Senior Center News – January 14, 2021

Carolyn Kulick, Senior Center Director

“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”
~ R.J. Palacio, Wonder

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
~ Thomas Merton

This Week’s Events
1/19. Blood Drive. A friendly reminder that the next Red Cross Blood Drive is on Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Senior Center, although the building is closed for other activities. If you wish to donate urgently needed blood, please go to the Red Cross website or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Strict health protocols will be followed for the safety of those participating in this event.

1/14. Screen Writing for Fun, Part II with Mark Williams. Thursday evenings, 6:30 p.m. to7:45 p.m. Dates: 1/14 – 2/4 (Rescheduled from Dec.). Work on creating the turning points in your movie’s story that propel the main character into action. Everyone’s movie is discussed supportively in class each week, and this helps build creative energy. Newcomers welcome. Fee: $48 for the series of 75-min. classes.

Next Week’s Courses
1/18. Conflict Resolution with Mark Williams. Monday afternoons, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dates: 1/18-2/22 (6 weeks). Using role-playing and mediation exercises, participants in this 6-week class will learn practical skills, such as: how to calm an angry person down, how to empathize with a person with whom you disagree, and more. Fee: $48. Please register by 1/15.

1/19. Better Balance: Session B with Laurel Lakey. Tuesday & Thursday mornings, 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Dates: 1/19–2/25 (12 classes). Offered online in conjunction with Dee PT, this course is designed to improve your balance and reduce fall risk. It is appropriate for individuals of varied balance abilities; recommendations will be made to adjust exercise difficulty. Newcomers welcome. Fee: $45. Registration required by 1/15.

1/22. Poetry Magic with Laurie McMillan. Friday mornings, 11–12:30. Dates: 1/22, 1/29, 2/5 & 2/12. We’ll play with exercises to loosen your inner poetry magician. As poet Billy Collins says, “Poetry is for giving voice and reminding us there is much more to life than what I’m usually doing.” Join us on a poetry odyssey to inspire your writing. Fee: $48 for the series of 90-min. classes. Please resister by 1/20.

1/27. Coping with COVID with Karen Chatfield. Wednesday mornings, 11:00 a.m to 12 noon. Dates: 1/27, 2/10 & 2/24. Registration required by prior Monday. Join your peers to explore coping strategies and share methods you have used to deal with life during the pandemic. This group is designed to provide connections and support as we navigate “the new normal” together. Please note that this group is not intended to be a substitute for therapy or professional mental health treatment. Registration is required, but one need not attend every meeting. No fee.

1/27. Mindfulness Meditation Practice with Jill Abilock. Wednesday afternoons, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Ongoing.  You can’t always change what you experience in life, but you can change how you experience it. Mindfulness Meditation provides tools that help change how you experience things, increasing fulfillment and happiness, and reducing stress. Registration necessary. No fee.

1/27. Snowshoe Expeditions with Susan Hyde. Wednesday mornings. Dates: 1/27, 2/10 & 2/24.  For more information, please email Susan directly. Please note that this activity may be restricted by the VT Dept. of Health.

How to Register for a Course
All courses are online—and all require registration in order to receive the invitation/link. To register, email your name, mailing address and phone number. Be sure to note the title of the course in the subject line of the email. You will receive confirmation that you are registered. Please send a separate email and registration information for each course.

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 title of the course in the memo line.

  • For ongoing exercise courses, please pay at the end of each month for the classes attended. Unless otherwise stated, tally your attendance and figure $5/class.
  • For courses with a limited set of dates, kindly pay prior to the start of the course. Fees vary.

Please check the course description for the fee above, in the printed Winter Schedule, or visit the Senior Center website. We are not able to confirm receipt of your check. If fees present a hardship, don’t hesitate to request an adjustment by sending an email. We want everyone to be able to keep themselves healthy and engaged, especially during this challenging time. Questions? Need help with Zooming? Please send an email or leave a message at (802) 425-6345.

Talks on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
These free, interactive events are online via Zoom. Please note that they do not require registration. The Zoom invitation/link to the talks are posted on the Senior Center website the day before. The link also appears in Front Porch Forum for that week.

1/20 at 10am: COVID-19 Update in 2021: What Now? with Jim Hyde

Please note that this talk will start at 10am due to the Biden/Harris Inauguration.

Jim Hyde.This session will provide a quick update on the prevalence of the “new” coronavirus variant, testing (screening, diagnostic and surveillance), and the latest on new vaccine development and vaccination progress here in Vermont. At least half of the time will be devoted to Q&A. Jim Hyde is a Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the Tufts University School of Medicine and former Director of Preventive Medicine at the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health.

1/27. Bringing Portraits to Life with Jonathan Silverman. How do artists tell stories through portraits? This presentation explores the world of familiar and unfamiliar portraits from early Renaissance to the 21st century. By showing how artists from different genres paint and sculpt human expressions, moods and spirit, the presenter helps us understand historic and cultural context, enrich our sense of aesthetics, and reflect on our own identity. Jonathan Silverman is a professor emeritus from Saint Michael’s College where he coordinated the arts education program. He maintains his artistic identity through ceramics and watercolors. An exhibition of his work will be displayed at the Senior Center in December and January.

2/03. Chocolate: Techniques & Recipes for Simply Spectacular Desserts with Chef Arnd. Join us for an interactive, live chef demo from The Residence at Shelburne Bay Bistro. This will include tips, techniques and easy-to-follow instructions on how to create special desserts using chocolate as the key ingredient. Chef Arnd will explore the beauty and texture of different kinds of chocolate just in time for Valentine’s Day. For all you chocolate lovers this is one not to miss! Arnd Sievers is a European Certified Master Chef who serves as the Culinary Services Director at The Residences at Shelburne Bay and Quarry Hill. He is from Hamelin, Germany, and has worked throughout the U.S. and internationally in fine hotels and restaurants.

2/10. Looking at The Night Sky with Jack St. Louis
2/17. Nepal: Through the Eyes of An American with Sandi Detwiler
2/24. Here’s Looking at You…Louise Nevelson! with Linda Finkelstein

Art Exhibits
The Senior Center’s monthly art exhibits are suspended until further notice.

Be careful. We are all in this together. The end is in sight.

For more expanded descriptions, as well as additional courses and talks, please visit the Senior Center website. The mission of the Senior Center is to serve those 50 and up; some course enrollments are limited, and if a course is not full, younger participants are welcome to enroll. Feel free to leave a message anytime at (802) 425-6345; voicemail is checked frequently.

“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Charlotte Senior Center
(802) 425-6345