Senior Center News – October 29, 2020
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ ”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living
Last Outdoor Activity
11/3. Fall Road Hikes in the Champlain Valley with Joan Mollica continue one more Tuesday to make up a previous cancellation for rain. There is some space, so if you are interested, please email Joan or call her at (802) 985-2951 and leave a message. Be sure to include your name, phone number and email address for the contact tracing log. The 11/3 hike is to Rock Point Trails, Burlington. Word is that this is probably the most beautiful of the walks. There are stone steps and fenced-off overlooks for viewing the lake from various cliff spots. No fee.
Starting soon
11/6. Yes, it’s lovely here in Vermont but are you still feeling stuck? This is your last chance this season to “take a trip”—through language learning. You will have another chance to dive into Italian language and culture in case your schedule has been too busy in the past. On Friday, 11/6, Italian Intro–B (1:30 p.m.) and Italian Refresher–B (3:00 p.m.) both will run for six sessions into Dec. – with a break for Thanksgiving. The suggested fee is $30, but donations of any amount are accepted.
Never too late
Did you manage to find so much to do while the weather was nice that your days were just completely filled? Did you miss out on some classes that you wish you’d been able to fit in? You are in luck!
Many of the courses with limited meeting dates are likely to repeat in the winter: Italian Intro, Italian Refresher, French Coffee Club, Mindfulness for Life Intro, Writing Your Life Story, probably another version of Script Writing—and possibly also Civil Discourse. There will be other new ones as well. Be sure to check the Winter Schedule online 12/1 or as an insert in this paper on 12/3.
Although it is late in the season, you can still join any of the ongoing courses—which basically never end. This wide array of exercise/health courses will continue to help keep folks in shape while we are hunkered down for the winter. With different levels of challenge, you can choose from (in alphabetical order): Chair Yoga (W/F), Gentle Yoga (M), Essentrics (W/F), Mindfulness (W), Pilates (Th), Pilates Plus (Tu), Tai Chi for Beginners (Tu/Th). If you have questions about any of these courses, email the Senior Center and you will be put in touch with the relevant instructor. Probably the better idea is not to “hunker down” but, rather, “move around.”
How to Register for a Course
All courses are online—and all require registration. To register, send the Senior Center your name and mailing address. Be sure to note the name of the course in the memo line. You will receive confirmation that you are registered.
Payment: If there is a fee, kindly pay by check (made out to CSC) and send to P.O. Box 207, Charlotte, VT 05445. Be sure to note the name of the course in the memo line. Those in ongoing exercise courses pay that the end of the month for the classes they attended. For courses with limited dates, kindly pay prior to the start of the course.
Foot clinics
After months of uncertainty, the notice has finally come this week that the Foot Clinics (previously Footnoters) are not going to be offered during the pandemic. According to the email from UVM Health, “We knew that the program would not be able to continue in its current form, but hoped we could build on existing programs… After many conversations with clinical leaders at various organizations, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue our program.”
“Home Health and Hospice offers a foot care clinic at their South Burlington Adult Day Center and is available to all former UVMMC participants for a charge of $50. To schedule with this clinic, you can call (802) 860-4442. We recognize that this is not ideal for some, but it is the only safe and available option at this time (in addition to PCP and Podiatry office foot care services).”
There used to be a rather festive atmosphere on Foot Clinic days here at the Senior Center. Lots of people coming and going—and lots of happy feet bringing smiles to faces. Everyone was friendly and chatty. Folks were well attended to—Julia Jacques, LPN, started volunteering with the Foot Clinic way back in 2002, and Martha McAuliffe, RN, began with the Blood Pressure Clinic in 2013 and started supervising the Foot Clinic in 2015. They were a great team—along with the other volunteers who came to lend a hand. Life is about change, but sometimes it is hard.
Talks on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
These free events are via Zoom. Please note that they do not require registration. You will find the Zoom invitation/link to the talks posted on the Senior Center website the day before.
11/4. Long Ago in Charlotte: Train Depot & West Charlotte Village with Jenny Cole.Take a photo tour Charlotte’s West Village and train depot in the early 1900s. Adding a few more details and stories of longtime Charlotte residents will bring this enterprising village to life. People in the audience are invited to share their own memories. Co-sponsored by the Charlotte Library, Charlotte Historical Society and local historians.
11/11. Turbulence: What Can We Do About It? with Steve Gross. To say the least, we live in turbulent times. Covid-19, the struggle for racial equity, and a volatile political environment are just some of the forces we are dealing with as a society, as individuals, and in our families. This talk will help you better understand the nature of turbulent change and steps you can take to respond effectively to it. Steven Jay Gross is Professor Emeritus at Temple University.
11/18. Is America’s Oldest Asian Security Alliance Ending? with David Rosenberg. A crisis is brewing between the U.S. and the Philippines. President Duterte sees that U.S. influence in the region is waning, while China is becoming more aggressive. He is concerned that the U.S. is not living up to its end of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries and is charting a slow, but steady, course away from the U.S.—and toward China. Are there any options for averting the end of America’s oldest strategic alliance in Asia? David Rosenberg is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Middlebury College and an international specialist in this area.
Art exhibit
The Senior Center’s monthly art exhibits are continuing, and visitors are most welcome. To see an art exhibit, please schedule an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Viewing days are Tuesday and Thursday between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Leave a message anytime at (802) 425-6345 and include your name and phone number for a confirmation of your appointment.
The November Art Exhibit extends the Photography by James Regan and adds a whimsical display titled, “And Your Little Dog, too.” These are paintings by Vivian Jordan, inspired by animals and nature. Vivian says, “Many are detailed and realistic, others express feelings, and some have a surprising twist. All have a signature touch of sparkle…but you won’t see that until the light hits it just right.”
Remember, there is a lot of space in the Great Room to walk around in and relax. Take a break for art.
Be careful. Keep your spirits up. We are all in this together.
The Senior Center’s mission is to serve those 50 and up; if a course is not full, pre-seniors may also enroll. Feel free to leave a message anytime at (802) 425-6345; voicemail is checked frequently.
Charlotte Senior Center
(802) 425-6345