Tai Chi/Taijiquan Class with Linda Sango
2026-03-02 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-16 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-23 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-30 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
This Taijiquan class uses Formless Dragon style, a modern re-examination of classical Tai Chi and is open to all levels of participants. Linda Sango studies under Occidental Taoist Jeff Coté, who distills the essence of Tai Chi into fundamental principles. Students will be encouraged to learn single movements and explore postural, movement and conceptual principles, rather than learning as many form movements as possible. This practice is known to improve the health of body, mind and spirit while improving balance.
Free/Open to all 60+
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

Movie Matinee: The Beatles in India (2021)
2026-03-02 13:00 - 14:35
Documentary explores how John, Paul, George, and Ringo fell in love with Indian culture, music
and spirituality. The band escapes their hectic celebrity lives to a remote ashram
in search of spiritual bliss which inspires an unprecedented burst of creative
songwriting. Contains rare archival footage, recordings and photographs.
This film is shown in collaboration with the Acton Memorial Library.
Open to all 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.

Watercolor Painting Class with Fran Hewitt
2026-03-03 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-10 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-17 09:30 - 11:30
Participants in this class will learn how to use basic drawing skills and watercolor techniques to create pictures. We will explore line, color, shape, form, and texture as we draw and paint. Subjects for our work will include photographs of still-life objects, landscapes, animals, portraits, and flowers. No prior art experience is required to participate. If you have drawing and/or watercolor painting experience, you will use your knowledge to improve your skills. The supply list for this class has minor changes from the last session; it is available at the COA reception desk and can be emailed upon request. Fran is a veteran art teacher who taught drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, weaving, and collage to K thru 12th grade in the NH Public School for 30 years. She developed and taught adult art education classes as part of a continuing education program. After retiring, she moved to Acton and has enjoyed learning about the area, continuing to create art work, and reading the latest novel
Open to Acton 60+ only
Call to register for this session beginning Tuesday, January 6th after 8:30am: 978-929-6652 (no voicemails please)
*Friends of the Acton COA provides financial assistance for this event.

Lunar New Year Performance
2026-03-03 14:00 - 15:00
A group of local Chinese musicians and dancers will join
us to celebrate the 2026 Lunar New Year–the year of the
horse! They will present a very pleasant program with a
combination of Chinese and western music—Chinese folk
instruments the Pipa and Erhu, Chinese folk dance, vocal
performances (ensemble, duet, solo), perhaps a piano
concerto, and even Tai Chi!
Please call the Senior Center at 978-929-6652 to register in advance.
Open to all Seniors 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.

Mindfulness Meditation via Zoom
2026-03-04 14:00 - 15:30
In this four-week program, delivered via Zoom, we will explore both sitting meditation and mindful movement practices. The movement patterns are gentle and can be easily adapted for those with limited mobility. How are sitting and movement practices different, and how are they the same? How can they help us develop mindfulness skills, be present, and reduce stress? Each week, we will practice together and have ample time to discuss our experience. This class is suitable for beginners as well as anyone wishing to practice in community or to deepen or re-establish their practice. Please plan to attend all four classes. Heidrun Dickson trained as a mindfulness teacher at Brown University. She is a Qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher and loves sharing her learnings with others.
Open to all seniors age 60+
Please call the Acton Senior Center at 978-929-6652 to register.
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.

Words Galore via Zoom
2026-03-05 09:00 - 09:55, 2026-03-12 09:00 - 09:55
Val Walker’s winter session of Words Galore will meet for four weeks via Zoom for fun and lively word play and brain twisters—a logophile’s paradise! Learn new words, explore the history of old words and delve into the origins of words. Enjoy limericks, riddles, famous quotes, puns, and fascinating trivia about trendy words. Play guessing games with the dictionary and words-within-word games.
Contact the COA at seniorcenter@actonma.gov to receive the Zoom link. Val Walker, MS, is an educator, blogger and author. She offers her wordplay and poetry classes at many Senior Centers and enjoys sparking our wits and encouraging lighthearted banter—and fun!
Please call 978-929-6652 to register for this class. Open to all age 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.

Movie Matinee: Lilly (2024, PG-13)
2026-03-09 13:00 - 14:25
Film based on the life of Lilly Ledbetter, a mistreated Alabama factory worker who courageously sues Goodyear Tire for sexual discrimination. Her lawsuit led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair
Pay Act. Patricia Clarkson stars.
Open to all 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

Japanese Sticky Rice Cooking Class
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
Join Asako Judson to make Learn how to make traditional Japanese sticky rice with
chicken and vegetables using a steam method. While the rice is steaming, we will
fold a simple chopstick holder using a paper sleeve. Registration is required; please
inform the COA if you find you cannot attend. Asako Judson, who lives in Acton,
has worked at several restaurants and as a private chef and caterer.
Please call the Senior Center to register in advance: 978-929-6652
Open to Acton Seniors age 60+ only
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.

