Readers appreciation lesson in community learning in Jamaica Plain
posted on bostonglobe.com
Learning is very important as one ages — it is known to help keep dementia at bay, and it is particularly beneficial if done with others. Many universities offer programs at very low cost for retirees/seniors. The one I belong to now is a great resource. We have classes, hold outings and parties, and do a dining trail through the Lowell area to explore the history, food, and culture of the different ethnic groups there. The program, LIRA — Learning in Retirement Association— is associated with UMass Lowell. Our classes are held there and pretty much all are hybrid, so you can attend via Zoom. Our members range in age from 50s to one who is over 100 and often attends in person!
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Margy Roeck
Advertisement
Dracut
This is great. Doesn't have to be a high-rise either; any community, apartment complex, neighborhood, etc., can do the same. . . . I would recommend having a book club with neighbors. Something to bring neighbors together and learn more about them.
GardenFan64
posted on bostonglobe.com
JP@Home is a community organization that fosters the same connections as Towering Minds. It promotes enrichment and community among seniors with the aim of helping them stay in their homes in a rich and healthy way. JP, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Brookline, West Rox residents are welcome. There is a membership fee, but it's manageable.
Advertisement
wumberlog
posted on bostonglobe.com
I'm sitting here in the original Pelican Cove in Sarasota, Florida, where our ($40/year) resident-taught education programs continue. ... Past very popular courses included US Security, the American Political System, discussions of American Short Stories, and Music for All. This year there was a lecture on one man's opinion of the Best Rock Band (ever — and why), Watercolor Painting, and Flora and Fauna of Pelican Cove, Sarasota, to name a few. In the evening we have nationally known musicians nearly every week for 13 weeks. Many (but not all) residents are retired. The 'University' courses and beautiful shady campus convinced us to buy here!
jmmurph47
posted on bostonglobe.com
While it was enjoyable to read Salvatore Tagliareni's piece about the connections of residents living in the 30-story Jamaicaway Tower, it doesn't diminish the angst I feel whenever I view this architectural monstrosity rising high above the Emerald Necklace and Jamaica Pond. As old-timers such as myself recall, it was constructed well above the height restrictions of the area, due to the permissiveness of so many political connections that sanctioned an end-around of height limitations for this tree-lined area.
Joe Galeota
West Roxbury
Another lifelong learning opportunity is at the University of Massachusetts Boston — the OLLI institute. OLLI stands for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and is the 'best deal in town.' Check it out!
Hilarity Ensued
posted on bostonglobe.com
Going Underground
I loved the Your Home: Renovations issue (March 30). I have one question regarding
Advertisement
Judy Rehfeld
Epping, New Hampshire
Beautiful renovation but yikes when it comes to those granite stairs to the basement. Hope that glass is reinforced and well-sealed against water intrusion. And if they'd built in any drainage down there, it would have helped a lot to mention it in the article.
filmlady
posted on bostonglobe.com
How much does it cost to dig that deep and create the renovated basement? It must have been pretty disruptive to the neighbors. It's certainly an interesting idea.
nantucketgirl37
posted on bostonglobe.com
My husband who is an architect did same for us in Brookline — it's found space!
brilliant22
posted on bostonglobe.com
I know from experience that excavating a basement is costly. Fifteen years ago, my wife and I decided we would stay for the long haul in a modest bungalow in Central Mass., which led to a major renovation. I had the back half of my house up on 28 jacks. We excavated roughly 150 cubic yards of hardpan clay, and lowered our basement by 36 inches. I have 7-foot ceilings there with four I-beams holding up the house. . . . It was a ton of money and a ton of work. Often there is too much focus on the 'eye candy' aspect of renovations. Many readers want to know the costs, timelines, setbacks, and all of the important stuff behind the scenes that no one ever sees.
jjshello
posted on bostonglobe.com
CONTACT US:
Write to magazine@globe.com or The Boston Globe Magazine/Comments, 1 Exchange Place, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109-2132. Comments are subject to editing.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
101-year-old Dunwoody veteran travels to France for 81st D-Day anniversary
The Brief Hilbert Margol, 101, traveled from Dunwoody, Georgia, to Normandy, France, to mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day, honoring the fallen soldiers of World War II. A World War II veteran who helped liberate Dachau concentration camp, Margol reflected on the sacrifices made and was awarded France's Legion of Honour last year. Despite his accomplishments, Margol humbly states, "I never considered myself or any of the other veterans heroes because in my judgment, the heroes are the guys who didn't make it back." ATLANTA - At 101 years old, Dunwoody resident and World War II veteran Hilbert Margol made the journey to Normandy, France, this week to mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day, joining a small group of surviving veterans honoring those who fought and died in the pivotal battle. Although Margol did not serve on D-Day itself, he was part of the Allied forces that ultimately secured victory in World War II. He first visited Normandy last year for the 80th anniversary and immediately knew he wanted to return. "It was such a fantastic trip. I said, I have to go back again," Margol said. Before leaving for France, Margol shared a farewell kiss with his wife of more than 70 years — a moment captured just as it was during his trip the year before. During last year's visit, Margol toured the Normandy American Cemetery, reflecting on the sacrifice made by thousands of soldiers, even though he didn't personally know any of the men buried there. PREVIOUS STORY: Dunwoody vet travels to France for D-Day anniversary, receives France's highest honor "I know that those that were gave all of the freedom that this country enjoys, and it was quite emotional at the time," he said. More than 2,500 American soldiers lost their lives on D-Day alone, with more than 400,000 Americans dying during the war. Over 16 million Americans were called to serve. "All the veterans that I served with, you know, were born and grew up during the Great Depression. So we were used to tough times. So going into combat was not that difficult," Margol recalled. Margol's military service included a profound and somber moment — alongside his twin brother, he was among the first American soldiers to enter the Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945. "We knew almost nothing about such camps, so whatever we saw, witnessed a lot of dead bodies and so forth. We didn't understand why they were there, why they were dead," Margol said. Last year, Margol was one of 11 U.S. veterans awarded the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit. "When President Macron of France pinned the medal on my jacket, he leaned over and kissed me on both cheeks, which I expected because that's European custom," Margol said. His trips to Normandy were made possible through the support of the Best Defense Foundation and Delta Air Lines. Despite the accolades, Margol remains humble about his service. "I never considered myself or any of the other veterans heroes because in my judgment, the heroes are the guys who didn't make it back," he said. For Margol, the journey across the Atlantic wasn't about reliving history — it was about paying tribute to those who never returned.