Senior Center News – November 12, 2020

“In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown,
and in between them, there are doors.”
~ William Blake

The opposite of a fact is usually a falsehood, But the opposite of a great truth
is very often another great truth.
~ Niels Bohr

Coming soon
The Winter Schedule, which covers December, January and February, will be an insert in this paper on 11/25, posted on the website on 12/1, and mailed out the first week in December. Thankfully, despite the restrictions and being all online, it is still quite full. Our eight popular exercise classes will be continuing, of course, as will Spanish Conversation, French Conversation Gathering, Play Reading for Fun, and the Gents Breakfast. Add in two other courses in French, three in Italian, Writing Your Life Story, Mindfulness for Life, and Mindfulness Meditation.

New courses are Coping with COVID (a discussion group), Poetry Magic, Italian for the True Beginner, and Screenwriting. And, in case you missed it before—or want more practice—Conflict Resolution returns again.

Having a nice variety to choose from is terrific, but perhaps what is most wonderful about the courses is our instructors. They are caring and dedicated people—as well as talented and inspiring teachers who are much appreciated by their students.

Talks on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
Even though they are restricted to being online and no longer follow our fabulous lunches, the Wednesday talks continue to be well attended. You will find the Zoom invitation/link to the talks posted on the website the day before. There is no need to register.

Missed a talk? Visit the website to find the recording which usually stays up about two weeks. So, if there is something that you missed but would like to watch, don’t waste any time—or it will soon be gone.

If you weren’t there, yesterday’s talk by Steve Gross on “Turbulence: What Can We Do About It?” might be one to visit. He works nationally with educators on this topic, but will be adapting it to the general public for Senior Center. This should be both interesting and timely. So check out the recording if you were not able to make it “in person.”

Last Wednesday talk in November
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 geo-political area.

Talks in the Winter
The topics for the winter are wide ranging and just some of them are: Curbing Across America, Mystical Myanmar, Shakespeare: Myths & Mysteries, Chocolate: Techniques and Recipes, Bringing Portraits to Life, Astronomy and the Night Sky, Life in Nepal, and the artist Louise Nevelson. In January, there will also be a new update on COVID-19—which leads nicely to this next topic.

Reminder on COVID-19
The news today is of a 90% effective vaccine and that certainly is very good. However, it will still be a while before we can afford to relax—and this is coming at a time when everyone has “pandemic fatigue” with holidays just around the corner—and an increase in the number of cases. So, it is worth reprinting what Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., conveyed in an email last month:

“As we start to head into the holiday season, I am asking us all to join together, to take a moment to re-center, to step back from pandemic fatigue and rededicate to doing everything we can to keep the virus from spreading. Think carefully about travel, and know that if you do, you will most likely have to quarantine upon your return.”

“And take a hard line if you are not feeling well. Even a headache or a runny nose—things you wouldn’t think of as symptoms—could be a sign of the virus. I say this based upon our epi teams experience—multiple instances where people have continued their daily activities while symptomatic . . .

“We just need to double down on prevention, and not roll the dice on risk. Because one thing we do know is that when gambling with health the virus might really win. We have been a model for the nation, and if together we stay Vermont Strong, we can keep it that way.”

Art exhibits
The Senior Center’s monthly art exhibits are continuing, and visitors are most welcome. Bring a friend —or three. There is plenty of room for social distancing. To see an art exhibit, please schedule an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Viewing days are Tuesdays and Thursdays 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 continues until 11/25. In the foyer is Nature Photography by James Regan, and the Great Room has a whimsical display titled, “And Your Little Dog, too.” These are a series of small paintings by Vivian Jordan that are inspired by animals and nature. “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.”

The December and January Art Exhibit is “Visual Dancing”—a display of Jonathan Silverman’s artwork that includes driftwood, non-functional pottery, watercolors and pastels. More on that in the next issue.

Remember, there is a lot of space in the Great Room to walk around in with a friend or two and relax. Take a safe break for art.

Be kind—it will lift 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