Trailblazers: The Women Who Have Shaped Modern American Society with Paolo Di Gregorio
2026-03-11 14:00 - 15:00
Over the last 200 years there have been many pioneering women in the United States
who have shattered social barriers and blazed a path for future generations to
follow. From the accomplishments of Elizabeth Blackwell in the 19th century to those of
Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the 21st, these women have changed American and global
society. In celebration of Women’s History Month, this illustrated talk will look at the
careers and legacies of the trailblazing individuals. Paolo Di Gregorio is a historian,
archaeologist and educator. He is a Visiting Lecturer in the History Department at
Bridgewater State University, and his passion for telling stories of our past is
enthusiastically received by Acton’s older adults!
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $5
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

20th Century Review: 1970-1979 with Dawn Gomez
2026-03-12 13:00 - 14:00
Life in the U.S. during the 1970s blended the momentum of 1960s activism with a
growing sense of political distrust and economic uncertainty. On the plus side
social movements remained powerful with civil rights continuing and women
pushing harder for equal rights and reproductive freedom. Culturally, the decade
was vibrant and diverse. Music ranged from disco to rock to soul, fashion
embraced bold colors and expressive styles, and television and film became
increasingly influential in shaping national identity. On the negative side many continued to protest the Vietnam War and political scandals like Watergate and Nixon’s resignation deepened public skepticism toward government. Economic challenges such as inflation and the energy crisis reshaped daily routines and expectations. Overall, the 1970s were a bridge between the idealism of the 1960s and the more individualistic, consumer-driven culture that would define the 1980s. Come learn more about this decade and share your own family stories as well! Dawn Gomez, Reminiscing Round Table founder, provides topic-based programs for seniors at assisted living and senior center communities.
Open to all age 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

Movie Matinee: The Apartment (1960)
2026-03-16 13:00 - 15:05
In this Billy Wilder comedy, a Manhattan insurance clerk tries to advance his
career by letting executives use his apartment for trysts, but office politics and his own
romantic hopes complicate matters. Stars Shirley MacLaine, Jack Lemmon and Fred
MacMurray. Oscar for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, and Art Direction.
Lemmon and MacLaine received nominations for their performances.
This film is shown in collaboration with the Acton Memorial Library.
Open to all 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

Movie Matinee: Four Letters of Love (2024)
2026-03-17 13:00 - 14:50
The paths cross of two young people whose lives are very different but
both marked by tragedy. Drama based on the bestselling novel by
Niall Williams stars Helena Bonham Carter, Gabriel Byrne, Pierce
Brosnan, Ann Skelly, and Fionn O’Shea. Set in 1970s Ireland.
This film is shown in collaboration with the Acton Memorial Library.
Open to all 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council of Aging provides financial support for this event.

Movie Matinee: Wicked: For Good (2025, PG)
2026-03-23 13:00 - 15:15
Dramatic music conclusion of the two-part film adaptation of the musical. Elphaba, now
branded as the Wicked Witch of the West, battles the Wizard’s regime while her once-
friend Glinda, serves as the Emerald City’s popular spokesperson. Cynthia Erivo and
Ariana Grande co-star. DVD available to borrow after March 23 from
resource shelf.
Open to all 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

3 (Additional) Keys to a More Fulfilled Life: Awe, Connection & Generosity via Zoom
2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:00
Would you like to enhance your perspective and mood? Do you long to make a positive difference in the world? Join Dr. Miriam Rosalyn Diamond to identify easy, readily available actions that can empower yourself in affirming that who you are and what you do matters. Participate in this workshop via Zoom from home or via a large screen TV with others at the Senior Center.
Miriam Rosalyn Diamond, PhD, is an educator, program developer, and inclusion specialist. She teaches adult education and college classes on lifespan development, friendship, and ethical awareness.
Please call the Senior Center to register in advance: 978-929-6652
Open to all age 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

History of Feminism in Music Presentation with John Clark
2026-03-26 13:00 - 14:00
Join John Clark for a 100-year history (1870 to 1970) of the music that played a vital part in American
women’s struggle for equal status and equal rights. It begins in the late 19th century with the anthems of women’s suffrage (Daughters of Freedom, March of the Women). Next come the early songs of female independence associated with the “flappers” of the Roaring Twenties, like The Charleston and Last of the Red Hot Mamas. Then music associated with labor strikes, specifically Bread and Roses and Which Side Are You On? And there’s lots more! From World War II’s Rosie the Riveter to These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ and modern feminist anthems like I Am Woman. You’ll hear songs by such widely diverse artists as Sophie Tucker, Joan Baez, Mimi Farina, Aretha Franklin, Peggy Lee, Lesley Gore, Nancy Sinatra, Helen Reddy, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn.
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $5
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial assistance for this event.

Movie Matinee: Train Dreams (2025, PG-13)
2026-03-30 13:00 - 14:45
Moving Oscar-nominated film about an early 20th century railroad
worker (Joel Edgerton) who, after a terrible loss, leads a solitary life in the West.
Based on the acclaimed novella by Denis Johnson.
Rescheduled from January weather cancellation.
Open to all 60+/free
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.

The Railroad in Song with Jon & Li Waterman
2026-03-31 13:00 - 14:00
Join acoustic duo Jon and Li Waterman on a tour of songs about trains, the building of the railroad,
workers on the railroad, train wrecks, heroes and hobos. The program looks at the Transcontinental
Railroad, the contribution of Chinese and Irish immigrants, the stories of Casey Jones and John Henry, the Old 97 train wreck, the Great migration and more. The show consists of songs, history, and an accompanying slide presentation. Jon and Li Waterman perform as the acoustic
duo Sultana whose performances are enthusiastically received at the Senior
Center. Jon has been performing his original songs throughout his life. His music is
influenced by intriguing characters and stories from history, the roots of the music
he loves, and the diversity of the human experience. Li is a classically trained
guitarist and singer, as well as a visual artist.
Open to out-of-towners age 60+ for $5
*Friends of the Acton Council on Aging provides financial support for this event.