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Almost 1 in 3 High School Graduates Don't Feel Ready for 'Real Life'
Fact checked by Sarah ScottA new survey shows 32% of high school graduates say school didn't prepare them for the real world. Some high school graduates feel pressured to become social media content creators. Parents can help fill the gaps to help prepare their kids for life on their schoolers are mastering square roots, cell division, the Revolutionary War, and how to write the perfect essay. But, what about learning more practical skills? Case in point: My teen recently called me to ask how to boil water—I wish I were kidding! Meanwhile, I'm certain she isn't being taught how to fill out a tax return or other real-life applications in high school. Yet, in one short year, she'll be off on her own! Now, a new study by online education company K12 reveals that both parents and students have reservations about how ready kids are for life after high school graduation. According to 300 recent high school graduates and 200 American parents, these eye-opening realities were also teased out: 32% of high school graduates say school didn't prepare them for the real world. 59% of students aren't ready to deal with credit, taxes, or insurance. 38% of kids feel unprepared to manage money. 30% of grads say they feel unready to handle stress and have mental health concerns. It's also worth noting that more than half of recent grads say social media is shaping what they plan to do for their careers, with some admitting to feeling pressure to become content creators. There seems to be a divide between what kids feel they are ready for and how their parents view their preparedness. Consider that 84% of parents believe their kids will be more successful than they were at the same age. But parents also expressed concerns about their child's ability to handle life post-high school, especially when it comes to their emotional states, with 81% saying they've shared worries with their kids about their trajectories after receiving their high school diploma. Now that my soon-to-be high school senior knows how to boil water, my plan is to figure out what else I can do to get her ready to take on an independent life away from home. Adam Hawf, K12 Superintendent, tells Parents that the first step in promoting 'real life' readiness is to make sure your child can come to you with any questions and receive guidance without judgment. Then, it's all about tackling one thing at a time. 'Gradually imparting skills that are key to survival, such as how to file taxes, manage health insurance, or create a monthly budget, can go far toward establishing competence and confidence,' Hawf says. Scott Stump, the CEO for the National FFA Organization, a national, school-based, youth leadership and career readiness program, encourages parents to make these learning experiences hands-on when possible. For instance, you might have your child observe and help you complete a tax return or credit application. 'Kids learn by watching us,' Ariana Hoet, PhD, Executive Clinical Director, Kids Mental Health Foundation (KMHF), says. 'While it may seem boring, it's helpful to have kids participate in adult things like taxes and paying bills.' As a Millennial mom, I graduated to 'the real world' without social media—and even the internet!—as a factor in my career-planning process. But as this study points out, 1 in 3 kids are feeling the pressure when it comes to succeeding online. Am I alone in being resistant to the idea of my child chasing likes for money? Hawf says that although this is a relatable sentiment, parents should dig deeper to understand why their child wants to be an influencer. 'Is it freedom, creativity, money?' he prompts parents to understand. No matter the reason, according to Hawf, 'This isn't so much about having to go viral. It's about a generation growing up in a world where online success is highly visible—and often glorified.' Kids are going to aim for what they see, agrees Dr. Hoet. 'If they are on their phones for hours a day, they are exposed to content creators for hours a day,' she says. What parents can do to counteract this influence is to expose them to other career paths. 'I think it's important that high schoolers be regularly reminded that there is a world outside of social media,' concurs Stump. Of course, it's OK if a teen ends up as a happy and successful creator. But as he says, 'There are a multitude of different career pathways that exist outside of the realm of our social feed.' Ultimately, parents need to recognize that their kids are growing up in a different world than they did, according to the experts. 'Gen Z is coming of age in an era of constant visibility, economic instability, and information overload,' Hawf says. More access to information can help today's grads gain exposure to more career opportunities than ever, but Hawf cautions that this can also lead to decision fatigue and emotional burnout. That said, as Dr. Hoet rightly notes, parents worrying about their kids isn't anything new! It's still our job to help our grads navigate the next step of their lives, the best we can. Most importantly, we just need to be there for them during this huge life transition. Read the original article on Parents
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
CT Veterans Alliance to collect gently used books during D-Day of Remembrance rally
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut Veterans Alliance will host a book drive during a D-Day of Remembrance rally Friday in memory of Sgt. Daniel R. Keegan to benefit Operation Paperback. The event will be on Friday at the Connecticut State Capitol Building from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The book collection will benefit American troops overseas, veterans and military families. Requested genres include: Bestsellers Action Murder mysteries Fantasy Science fiction Business and investing Classics History Current events and nonfiction Children's books Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
