Spreading “More than Words”

Donation box in Carlisle, MA; photo by Ornit Barkai

While our relationship with More than Words has endured the test of time and despite changing members on both ends the book drives and recently catering has strengthened our partnership further.

Most Scholars have contributed to this relationship through their donations. During our walk organized last April, Ornit Barkai, Visiting Research Associate at WSRC joined the discussion at the store on what more Scholars can do to help More than Words. Bobby Nasson, Business Development Manager at the Waltham store asked for assistance and wanted to know contact persons in Carlisle where Ornit lives. His idea was to initiate book donations in that town. Ornit promptly followed up on this and after a few exchanges she excitedly reported back, 

“I was delighted to spot More Than Words at our town’s Transfer Station the other week. This is seemingly the result of my previous attempts …. to introduce Bobby to the ‘right’ people in our town!”

The members of Waltham Committee thank Ornit for her efforts and her contribution to reach out to the organization that we have had a sustained partnership with and work with their plans to spread to other towns.

Liz Markson’s presentation at the Waltham Council on Aging

Elizabeth Markson, Resident Scholar, discussed part of her research on older women as they are portrayed in Hollywood films over the past 70+ decades.  She focused on how clothing and other props are used to represent aging and old age-in a random sample of 83 feature films from 1929 to 2004, Drawing from films over a 70 year period, she gave examples of the ways that older actresses been depicted to give both explicit and explicit messages about women and aging.

Persistent images and props from 1930 through 2000 define the film roles played by older women: shawls, rocking chairs, aprons, cooking and baking, and small pets. Even women who are villains cook and prepare food—including just before spurring on a lynching!  Attendees chatted about why older actresses very rarely portray active and vibrant people, rather than backdrops for the actions of younger (or predominantly male) cinematic portrayals. Despite social change, older women’s dress and activities remain likely to be clothed in stereotypical fashion as ‘witches, bitches, or poor old things’. However, the times are changing—or are they in American cinema?  Will greater life expectancy, later retirement, more women in the labor force, and the aging of the baby boom generation reduce ageist and sexist film portrayals of women 60+?

Helen Berger’s talk at the Waltham Senior Center

 

Helen A. Berger, Visiting Scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center and member of  the Waltham Committee presented a talk on Witches and Wiccans at the Waltham Center on Aging on Monday, January 28^th.  Helen has published four books on the topic, A Community of Witches; Voices from the Pagan Census; Witchcraft and Magic: North America; and Teenage Witches.  Her talk focused on Contemporary Witchcraft and Wicca as religions albeit an untraditional ones in which there is no central authority or one book that everyone must follow. Nature is seen as sacred and is celebrated in the Wheel of the Year–a ritual calendar–in which the beginning and height of each season is commemorate in a ritual. For Wiccans and Witches belief is less important than experiencing the divine and rituals provide a route to having that experience. The Goddess (es) is worshipped in conjuncture with the God(s) or alone. Witches and Wiccans practice magic but claim that they will not use if for ill, as the energy that each person sends out comes back to her or him three-fold. Thirty seniors were in attendance and a very lively and interesting discussion followed including questions about how the ritual calendar is used in other parts of the world where the seasons are different, and the relationship of contemporary Witches to those individuals killed as Witches in past. So much interest was stimulated that participants have requested more lectures on world religions.

 

Nurturing Nature: walk led by Sonja Wadman

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A walk organized by members of the Waltham Committee and led by Sonja Wadman of the Waltham Land Trust exposed us to the many facets of local environmentalism and activism. Sonja took us to the paved trail path (which is easy to walk on and wheel chair accessible) on River Road. At the point of entry was the splendid Silver Maple – the oldest in Waltham stood majestic and presented a most welcoming sight. Onto a footbridge over the Charles River backwaters – was dedicated to Mary Early an activist to work in South Waltham.  For the Scholars, this was a treat to learn about women activists who have been recognized locally for the difference they make in their community. The vistas along the bridge and beyond were breathtaking. The unusually warm day was encouraging as we made our way to the serene pathways marked by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. At one point Sonja gently chided a visitor on picking Bittersweet vines that choke local foliage. In a previous post we have talked about the activities the land trust is involved in removing these parasitic vines from the area. Continuing on our path the Blue Heron bridge was a suspension bridge that did not cease to awe us with its shape, construction and the arches framing the sky as if it were.As a community partner the Waltham Land Trust has led us to newer avenues of being engaged locally.

