Senior Center News – May 6, 2021

Carolyn Kulick, Senior Center Director

 

“Each year, you rediscover in a garden the magic of life. A flower arrives, and it is a miracle. . . There is a tenderness about a garden . . .”
~ Hubert de Givenchy

“I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

Another season is almost upon us: The Charlotte Senior Center’s Summer Schedule will be inserted in the next issue of The Charlotte News. Have you noticed that one season keeps following another? That said, lately, it is hard to keep them separate – even though the weather keeps changing. It’s hard to distinguish if something happened in June 2020 or in June 2019.

We are still in a holding pattern when it comes to re-opening the Senior Center. Around the state, other centers are grappling with the state guidance about the need to wear masks and to continue social distancing. This Vermont Department of Health guidance applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. In the meanwhile, outdoor activities like Spring Walks and Birding Expeditions have continued, and Kayaking for Women will be starting in June.

When the Senior Center does re-open, one challenge will be to establish new cooking teams for Mondays and Wednesdays, since some key volunteer cooks have retired. Want to get involved? If you’d like to find out more, please leave a message anytime at (802) 425-6345, and someone will get back to you.

Courses starting soon
Since we are at the end of this season, there are no new courses starting now. New ones will begin in June. For details, please see the Summer Schedule insert in the next issue.

Ongoing classes continue year-round
Check out the website and consider signing up for an exercise or health course – which can be joined at any time during the season: Chair Yoga (Mon, Wed); Essentrics™ (Wed, Fri); Gentle Yoga (Mon); Pilates (Thu); Pilates PLUS (Tue); Tai Chi for Beginners (Tue, Thu); and Mindfulness Meditation Practice (Wed). And, if a course is offered twice a week, you can opt for participating on just one of those days – if you wish.

Talks on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
These talks do not require advance registration, are always free – plus, they now include a closed captioning option for those who are hearing impaired. The Zoom invitation/link to each talk is posted on the website the day before. The link also appears in Front Porch Forum for that week. Can’t make it on Wed.? Talks are recorded and posted for two weeks afterwards on the website.

It’s not that bigger is better – really – but it was very impressive to have 65 people in attendance for Craig Henidel’s talk on Vermont in Deep Time, on 4/21. In case you missed it, the recording is posted on the website for a while longer. Craig’s talks are interesting and he is very knowledgeable, but who would think that geology would have such a following? Yet, considering that people in these parts are quite outdoorsy and tuned in to the environment, it makes perfect sense.

Please note that two of the remaining talks this month will be on Thursdays instead of the usual Wednesdays. You might want to make a special note on your calendar.

Thursday, 5/13. “Live Free or Die” in China with Tao Sun. Learn about the tragic story of Prof. Wu, a U.S.-educated English literature scholar, who went back to China just after the Communist Party came to power. In his autobiography, he tells of being imprisoned and publicly shamed after being labeled as an “ultra-rightist.” Targeted because he was outspoken, he liked to repeat the slogan, “Live Free or Die.” Despite its dramatic economic growth, China still pays only lip service to the protection of free speech, as written into its constitution. Heavy-handed political control by the party/state was partially responsible for the spread of coronavirus in China and beyond. Dr. Sun is associate professor of public communication at UVM and a former news editor in China.

5/19. Amazing Libraries of the World with Margaret Woodruff. From the clay tablets and papyrus of ancient civilizations to the digital downloads of today, the thread of library history is information.  The power and prestige of the written word led to the development of majestic spaces to house these collections.  Join Margaret Woodruff, Director of the Charlotte Library, for a virtual tour of libraries past and present. We’ll consider what future libraries will offer as places of access and resource. Co-sponsored by The Charlotte Library.

Thursday, 5/27. Inside the Internet: How It Works with Brian Bock. Did you know that the Internet of today evolved out of a military project which was actually designed to survive a nuclear war? What do acronyms like HTTP or DNS mean, and why are they important?  Find out how the Internet really works from a technical perspective – but geared toward the non-techie. At the end, you will have a chance to ask your burning questions. Brian Bock has worked online his entire career and in 1996 started his own Internet-based software development firm.

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

Plant Sale
The Senior Center’s Plant Sale is back! Rain or shine on Sat, 5/29 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Find what your garden needs at great prices – and maybe say hello to a friend, too.

Job Opening
CSC is looking to fill a new part-time position: Assistant to the Senior Center Director. It’s an interesting, multi-faceted job, flexible hours, great environment. You can find the full description on the website. Application deadline is 5/21.

For expanded course descriptions, please visit our 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.

Remember – a cow apart. Don’t stop now. Risk is lower – but not zero.

How to Register for a Course
All courses are online – and all require registration in order to receive the invitation/link.

To register, send an email with 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. The invitation/link for the course will be sent to you by the instructor the week that classes start.

How to Pay

  • If there is a fee, kindly pay by check (made out to CSC) and send to: PO Box 207, Charlotte, VT 05445. Be sure to note the full title of the course in the memo line of your check.
  • 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 set dates, please pay at the start and note the fee listed in the course description.
  • If fees present a hardship, please inquire about a scholarship 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.

Charlotte Senior Center
(802) 425-6345