JANUARY 2007 HAPPENINGS AT CALLAHAN CENTER

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- News from the Callahan Senior Center:

Town of Framingham & Callahan Center Snowstorm Policy Notice - If the schools close due to snowstorms or other inclement weather days, there will be no activities at the Center. On these days, the Town of Framingham Staff will be available to you at the Center, unless the Town of Framingham declares an emergency closing.

Support Groups at Callahan Senior Center - Bereavement Support Group: Mondays, January 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 10:00 am. Grandparent Support Group: Please call Center for date and time.
Low Vision Group: No meeting in January & February. Massage Therapy: Thursday, January 4 (by appt. only). Parkinson’s Support Group: Tuesday, January 16 at 1:30 pm. Podiatry: Thursday, January 11 from 12:30 pm to 4:15 pm, by appt. only. Restricted to Framingham residents only.

Stroke Survivors’ Support Group: Monday, January 8 at 1:00 pm. The Diabetic Support Group is discontinued until further notice. Please call the Center at 508-532-5980 and leave your name and telephone number if you are interested in a Diabetic Support Group at the Callahan Center.

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC AT CALLAHAN CENTER - Wednesdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 from 9:30—11am & 12—1 pm

CARDIOVASCULAR CLINIC IN JANUARY - The Cardiovascular Clinic will be on Tuesday, January 2nd at 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM. A doctor from the MetroWest Medical Center and nurse Kitty Mahoney from the Framingham Board of Health will be at the Senior Center to check your blood pressure, answer any questions and address individual concerns. For further information, please contact Kitty Mahoney at 508-532-5472.

Framingham State College with Callahan Center, Presents Lifelong Learners’ Programs for 2007

Course title: “World Religions: Buddhism and Hinduism” Instructor: Professor Jason Giannetti
Dates: Thursdays, Feb. 22, Mar. 1 & 8 Time: 6:30 pm
Cost: $18.00 (Must be paid in advance - non-refundable)

Description: Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the greatest traditions of the Orient. To make an analogy, Buddhism is to Hinduism what Christianity is to Judaism. The former grew out of the latter, but, for a variety of reasons, Buddhism did not flourish in its native land of India, but rather, migrated and gained firm footing in China, where it developed and prospered. From China Buddhism spread to neighboring east Asian countries including Korea, Tibet, and Japan. Since the nineteenth century, these exotic and mysterious religions have had a hold on the western imagination and have caused us to view our own systems of philosophy, religions, and traditions in a new light. In this three-part mini-series, we shall explore the myths, art, theology, and philosophy of Hinduism and Buddhism in order to discover and appreciate the contributions these religions can make to our culture, our understanding of ourselves, and our view of the meaning of life. In the first lecture, the focus will be on Hinduism, the second will focus on Buddhism, and the final lecture will examine practical implications of the theoretical theology.

Course title: “A Decade of Presidential Elections: The 1960’s” Instructor: Professor Gary Hylander
Date: Thursdays, Apr. 12 & 19 Time: 10:00 am And Tuesdays, Apr. 24 & May 1 Time: 6:30 pm
Cost: $24.00 (Must be paid in advance - non-refundable)

Description: The election of 1960 was a cliffhanger that witnessed a record voter turnout. Kennedy called for a New Frontier while Nixon spoke of his Vice-Presidential experience and the need to maintain the policies and continuity of the Eisenhower years. The election campaign of 1968 brought into the open many of the hopes and fears of the American people. The campaign would see the short blazing political career of Robert Kennedy cut short by assassination, rioting in the streets of Chicago during the Democratic National Convention and the rise of George Wallace’s American Independent Party. Election day would find Richard M. Nixon narrowly achieving his consuming ambition to be President of the United States.

All payments must be received in advance of the program. No admittance without pre-payment. Please see Shirley Pease or Cheryl Lobdell at Callahan Center with your payment, or you may send your check, payable to the Friends of Callahan, to Attention: Shirley Pease, Callahan Center, 535 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702. Both of the above programs take place at the Callahan Center. Additional programs will be listed in February Courier.

Interested in joining a craft group? The Latino Group at the Callahan Center is pleased to invite you to participate in a craft class. The group meets every Friday morning from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm and welcomes all who would like to join this fun program.

Writing Workshop - Professor Marc Widershien will be starting another Writing Workshop at the Callahan Center in early 2007. If you are interested in leaving a special memory for your children and grandchildren, come and learn how to get it started. To sign up please call the Callahan Center at 508-532-5980. This is a free workshop.

Interested in Playing Pinochle? We are looking for additional players, novice or advanced! Instruction is available. Pinochle starts at 9:30 am on Tuesday mornings at the Callahan Center. This is an entertaining and stimulating pastime which is similar to bridge but can be much more challenging. For further information, please call the Center at 508-532-5980.

Wanted - Bridge Players - A fun group of intermediate level contract Bridge players meet each Tuesday, year round at the Callahan Center, 535 Union Avenue in Framingham. Check in time is 8:45 am and we play from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Come alone or bring a friend!

Health Insurance in 2007
2007 Medicare Parts A and B Out of Pocket Costs - Medicare Part A deductibles and copayments have increased for 2007. The Part A deductible is now $992 per benefit period. Medicare’s Part B annual deductible is $131. The standard Part B monthly premium in 2007 is $93.50, up from $88.50 in 2006. However, for the first time in Medicare’s history, those with higher incomes will pay more for Part B. This increased premium of between $106.00 and 162.10 per person, will only apply to individuals whose income exceeds $80,000, and married couples whose income exceeds $160,000.

“Part D” Prescription Insurance - You can no longer join a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for 2007, except under certain circumstances. These include when you first become eligible for Medicare, when you involuntarily lose “creditable drug coverage,” and when you move out of your plan’s service area. Then, beginning on November 15, 2007, everyone will have 45 days to pick a Part D plan for drug coverage in 2008.

Open Enrollment Periods - January 1 through March 31 is Medicare’s General Enrollment period. You can enroll now for Parts A and/or B for July 1st coverage if you didn’t sign up when you were first eligible. Late penalties may apply. This year, all companies offering Medigap plans (Bankers Life, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and United Healthcare – AARP) are open for enrollment during January for coverage beginning in February.

Medicare Advantage Plans - Between January 1 and March 31, people with Medicare can join a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as a Medicare HMO, Medicare PPO, or Medicare PFFS) or switch between plans. However, you cannot add nor drop drug coverage during this period. After March 31, your next chance to make a change will be November 15, 2007, with coverage beginning on January 1, 2008. (Special rules apply if you are just becoming eligible for Medicare, or loose your current health insurance.)

If you need help on any aspect of your health insurance, SHINE offers free counseling at your local Council on Aging (Senior Center). Call your COA and ask for a SHINE appointment. You can reach a SHINE volunteer by phone at 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636). Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back, as soon as possible. Please be patient. Due to the large volume of calls, you may not hear from us for several days. SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) is coordinated by the Mass. Executive Office of Elder Affairs in partnership with the Needham Council on Aging and other local agencies.