Located at 535 Union Avenue, the Callahan Center is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon - Fri

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The following information is about activities and services at the Callahan Senior Center for the month of January 2012.

NOTICE: Most of the activities, special programs and events listed below require signing up or advance reservation, (unless otherwise noted). Please do so in advance so activities can be scheduled effectively and in the appropriate space.

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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.

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New Member Orientation Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of every month. If you have just joined Callahan you might want to attend one of these meetings as we enjoy coffee and pastry, answer your questions and seek your input on activities. Please join us on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012, from 9:30 – 10:00 AM.

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AARP TAX SERVICE - YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE. Appointments fill up fast, so don’t wait! Call the Callahan Center at 508-532-5980 and schedule time with an AARP Counselor. This is a wonderful opportunity and there is no charge for this service, however donations to the Friends of Callahan are welcomed.  Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit - The Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit is a highly effective, targeted tax credit for any homeowner or renter age 65 or older who meets the income and property value guidelines, and, unlike other types of local property tax exemptions, the state pays for it. The maximum credit for the coming tax year is $970. A great number of senior homeowners and renters may qualify for this refundable tax credit against personal income taxes. If you do not usually file taxes, you can still qualify for this credit. When having your taxes done, be sure to remind your preparer to look into this for you. This program is also retroactive for the past three years if you have not filed for the Circuit Breaker in the past.

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WELLNESS PROGRAMS

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Thursday, January 19th from 10:00—11:30 AM At Callahan Center - Good Drugs / Bad Drugs! We all use them! And yet we know so little about them! Many of us take more than 10 a day! Bring a list of medications that you frequently take and your questions. We will be joined by teachers and students from the Mass. College of Pharmacology, who gave us such a great presentation last year.

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Support Groups at Callahan Senior Center:

• Bereavement Support Group: Mondays, 9, 23 & 30 at 10:00 am. Closed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day– January 16.

• Better Breathers’ Support Group: Wednesday, January 11 at 12:00 pm.

• Diabetes Support Group: Tuesday, January 31 at 10:00 am.

• Caregivers’ Support Group: Wednesday, January 25 at 1:00 pm.

• Grandparent Support Group: Wednesday, January 25 at 7:00 pm. Please call the Center to confirm in the event of a change.

• Low Vision Group: No meetings in January and February.

• Parkinson’s Support Group: Tuesday, January 17 at 1:30 pm.

• Stroke Survivors’ Support Group: Monday, January 9th at 1:00 pm.

• BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC FOR JANUARY - Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18 & 25 from 9:30 am —12:30 pm.

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Can I still change my Medicare Plan? The 2011 Medicare Open Enrollment period ended on December 7, but there are still a few changes you can make, if you qualify. For those with a Medicare Advantage Plan: Between January 1 and February 14, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare, but you cannot switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan.

Your Original Medicare coverage will begin the first day of the following month. If you drop your Medicare Advantage plan during this period, you will be able to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your prescription drug coverage will begin the first day of the month after your enrollment. You may also add a supplement at this time.

For those with a Tufts Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (drug coverage only) in 2011: If you did not select a different Medicare drug plan for 2012, then you are currently without drug coverage. You have until the end of February to enroll in a new Part D drug plan for 2012, which will begin the first of the month after your enrollment. For those with Prescription Advantage or getting “Extra Help” paying for prescription drugs: You can change your plan anytime during the year. Those with Prescription Advantage can do this only once each year. Those with “Extra Help” can change every month.

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Trained SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) volunteers can help you! They offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of health insurance to anyone on Medicare. Call your senior center and ask for a SHINE appointment. You can also call 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636), then press or say 3. Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back, as soon as possible.

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PROGRAMS & EVENTS

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The Friends of Callahan will hold their general meeting on Monday, January 23rd at 1:30 pm. Entertainment will be provided by Peter O’Malley with “Name That Tune”. Refreshments will be served.

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Travel Presentation for 2012 Trips - Tuesday, January 17th at 10 AM - Snow Date is Wednesday, January 18th at 10 AM

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Book Discussion - Callahan’s book discussion group will be meeting this month on Thursday, January 26th at 1 PM and next month on Thursday, February 23rd. Please call the Center or check the bulletin boards for the books that will be discussed. Members of the group will submit and select titles for discussion. Please contact Eleanor Brody the group's coordinator for the titles that have been selected for these two meetings. Eleanor can be reached at 508-872-6162 or at clutterclear@aol.com

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Newly Retired - or Thinking about It Discussion Group? – Come share, laugh and learn what others are thinking about and doing as they near retirement age or have already retired! Join this lively group and become a “BUCKETEER!” What’s on your Bucket List? Thursdays at 9:30 AM. LEGAL CLINIC - The Callahan Center will be offering a Legal Clinic on the 4th Tuesday of every month. On January 24th appointments begin at 9:00 AM. Call Deb at 508-532-5980 x4110 to schedule a consultation.

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Tuesday and It Must Be Movie Time

Popcorn, drinks and fun all for only $2.00

The Movie Group has switched to the Red Box! The good news is we will have new and interesting movies, but unfortunately we will not be able to list the movies of the month in our newsletter, which makes it mysterious and exciting! You may call on Mondays to see what the movie for Tuesday afternoon will be and we will be more than happy to let you know. We will also have postings at the Center.

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Nintendo Wii Play Station installed: By popular demand we have installed a Nintendo Wii gaming console in the multi-purpose room. The Wii offers motion-sensitive game play options including Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort games, plus a MotionPlus attachment that allows players to simulate the action of a real game. The games include shuffle board, bowling, baseball, golf, tennis, waterskiing and more. Watch for more information and a sign-up sheet for scheduling play time.

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LUNCH AT THE CALLAHAN - Now offered twice a month! One seating/serving at 11:30am. Doors will close promptly at 11:30 am. Reservation must be made by the Friday prior to the luncheon at 508-532-5980. Cost: $4.00 pp. Menu: January 11 - American Chop Suey and January 25 - Roast Chicken.

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Coming in February! Foster Children’s Project - The Foster Children’s Project will take place in February. Please watch for the exact date and time in the February Courier.

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For additional information about the Callahan Senior Center, or other services, activities or programs of the Framingham Council on Aging visit the center at 535 Union Ave, Framingham, MA 01702, or phone (508) 532-5980.

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