Charlotte Senior Center News

CCS students Sawyer Carr (right) and Morgan Keach (left) with senior center friends Susan Ohanian and Jim Lovejoy. Together they baked Sawyer’s grandmother’s famous carrot cake for the Center’s Monday Munch. Photo by Stacy Fraser.

It’s hard to believe, but I fell for that old Vermont spring scam once again. After decades here, I really knew that it was not going to get warm anytime soon, but I just could not face it. So here we all are, still waiting for the crocuses; I bought a bouquet of tulips to get me through.

What is the Senior Center?
Recently, some local folks who have never visited the Senior Center asked me what kind of place we are. The Senior Center is not a residential facility—nor are we an adult daycare service. I would say we are kind of like a golf club—without the golf. It is a comfortable gathering place to have good food and conversation, share activities, and make new friends. 

Who comes to the Senior Center?
Center participants are people who are engaged—interested in keeping active, learning new things or polishing neglected talents. Of course, Charlotters make up a large percentage of visitors, along with residents from all the surrounding towns. There are people who grew up in Vermont, and others who moved here decades ago for the skiing, sailing and gorgeous Vermont seasons. Others recently moved here to be near children, or grandchildren, and have left their old communities behind and are looking for new connections. 

Folks come from dozens of states across the country, as well as from several other nations: Spain, France, Italy, Chile, Germany, The Netherlands, England, Australia and Brooklyn. Some have spent many years living abroad— from Europe to Asia—but returned to Vermont after they retired. So, you can see, we are a very varied group that has somehow formed itself into an open, welcoming community of its own.

Courses
If the weather cooperates, Road Hike #1 will be on Tuesday, April 24, to Red Rocks Park.

Road Hike #2 will be on Tuesday, May 1, to Jonesville. Registration required. No fee.

Acrylic Adventures with Lynn Cummings has a few spots left. Class begins on Tuesday, May 8, and will focus on layering with several acrylic mediums with iridescent and metallic paints. You’ll also pour paints to create organic shapes for backgrounds, then finish with representational shapes and objects. It runs for four sessions from 9:00 a.m. to noon and is $120 for the course. Registration and pre-payment are required.

Pastel Painting with Shirley Reid-Thompson has been cancelled as the request of the instructor. It was set to begin on May 1 and will probably be offered again in the fall. Call in August to check.

Health
Reminder: If you have already signed up, Wednesday, April 18, at 9:15 a.m. is the Foot Clinic. 

At 11:30 a.m. is the Blood Pressure Clinic; walk-ins are fine.

Wednesday Presentations
April 18 at 1:00 p.m., there will be Irish Music and other songs with our own Marty Morrissey and Robert Resnick of the Highland Weavers Band. Sponsored by Friends of Charlotte Senior Center. [The CCS Ukulele Band, originally scheduled for this date, will now perform on May 9.]

April 25 at 1:00 p.m. will be Croatia, Jewel Of The Adriatic with John Hammer. This presentation focuses on the Dalmatia coast, with trips inland to Mostar, Bosnia and the Plitvice Falls. Beautiful beaches are backed by a history of the Greeks, Romans and Venetians. The architecture is exquisite and the people friendly.

May 2 at 1:00 p.m. is a presentation on the Feldenkrais Method® with Mischul Brownstone. He will introduce how this somatic approach uses gentle, mindful movement to bring new self-awareness and improve function. It can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and positively influence other aspects of your life.

Special June event
“A Celebration of Peonies:” On Friday, June 1, join the Full-Day Trip To Hildene by Premier Coach. We will meet at the Center at 8:00 a.m. for a trip to visit Hildene, estate of Abraham Lincoln’s son in Manchester, VT. If we are lucky, the peonies will be in bloom in this spectacular setting. A visit to the restored Pullman car on the grounds and a self-guided tour of the mansion are followed by a private look at the archives collection. The pre-ordered, buffet lunch in the Hildene Beckwith Room features a horticultural presentation. Trip cost is $80 and includes travel, lunch, admissions, all expenses and gratuities. If time and energy permit, there will be a short stop at the Northshire Bookstore. Return arrival time will be approximately 5:00 p.m. Registration and prepayment are required no later than May 7. Please note: Some walking is necessary.

May Art Show
Enjoy the group show featuring acrylics with ink by Jenny Cole, watercolors by Anne Gordon, waterscapes in oil by Judy Tuttle, pastels by Jill Kleinman, and both pastels and watercolors by Beverly Goodman.

Note: Art show pieces are hung in the foyer and in the Great Room (It’s really big.). 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. Wednesdays after 3:00 p.m. Call the Center during the week to check on availability on Sunday afternoons.  

Do stop in to say hello and check out the Center. We all look forward to meeting you.

See you soon!

P.S. Did you notice in the Menus section that the Old Lantern’s Chef Roland will be creating a Surprise Lunch on Monday, April 30, at the Senior Center?

Senior Center Menus
Suggested donation for all meals: $5

Monday Munch
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. No reservations required.
April 23
Tortellini & zucchini soup, green salad, rice custard dessert
April 30
The Old Lantern’s Chef Roland will create a special surprise lunch  for the Senior Center.

Wednesday Lunch
All diners eat at noon. Reservations required.
April 18
Oven-fried chicken, baked potatoes w/sour cream, carrots, homemade dessert
April 25
Spinach & mushroom lasagna, tiramisu
May 2
Smoked sausage w/sauerkraut, baked potatoes, birthday cake, ice cream

Thursday – Men’s Breakfast
7:30 a.m,. – 9:00 a.m. Reservations required.
April 26
Menu and topic TBA