Indoor or outdoors — the senior center has you covered
With summer weather arriving, it is time to participate in outdoor activities. Consider learning to play pickleball for seniors, a women’s kayak trip or joining the gentle walking or hiking group.
The senior center also has plenty of indoor activities to try out, whether it is a watercolor workshop for beginners, learning Italian, participating in an exercise class, joining a card or board game group or making new friends at the weekly Monday lunch.
Community events
June artist exhibit
Following the advice of one of her teachers, Judy Tuttle has chosen to include water as a subject in almost all her paintings. In her exhibit at the senior center, My Water World, her waterscapes include oceans and lakes, rivers, ponds and puddles done in watercolor, pastel or oil.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, June 20, 2-7 p.m.
Please consider donating blood. The Red Cross is experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit the website and enter: CHARLOTTE to schedule an appointment.
Outdoor activities
Women’s kayak trips
Second & fourth Friday mornings
These kayak trips are for active women who share a love for exploring Vermont’s many local lakes, ponds and rivers. Trips listed are tentative, dependent on water and weather conditions. To register your interest, please send email directly to Susan Hyde to be placed on a master list of paddlers. Free. Registration required. On Friday, June 14, the group will paddle at South Slang in Ferrisburg. On June 28, the trip will be on Upper Otter Creek past Middlebury.

Merrymac Farm Sanctuary
Wednesday, June 19, 1 p.m.
Merrymac Farm Sanctuary became a formalized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the Spring of 2023. It has grown from a handful of folks to a village of incredible volunteers, visitors, and donors. It provides a permanent, happy home to over 130 homeless or otherwise abandoned farm animals. The rescues include horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and bunnies. Era, the Founder/Director, and Mari, Assistant Director, will be sharing what they do as a sanctuary, a couple of animal stories, and talk about how you can get involved. Free. Registration is recommended.
Learn pickleball for seniors
Saturday, June 22, 10-11 a.m.
Curious about pickleball? Playing pickleball allows you to work on your balance, agility, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination without putting excessive strains on your body. Pickleball is a wonderful alternative for older players who used to play tennis, but have physical limitations such as hip, shoulder, knee, or other joint problems. Bring folding chairs to watch how pickleball is played. Afterward, there will be the opportunity to try out pickleball. Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers. Paddles will be provided. If you enjoy the sport, the Charlotte Library has pickleball supplies that can be checked out. Questions? Call or text at 802-425-4567. Free but registration required.
Walking or gentle hiking
Thursday, June 27, 9 a.m.
Enjoy the beauty of Nature. Come walk at a gentle pace with other seniors. The group will meet each month for a congenial non-strenuous walk. Location to be determined based on conditions of the local walks. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at Charlotte Senior Center. Questions? Contact Penny Burman at 916-753-7279. Cost: Free. Registration appreciated.
Indoor activities
Italian for Beginners II
Fridays, June 14-July 19, 10-11 a.m.
Have you taken Italian in the past? Are you interested in continuing your study of Italian? Join this Beginner Level II class to explore the beauty of the Italian language and culture. If you have questions about whether this class is the correct level, email Nicole Librandi. Cost: $60. Registration and payment required by June 13.
Beginner watercolor workshop
Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
If you’ve always wanted to try watercolor but were too intimidated, this is the class for you. This month Ginny will demonstrate a variety of ways to paint trees in the landscape- there will be plenty of time to practice and create a chart to take home for future reference. Class limit 10 students. For more information about Ginny Joyner, please check out her website. Cost: $40 plus $6 supply fee. Registration and payment required by June 12. The supply fee is paid directly to the instructor.
Backgammon league
Tuesdays, 6-8:30 p.m.
Backgammon is a tactical table game with a 5,000-year history. The group welcomes players at all levels. If you have questions, please contact Jonathan. Cost: $3. No registration required.
Yoga strength-building practice
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon.
Join Heidi Kvasnak for an integrative practice that builds strength and stability while maintaining a sense of ease and spaciousness in both body and mind. You will practice longer-held postures that strengthen muscles, bones and core, as well as breath-led flowing movement, including sun salutations. Prerequisite: Must be able to easily get down and up from the floor with or without props. Cost $10 a class. No registration required.
Shape-note singing
Sunday, June 23, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Traditional a capella, four-part harmony sung for the joy of singing, not as a practice for performance. Search “sacred harp” on YouTube for examples, then come and sing. Introduction to shape notes and scales is recommended and offered 30 minutes before each fourth Sunday singing. The first hour will be sacred harp singing and the second hour will be singing from an alternate shape note book. Books will be provided. Email Kerry Cullinan at [email protected] with questions. Free. No registration required.
Meals
Menus are posted on the website.
Monday lunches
Served weekly. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., or until the food runs out. Suggested lunch donation $5. No registration required.
Weekly Age Well Grab & Go meals
New day for pickup starting in June. Pick up on Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center. Registration is required by Monday by 8 a.m. for the Wednesday meal. $5 suggested donation but not required. To register, call 802-425-6345 or email.
Senior center info:
The senior center offers programs for adults 50 and older from Charlotte and surrounding communities. Priority is given to seniors, but programs are open to adults of all ages. Programs include weekly lunches, daily exercise classes and many opportunities to connect through board and card games and art and language programming. Interested in receiving a weekly reminder about what is happening? Sign up for the email newsletters. The “Week Ahead” email is sent out on Friday mornings with activities, lunch menus and special programs for the upcoming week.
Lori York, director
Tracy Brown, coordinator
212 Ferry Road, Charlotte
802-425-6345
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Bill Regan, Chair, Board of Directors
