P. to ensure you get a seat!

Delicious Cheeses from Wasik’s at Waterstone (Oct. 9)

Join us at Waterstone at Wellesley as we enjoy a variety of delectable, specialty cheeses from Wasik’s Cheese Shop on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. The Wasik family founded the Cheese Shop nearly half a century ago and it has become one of the country’s busiest, oldest full-service cheese counters. Wasik’s goal is to be the community’s source for the finest gourmet cheeses. Well, the Wasik’s not only met their goal, they surpassed it, as their extensive selection of fine cheeses are now in high demand nationwide. This is sure to be a fun experience where you’ll have the chance to indulge in delicious food, as well as preview life at Waterstone and meet the community’s great residents and staff. Seating is limited and your R.S.V.P. is required.

What are you antiques worth? (Oct. 23)

You’re invited to a special appraisal event at Waterstone at Wellesley on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. This event is perfect for anyone interested in having family heirlooms or old valuables appraised, or for anyone who loves antique hunting. If you would like to find out how much your treasures are worth, bring them with you for an appraisal by Skinner, Inc. For more information or to R.S.V.P., please call 781.236.3448.

Nothing like a New England autumn

It’s hard to believe we’re already making our way into fall, and that the first week of September has come and gone. Can you believe that in just a few short months, the snow will be flying, lights will be strung from porches and trees, and some families will head out to grab up the perfect Christmas tree? Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, though; we’re heading into fall and have at least a few more weeks of snow-free weather! These first few months here at Waterstone since we opened in April have flown by, and soon the leaves here will turn for our first autumn season as a community. Fall is the best time in New England, with its crisp temperatures, delicious harvest foods, and beautiful changing leaves. If you’re a New England native, you may dislike the oncoming colder weather but it’s definitely hard to deny just how beautiful it is on a clear, blue-bird fall day, with the trees blazing in color and the air as crisp and clean as the first bite into a fresh Macintosh apple. If you’re from the area, you’ve surely also enjoyed the apple orchards this area has to offer. What’s more nostalgic than pulling on a cozy sweater, stepping out into the fall air, and plucking a fresh apple right from the branch? Our residents and their family and guests will be visiting our neighbor town to the west, Natick, for some apple picking later this month, and I’m sure our chef, Randy, will have some tasty fall harvest treats waiting for everyone when we return. We’re hoping some grandchildren make the trip with us as well. Enjoy these final days of summer and stop by when you can to enjoy the cozy, comfortable atmosphere at Waterstone. We can’t wait to hear the crackling of the fireplace, indulge in rich autumnal foods and watch the trees along the Charles change color from our windows.

Creating a community, senior or otherwise

If you attended college, you probably recall with fondness the freshman moving-in process. At the time, it was overwhelming, exciting and a bit scary, but most of us look back on those days with a smile. When else do you get to move to a new place, meet entirely new people, and start friendships with no pretense or assumptions? With local college students flooding back into the Wellesley area as school starts, the greater community around us has taken on an electric atmosphere. Wellesley is bustling, and there’s a sense of youth and excitement in the air. Sure the roads may be a bit busier, but it’s a small price to pay for that revitalizing energy livening up the entire town.

Things aren’t too different here at Waterstone. We’re welcoming new residents into our community with the same enthusiasm, even if the circumstances are a bit different. The parallels, though – moving to a new place, meeting new, interesting people, letting your interests dictate how you spend your time – are undeniable. It’s a unique experience, seeing a community being formed from the ground up. As we observe friendships being formed, acquaintances being made, and residents becoming more comfortable and at-home in their surroundings, we’re starting to see the real Waterstone, beyond the walls and landscaping, emerge. Come be a part of our community; stop by for one of our upcoming events. We’re hosting the Dixieland Swing Quintet next week on Sept. 13 to close out our summer concerts in the courtyard series. You’ll love our outdoor courtyard and the entertainment is top notch. See you soon.

Keeping it current at Waterstone

Conventional wisdom is that newspapers may be struggling, but one demographic where they are still a morning staple is with seniors. There’s nothing quite like turning the pages of your local paper – ours is the Wellesley Townsman – over a cup of coffee and breakfast in the morning; perusing the news on a computer just doesn’t quite fit the bill. There’s something about holding the paper in your hands, getting a bit of ink on your fingers, that just feels good. Here at Waterstone, our residents are some of the most well-informed, well-read individuals you would ever meet. They are art aficionados, wine connoisseurs, “foodies,” lifelong learners and so much more. Many use their morning hours to catch up on the news of the day, and thereis no shortage of things to read about, especially since we’re in an election year. That’s why we enjoy our weekly Friday morning discussions, called Current Conversations, focused on the big news from the last week. It’s fascinating to hear the different perspectives and ideas on a variety of topics, especially when you learn something new. And studies prove that keeping current and discussing the day’s events help maintain and improve our cognitive health, so we enjoy that added benefit as well. Join us sometime for this weekly ritual; we meet every Friday at 10:30 a.m.  Have a cup of coffee, meet our residents, and see a bit of the Waterstone community at the same time. See you soon!

