Acton Senior Center

The Hapsburgs were one of the most significant European royal families. At the height of their power, the Hapsburg dominions stretched across the globe from South America, through Europe, to the Philippines. Yet despite this extended realm, and the vast wealth and power that accompanied it, the family suffered tragedy, illness and, eventually, collapse. This illustrated lecture will examine the long, tangled story of this royal family. Paolo Di Gregorio is a historian, archaeologist and educator. He is a Visiting Lecturer in the History Department at Bridgewater State University, and his passion for telling stories of our past is always appreciated by Acton’s

Our line dancing instructor Paul Hughes is offering a special holiday line dancing class! No experience or partner necessary. Wear something festive to celebrate the season! Paul will teach the steps to dance to Silver Bells, Christmas Wishes, Mr. Santa, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Stretchy Pants, Christmas Cookies, Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, and Bringing in a Brand New Year. Open to all age 60+ /free

Longtime New England musician Matt York will be performing a selection of music with a holiday theme. The songs will run the gamut from those that have been around for hundreds of years to more modern Christmas and holiday classics. Singing along is encouraged! Matt’s program combines guitar/vocal performance and interesting stories about the origins of the songs. Matt York was twice been nominated for the Boston Music Award for Best Country Artist and his album Gently Used was named one of the top albums by Worcester Magazine. His programs on the songs of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash at the Senior Center were big hits! Open to out-of-towners 60+ for

Get into the spirit of the season with this presentation featuring classic holiday songs from the 50s and 60s! You’ll hear the stories behind It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Broadway composer Meredith Willson (of Music Man fame) and country star Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper. Did you know that songwriter Johnny Marks had written three big hits during these years? Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee), A Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives) and Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry)? And in the 1950s there were novelty songs galore like The Chipmunk Song, I’m Getting’ Nuttin’ for Christmas

Eighty percent of our planet’s habitable living space is in the deep sea, the ocean realm that is beyond the reach of sunlight. In this presentation Dr. Peter Girguis will take you on a trip through the deep sea, learning about the extraordinary animals and microbes that thrive therein and about their adaptations to this environment. He will also touch upon humankind’s relationship with the ocean, the birth of deep-sea biology and the technological innovations that first took humans into the deep, humankind’s impact on the ocean, and how we still have time to turn the tide. This program is

Open to all LGBTQ people age 60+ & allies/free Join Rainbow Coordinator Rosie Latto for a Winter Wonderland Party! There will be a hot cocoa bar, cookie decorating, holiday bingo, and conversation. People in the LGBTQ+ community and allies are warmly welcome. Please RSVP to the Council on Aging at 978-929-6652 or to Chris Chirokas at the same number or cchirokas@actonma.gov.

Join Minuteman Senior Services nutrition intern Zahraa Pyriadi, a student at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, for a quick, evidence-based look at what seed oils are, what the science says, and how to use them smartly. Open to all age 60+/free

Join Dr. Jennifer Staples, Clinical Psychologist and co-founder of guts nonprofit, to learn practical tools to cope with overwhelming moments. The holiday season can feel especially lonely and challenging; this session will help you find more peace, calm, and acceptance. You’ll leave with science-backed strategies you can use immediately and a take-home handout. guts makes mental health tools accessible, actionable, and relatable—because it takes guts to talk about mental health! Open to all age 60+/free