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1/22/12: “Paintings by Karen Danstedt Roop,” January 18 to March 9. Opening on Sunday, January 22 from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM. A graduate of Boston University (BFA and MFA), Karen Danstedt Roop was an art specialist with the Braintree Public Schools for 34 years. Now retired, she is able to devote her energies to painting fulltime. Most of her landscapes are started “en plein air” with finishing details being added back in her studio.  “For me there is excitement to the immediacy of painting on location. I enjoy the challenge of trying to capture the play of light, the values and the nuances of color that comprise the essence of a scene. My hope is to convey a feeling and a sense of place in my paintings, not just record a subject.”

1/20/12: Weekly Women’s History Tea, South Living Room. This week, Girl Scout Troup #72619 from Maynard gave a presentation at the weekly women's history tea. The scouts presented short biographies of women who have made an impact on history. This project fulfills a badge requirement for the girls to earn their Junior Bronze Award by the end of the year 2012. This is a special honor, as 2012 is the 100th year anniversary of the Girl Scouts and the girls are looking forward to receiving their award during this centennial year celebration. The Girl Scouts also provided their cookies for us to enjoy! See the article in the Maynard Wicked Local Website.

1/19/12: Piano Concert with Fred Moyer, Morrison Theatre. Frederick Moyer has established a vital musical career that has taken him to forty-one countries and to such distant venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle, Carnegie Recital Hall, Tanglewood, and the Kennedy Center. He has appeared as piano soloist with world renowned orchestras including the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, the St. Louis, Dallas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, Boston, Singapore, Netherlands Radio, Latvian, Iceland and London Symphony Orchestras, the Buffalo, Hong Kong and Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra of Brazil, and the major orchestras of Australia. His 22 recordings on the Biddulph, GM and JRI labels comprise works by over thirty composers and reflect his affinity for a wide variety of styles. Mr. Moyer will perform a program of classical piano masterpieces and will feature works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven as well as others."

1/16/12 “A Search for Justice,” Morrison Theatre. Performance by Stephen Collins to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. This performance piece will examine issues of social, political and religious justice. What is Justice? Can it be defined, or is it just an abstract concept? What is Truth? How do leaders—both political and religious—use language to motivate people? Is violent action ever justified when all else fails? Is there such a thing as a  “just” as opposed to an “unjust” war? In this piece you will hear the words of the abolitionist newspaper editor William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown will tell you why he resorted to violence, and Lincoln will deliver his oration at Gettysburgh. Thomas Hardy and other writers will comment on war and religion.

1/16/12: Newbury Court Residents Hear Talk on North Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea--North Korea--does not immediately spring to mind as a popular tourist destination. That is, unless you are David Nurenberg.  Nurenberg, a teacher of English at Concord-Carlisle High School traveled there this past August and recently shared his unique journey with Newbury Court residents. Dr. Nurenberg teaches English at Concord Carlisle and directs the school's international exchange programs with Japan and Turkmenistan.  An avid traveler, he has visited over thirty countries but his real passion is to “see places he is not supposed to see” and counts the Palestinian territories, Tibet, and Turkmenistan among those forbidden places. While it has been legal to travel to the DPRK since 1997, there is no U.S. Embassy there and Nurenberg is one of fewer than 1,000 American civilians to have visited the country. [Read more]

6/20/11: Newbury Court Collaborates with APDA. The Newbury Court Parkinson Disease Support Group hosted its first lecture in collaboration with the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA).  The speaker was Dr. Joseph Friedman,  an internationally-recognized expert, Professor and Chief of Movement Disorders at Brown University and Butler Hospital, who wrote "Making the Connections between Brain and Behavior: Coping with Parkinson's Disease."  The program addressed motor and non-motor symptoms, side-effects of medication and current research. The program was open to people with Parkinson's, care partners and neighbors from Concord, Carlisle and neighboring towns.

The Newbury Court Parkinson Disease Support Group is Co-Chaired by Dr. Paul Dinsmore and Jerry Rardin with assistance from Catherine Hunter, Assistant Director for Programs.  The APDA was represented by Cathi Thomas, APDA Center Coordinator at Boston University Medical Center, and Vlad Lyczmanenko, APDA Mass. Chapter President.