Navigating the Medicare maze with Waterstone

Medicare and its variety of plans and options can be a huge headache for seniors and their family members. Trying to navigate its ins and outs often leaves us confused and unsure. This beaurocratic care plan applys to a huge number of people and as such, there are a vast amount of possible scenerios and outcomes that must be accounted for. That explanation, though, doesn’t change the fact that simply choosing the right plan for you can be a challenge. Add to that all the discussion going on in the political sphere between President Obama’s campaign and Mitt Romney’s campaign and the changes each might bring to Medicare and it’s enough to leave your head spinning, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.

To help Waterstone residents and guests navigate such complicated issues, we’re hosting a Medicare Basics discussion with EPOCH Senior Living Medicare Expert Alice Smith. Alice has a long history dealing with the details of Medicare and how they apply to seniors. She’ll discuss the basics of Medicare and its plans, and more importantly, will answer any questions attendees have about it. She’ll review what an individual should consider when choosing coverage and how to apply for it as well.

Alice will visit on Tuesday, August 28 at 2 p.m. Click here to RSVP or call 781-235-1614.

Enjoying what Massachusetts has to offer – a trip to the coast

It’s great being located on the banks of the Charles River. We wrote about the benefits of that, and the work it took to make it a reality, in an earlier blog post, “Retirement living on the Charles River.” There’s something inherently soothing about spending time on the banks of a beautiful body of water, whether it’s a winding river, calm lake or, of course, a vast, wide-open ocean. Being located in Massachusetts, in that regard, has its perks. Not only are we a short drive from Boston, but we’re also a short drive from the beautiful Massachusetts coast.

Have you ever spent time on Massachusetts’ most famous coast, Cape Cod? If so, you know how pleasant and relaxing our local beaches can be. That’s why residents, friends, family and Waterstone team members are so excited to spend an afternoon on the northern coast in the city of Rockport, a small, coastal town known for it’s beautiful Artists Walk, quaint shops, and tasty seafood restaurants.

There’s nothing quite like spending a hot summer day enjoying the cool ocean breezes that offer a respite from the temperatures inland. Residents will join family and friends exploring Rockport’s Artist Walk, which is just packed full of interesting art galleries and stores. Several of our more art-savvy residents are particularly excited about this portion of the trip. Everyone will also have an opportunity to visit the city’s museum, which boasts artifacts and information about the history of the town. We’ll also stop by the well-known and much-loved Woodman’s seafood restaurant for one of their clam or lobster rolls before making our way back home to lovely Wellesley, Mass.

If you’d like to learn more about the outings and trips Waterstone residents embark on regularly, give us a call or send an email and we’d love to tell you more.

Musical nostalgia – Looking back on the Swing Era at Waterstone

We’ve written before about the musical and cultural opportunities to be found at Waterstone and the surrounding community. That’s one of the best things about living in such a great town – there’s really always something to do, and something for every interest and taste. Something our residents particularly enjoy is the musical events we host at the community. They’ve especially taken to well-known musician and musical educator Jack Craig. Jack has performed at EPOCH communities across Massachusetts, always to rave reviews. He is constantly updating his repertoire and knows just what kinds of music and styles that appeal to the generation we serve. We’re hosting him later this month as he presents a program all about the fantastic era of swing music. He has a knack for taking you back in time through his performances, and of course we all know just how nostalgic and fun it can be to reminisce over musical styles from our younger days. Stop by for his performance later this month, or come by a day later for an equally fun performance and discussion with Stephen Collins, an acclaimed actor who will be presenting his one-man Shakespeare show for residents and guests. Details are below – hope to see you!

Jack Craig presents “Songs of the Swing Era” at Waterstone at Wellesley

WELLESLEY–August 9, 2012–Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome Jack Craig, a musical educator and performer, for a performance and discussion entitled “Songs of the Swing Era” on Tuesday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. This event is free but an RSVP is requested.

Craig’s program will highlight some of the greatest bandleaders, musicians, singers and songwriters from the swing era, including Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Johnny Mercer and Lawrence Welk. Waterstone at Wellesley is located at 27 Washington St. An RSVP is required. Please call 781-235-1614 to RSVP.

Stephen Collins of “Shake-Scene” to perform at Waterstone at Wellesley

WELLESLEY–August 9, 2012–Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome actor and teacher Stephen Collins of “Shake-Scene,” a one-man Shakespeare show, on Wednesday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required.

Collins is an experienced actor and teacher who has been bringing poetry and plays to life across the Boston area for more than a decade.  Waterstone at Wellesley is located at 27 Washington St. An RSVP is required. Please call 781-235-1614 to RSVP.