Note of thanks

 

Donations collected from Scholars during the walk will go towards supporting the following: Land Preservation, Outreach and Education, Western Greenway development and literature and maps on local open spaces.

We hope to remain connected to the Land Trust and organize further activities to support this worthy initiative.

Emily Corbato Performs for The Stanley Senior Center in Waltham September 28, 2012

Emily Corbato, Resident Scholar, WSRC

 

Resident Scholar, Emily Corbato, performed a piano concert for a full audience of 100 people at Waltham’s Senior Center on Friday, September 28^th. Her choices of composers were mostly from the 1800’s, including Ernst Bacon, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, Ernest Block, and Joaquin Turina. She began her recital with a powerful execution of Well Tempered Clavier (Prelude in C Major) by J.S. Bach, who lived between 1685 and 1750. With charming and compelling commentaries about each song and composer, Corbato performed 17 musical renditions written by 8 composers. Often smiling and clapping as Corbato played the piano and provided stories about the music, the audience was obviously enchanted with both the performer and the performance.

Learning about the Waltham Land Trust

Sonja Wadman

Sonja Wadman, an environmentalist and Program Director at the Waltham Land Trust  met with the members of the Waltham Committee at the WSRC.  Committee member Rajashree Ghosh met Sonja at the Waltham Day celebrations and invited her to the Center so we could learn from her more about her work.

Sonja informed us that the Land Trust comprises residents of Waltham whose mission is to acquire, preserve or restore land. It has worked closely with the city administration to acquire and protect 115 acres of open space, promoted conservation on 335 acres and intervened development efforts on 200 acres.

In addition the Land Trust also plans educational, recreational and social events that include trail clean ups, lectures, walks etc.

Bittersweet vines that have been pulled and twisted

At the time of our meeting Sonja introduced the Committee members to an invasive Oriental creeper called Bittersweet. This creeper flourishes and suffocates local foliage. Sonja is leading a campaign to “pull and twist” the vines and tie up into concentric circles that will go into building a nature viewing blind. The nature blind,  will screen Western Greenway Trail walkers and others who enjoy this peaceful spot in the woods. This will be installed in the trails in Shady Pond area. Some of the Committee members were thrilled to participate in this activity.

With our interests peaked we learned from Sonja organizes walks that not only provide opportunity to educate about the environment but also about activists who contributed in their own ways in protecting the open spaces in Waltham.

With that in mind we hope to organize a walk in Waltham that will open our eyes to the local resources – human and environmental. The Waltham Committee members are thankful to Sonja for presenting the work of the Waltham Land Trust, and we hope we are able to partner with them in the near future.

Ruth Nemzoff Presents Her Work on Building Relationships with Your Adult Children at the Waltham Council on Aging

Ruth Nemzoff, Resident Scholar, WSRC speaking at Council on Aging, Waltham

Ruth Nemzoff,  Resident Scholar at WSRC and the author of Don’t Bite Your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships with Your Adult Children (Palgrave Macmillan 2008), presented her compelling work on building relationships with adult children at the Waltham Council on Aging. Approximately 15 seniors were in attendance on May 15th, attentive to the topic, asking many questions related to their own experiences, and even buying her book.

Ruth advocates not biting your tongue with adult children, although the common public myth is “keeping your mouth shut.” Our adult children need to know what we are thinking and feeling—without our badgering them. Relationships are ambiguous, and we need to develop some comfort with uncertainty or lack of clarity. And, communication is key—as it relates to such issues as weddings, grandparenting, and money. It’s not that we can say whatever we want whenever we want to; when we talk, what we say, and how we say it are crucial.

Some of her tips include:

• Listen to how you frame advice or questions so that they are not perceived as critical.
• Be honest, but with sensitivity.
• Be positive about what you love about your child.
• Invite communication so that you can discover what your child is thinking.
• Ask questions that encourage a response and are not perceived as criticism.
• Acknowledge that you could be wrong and that your child could be right.
• Don’t look for or expect perfection.

This presentation was the first of many planned by WSRC’s Waltham Committee for the Waltham Council on Aging. Our intention is provide enrichment to seniors at the CoA and in so doing offer a service to the wider community in which WSRC “lives.”