Residents Event Calendar

Jewish Studies Group facilitator Rabbi Rachmiel Langer will conduct a community Hanukkah service with lighting of the Menorah to welcome the holy season. ALL are invited to attend – traditional refreshments will be served.

Our friends with Regatta Players begin rehearsal for their Feb. production of the hilarious comedy “Drinking Habits” by Tom Smith. Residents are welcome to quietly observe the rehearsal process.

On July 4, 1826, well-wishers went to Peacefield, the Adams farm in Quincy, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Join “John Adams” for a recreation of that gathering, speaking to the visitors who came that day.

Our next art gallery exhibit features the work of Linda Johnson. Linda grew up in two Detroit suburbs. When her mother discovered that she had some interest and talent for art (she won a school-wide contest), she sent her to private art classes. She also took elective art courses in high school where she excelled at portrait painting. With many other interests–reading, writing, history, politics–she decided to major in English at Michigan State University, assuming one could not make a living as an artist. In 2002, she moved to Massachusetts where she began painting once more. Since then she has completed art courses at Worcester State University and Worcester Art Museum. Her favorite art activity is painting portraits in pastels or oils at the Princeton Arts Society Portrait Group. Besides appearing in quite a number of juried shows, she has won several awards for her work. The reception will also feature pianist Richard Hughes. Refreshments will be served.

Seasonal Songbook! The booklet provided for this program contains more than 100 of the most popular carols, secular songs, and standards of the winter, Christmas and Hanukkah season. Audience members peruse the booklet and pick their favorite songs for the group to sing. And – you’ll hear the stories behind the songs with Jack’s informative anecdotes. What results is a wonderful holiday songfest !

American History Through Autobiography with Jed Watters. We will explore central issues in American History by reading the autobiographies of important people including Benjamin Franklin, Ulysses S. Grant, Anne Mood, Jimmy Piersall, and Robert McNamara. This course will include considerable reading (at least 50 pages for each class—selected chapters from each book). We will use the class periods to discuss how these participants saw their roles in the historical process. Jed Watters was a history professor at Assumption College and WPI for more than 30 years. He is a retired Naval Officer and analyst at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Southgate residents are admitted to the class free of charge.

Mary Cassatt: An American woman was at the very heart of a radical revolution in art. Impressionism changed the art world forever. Overcoming social stigma, and cultural as well as national boundaries, Mary Cassatt defied the times to become an independent, innovative, and professional artist. She is famous for her unromanticized images of women and children, not saccharin or sentimental, but honest, realistic and yet, still adorable. Join us for a look at her beautiful images, her interesting life and her celebrated accomplishments.

A beloved Worcester tradition, this concert highlights the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jorge Soto, performing classic symphonic works and favorite music of the holiday season. Previous registration required.