Senior Center News

Menus
Suggested donation for meals: $5.

Monday Munch
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. No reservations required
April 9
Pumpkin chili soup, green salad, pineapple upside-down cake
April 16
Lentil Bolognese over spaghetti squash, apple, dried cherry & pecan salad, coconut cake

Wednesday Lunch
All diners eat at noon. Reservations required.
April 4
Stuffed peppers reimagined, birthday cake & ice cream
April 11
Rosemary pork roast, creamed Boursin spinach, glazed carrots, homemade dessert
April 18
Oven-fried chicken, baked potatoes with sour cream, steamed asparagus, homemade dessert

Thursday Men’s Breakfast
7:30 a.m. –9:00 a.m. Reservations required.
April 12
Buckwheat pancakes & local maple syrup, fresh fruit

It looks as though spring has finally arrived, after the usual false starts. This means that the Senior Center will be having more activities geared towards the outdoors as the weather gets warmer. One of the first is the Birding Expedition led by our favorite bird expert Hank Kaestner on April 18.  (Registration is required, starts at 9:00 a.m.) 

Do you know?
Do you know—that the Charlotte Senior Center does not have any membership fees? That there are no forms to fill out? That you do not have to be from Charlotte? That many classes are free—and those with fees mostly range from $7 to $10 a class? That you don’t have to be really old to participate? (Fifty is fine.)

Many of the instructors at the Center have been teaching for more than eight to 10 years. One of our long-time teachers is Sylvia, who leads a strength maintenance class (using weights and stretch bands) to a full class of women and men. Trained in the Live Strong program, she is known for being focused, friendly and funny. She is a force of nature—and is only 95.

Stop in to check us out—there is always a helpful host at the desk. Or call the Center at (802) 425-6345 to ask questions, register for a class or make a reservation for the Wednesday lunch. If you are coming alone to lunch or a class, have no fear. We can introduce you around, and you will fit right in. (You will not eat at a table by yourself!) We are not strangers—just friends you haven’t met yet.

You can pick up a calendar of activities here or check out the Town of Charlotte website. Go to the Town website, see the Senior Center listed on the left, and click on it for the Spring Schedule.

Consider volunteering one morning a month on a cooking team to make a “munch” for Monday. It’s a great way to get acquainted. For other options and for more information, contact Peggy, our friendly volunteer coordinator, at (802) 425-6345. The Center functions only because of its wonderful volunteers who do so many different things!

Have you heard about our great meals? (See the menus above.) The Men’s Breakfast will also be viewing videos of dramatic ocean sailboat racing and real-time, whole-earth satellite views of weather patterns. (Next breakfast is on April 26.)

Although courses are already underway for the Spring Schedule, you can join most of them at any time. Coming later in April and May will be road hikes, another birding expedition, pastels and acrylics.

Exercise
There are a variety of intensity levels, and many are adapted for those with injuries or limitations. They range from Yang Tai Chi Chuan, to Chair Yoga, to Pilates, and more.

The arts
Origami has two sessions left, on Tuesday, April 3 and 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Friday writers group meets once a month at 1:00 p.m., this month on April 13. 

VT Reads 2018 continues on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. at the CCS library. Be part of an intergenerational discussion of the historical novel Bread & Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson. The last meeting is April 17.

Health events
Thursday, April 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the Center hosts the American Red Cross Blood Drive. 

Wednesday, April 18, Foot Clinic at 9:15 a.m. with Julia Jacques & Martha McAuliffe, R.N. (prior appointments required). At  11:30 a.m. Martha McAuliffe, R.N., UVM Medical Center, offers the Blood Pressure Clinic (appointments not required).

Wednesday presentations
April 4 at 1:00 p.m. visit Gardens of Spain with Charlotte Albers. Journey to Barcelona and Madrid and look inside the royal palaces of the Alhambra in Granada—a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the 10th century—and the Alcazar in Seville. We’ll look at centuries of architectural detail in hidden gardens and courtyards. Charlotte is a garden writer and designer who travels widely to visit public gardens. 

April 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. is Protecting Against Identity Theft with Elliott Greenblott, AARP. Identity theft can disrupt your finances, credit history and reputation. Learn how to recognize it and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim. Registration not required. No fee. [Note: this is a late morning event.]

April 11 at 1:00 p.m. is Alaska by Small Ship with Mike Lynch, who will share his experiences and photos from his small-boat, one-week cruise from Juneau to Glacier Bay National Park. 

April 18 at 1:00 p.m. there will be Irish Music with Marty Morrissey and Robert Resnick of the Highland Weavers Band. Sponsored by Friends of Charlotte Senior Center. 

April Art Show
This month’s art show is “Eco Art and Transformations,” mixed media by Linda Finkelstein. She says, “For me, the creative process is centering, healing and transformative. I hope you will sense the spirit and sparkle of my creations.” 

Note: The art show pieces are hung in the foyer and in the Great Room. (Yes, it deserves the name.)

The foyer is always accessible, but because the Great Room is utilized for many classes, the best times to see the art shows are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons after 12:30 p.m. and Wednesdays after 3:00 p.m. 

See you soon!