6/20/11: The Salty Dawgs at Newbury Court. “The Salty Dawgs” brought folk and bluegrass music to Newbury Court with a combination of instrumentals, vocals, sing along and humor!  The group sang heartily when residents requested “This Land is Your Land” and the “The Wabash Cannonball.” John Fitzsimmons and Seth Connelly played guitar. Pat “Hatrack Gallagher, son of resident Lois Gallagher, played harmonica. There was toe-tapping entertainment for all! PHOTO: (left to right) Front Row: Seth Connelly, Pat Gallagher, Joe Fitzsimmons, Harriet Parish Second  Row: Lil Jenney, Lois Gallagher, Libby Read, Bill Read

6/13/11: STEP Concert at Newbury Court. Students from STEP--String Training Education Program--performed for Newbury Court residents in Morrison Theatre. Founded twenty-five years ago by Newbury Court resident Bill Moyer, Project STEP recognizes that certain racial and ethnic minorities are vastly underrepresented in classical music. The mission of Project Step is to address this imbalance by identifying musically talented children from underrepresented Boston communities and to provide them with comprehensive music instruction and, ultimately, to prepare them to compete and succeed in the challenging world of classical music. The students presented a program of Mozart, Dohnanyi, and Debussy.

6/3/11: LyricaFest at Newbury Court. LyricaFest presented an outstanding chamber music program at Newbury Corut with students from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Korea, Russia and the United States.  Laura Bossert, who founded LyricaFest 11 years ago, is on the music faulty of Wellesley College and the Longy School of Music.

5/31/11: Newbury Court tours Garden in the Woods. Where in the suburbs can you explore a garden devoted to native plants? Garden in the Woods of the New England Wildflower Society in Framingham welcomed Newbury Court Residents for tours.  Bonnie Drexler, Director of Education and daughter of Newbury Court resident Mitzi Keleher led tours on an electric golf cart. Nancy Jaysane, Volunteer, led a walking tour to the Ephemeral Garden and beyond. The natural setting, formerly a quarry, is lush green with  tree canopy, 100s of labeled native plants, edible and herb gardens, "idea" garden,  invasive plant jail, plant nursery, terrific gift shop, and more!  Don't forget to bring a camera! Photo; (Left to right) Lee Abbott,  Sally Cross,  Mary Silverstein, Betty Evans; Nancy Jaysane, museum volunteer

5/26/11: 14 Sages at Newbury Court. Why not learn history from those who have lived through it? Fourteen residents of Newbury Court traveled to Concord Academy for 8 weeks for the “Sages and Seekers” program.  Students in Kim Fredrick’s United States history class were the “seekers” interviewing the residents or “sages” about their life experience. Conversations highlighted family life, careers, World War II, the Civil Rights movement and more. Both generations have something to teach and to learn. At the final meeting, each student presented to each sage a powerful essay summarizing the experience and a rose.

5/26/11: Chamber Music Workshop at Newbury Court. Pianos, violins, cellos and one clarinet! Fourteen students from Concord Academy's Chamber Music Workshop played in four groups at Newbury Court. Coached by Ashima Scripp, from the Longy School of Music and Cambridge,  the program featured  outstanding selections by Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart and Ravel.

5/26/11: Birds of Prey at Newbury Court. An adult red tail hawk, 5-week old owl, adult owl, vulture and kestrel were among  birds of prey brought to Newbury Court by Tom Ricardi of Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabiliation Facility in Conway, MA.  Rescued birds that cannot be released into the wild live in aviaries where Ricardi provides care.  His guests are served 500 mice a day!  Ricardi is especially proud of successful efforts to foster abandonded eggs to eagles.  To be so close to the these magnificent birds was an experience that cannot be described in words. PHOTO:  Randi Carlson strokes an owl.

5/26/11: Summer Jazz Cookout Series at Newbury Court. The first monthly Summer Jazz Cookout was a cookout and an "eat-in" event with temperatures in the 40s!  Nearly 150 Newbury Court residents were served a traditonal menu of freshly grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, chef's special fried chicken, seasonal pies, strawberry shortcake and fruit.  Joe Reid's quartet featured Phil Grenadier on trumpet, Wil Slater on  bass, Renato Malvasi on drums, and Joe on piano. A wonderful evening for all!