Enjoy Hot Tea and National Oatmeal month at senior center

Knowing that January is Hot Tea Month and National Oatmeal Month may not cause anyone to burst into song, but certainly January is the time to celebrate snow.

While you’re enjoying good meals at the Charlotte Senior Center, note that on Jan. 15, 1885, Jericho farmer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley became the first person to photograph a snowflake, the first of over 5,000 photos.

The Natural History Museum in London has digitized a book of Bentley’s photos, allowing us to see for sure that no two snowflakes are alike.

Even better, visit the wonderful Bentley exhibit at the Old Red Mill in Jericho, maintained by the Jericho Historical Society. You’ll see the actual camera he used as well as lots of his photographs. Add to the delight by enjoying “Snowflake Bentley” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a children’s book beautifully illustrated by another Vermonter, Mary Azarian.

As you enjoy your lunch at the Charlotte Senior Center, contemplate that beans, an important part of every known cuisine for 10,000 years, are good nutrition. Beans are cholesterol-free and high in vitamins, minerals and soluble fiber.

That said, we can still appreciate humorist S. J. Perlman’s observation: “Any dietician will tell you that a running foot of apple strudel contains four times the vitamins of a bushel of beans.”

Strudel isn’t on the menu at the Charlotte Senior Center, but take note of that chocolate bread pudding.

Monday, Jan. 16
Monday Munch
Hot dogs, baked beans, brown bread, and chocolate bread puddling.

Thursday, Jan. 19, 10-11 a.m.
Grab & Go meal pickup
Oven fried chicken breast, diced potatoes with parsley, peas and onions, wheat roll with butter, date Craisin bar and milk. Meal provided by

Age Well.
Don’t forget to register for the Thursday Grab & Go meal: 802-425-6345 or by sending an email.

Monday, Jan. 23
Monday Munch
Menu to be announced. Check the website.

Thursday Jan. 26, 10-11 a.m.
Grab & Go meal pickup
Barbecue pork rib, fried potatoes, carrots, southern biscuit with butter, fruit crisp with cream and milk. Registration required by the prior Monday.

Thursday Jan. 26, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Potluck lunch, music and art.

Come enjoy a potluck lunch in the café, followed by a photography show and a cello performance in the great room. Please sign up at the host desk so we know how many are coming.

All month, enjoy “Let it Snow,” written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Style in a 1945 July Hollywood heat wave, sung here by Frank Sinatra.