Escape the heat, embrace the cool air and activities

On the hot and humid days of summer, consider spending the day in the cool air conditioning at the senior center. There are a wide variety of activities to participate in ranging from art programs, board and card games, exercise classes or just connecting with friends over a cup of coffee. The Charlotte Senior Center is a community center for active and engaged adults age 50 and older. The mission of the senior center is to provide services and programming for older adults in Charlotte and surrounding communities.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 4-5 p.m.
Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s? Do you know someone who is? Please join this group for the monthly Caregivers Support Group on the second Wednesday of each month from 4-5 p.m. The meetings provide a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to meet and develop a mutual support system. For additional information please contact Susan Cartwright: [email protected]. Free. No registration required.

August artist exhibit
Lynn Cummings and her students will be showing a variety of paintings in watercolor, acrylics and collage. Cummings has taught hundreds of students at the senior center over almost 15 years.

Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, Aug. 15, 1-6 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 and enter: CHARLOTTE to schedule an appointment.

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 be placed on a master list of paddlers to receive trip information, email Susan Hyde. Free. Registration required.

Men’s breakfast
Friday, Aug. 9, 7:30 a.m.
On the second Friday of the month, men gather for breakfast and conversation. The doors open at 7 a.m. with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The August guest speaker will be Chris Sabick from the maritime museum. Registration is required. Suggested donation: $6. If you are planning to attend the men’s breakfast, please register by email by Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Beginner watercolor workshop
Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Let’s explore the wonder of flower shapes and leaves by trying out a variety of unusual brushes. This is a beginner level workshop and if you’ve always wanted to try watercolor but were too intimidated, this is the class for you. Class limit 10 students. For more information about Ginny Joyner, please check out her website: ginnyjoyner.com. Cost: $40 plus $6 supply fee. Registration and payment required by July 24. 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, email me. Cost: $3. No registration required.

Intermediate bridge players gather on Monday afternoons to play duplicate bridge at the senior center.
Photos by Lori York
Intermediate bridge players gather on Monday afternoons to play duplicate bridge at the senior center.

Duplicate bridge
Mondays, 12:30-4 p.m.
The group plays an intermediate level of duplicate bridge using the basic American Contract Bridge League conventions. Names are drawn for partners, and friendly games ensue. Those unfamiliar with duplicate bridge are welcome and paired with an experienced player to help for a few weeks of open-dialogue training. The group is always looking for new players who have basic bridge knowledge. Cost: $3. No registration required.

German conversation
Tuesdays, 3-4 p.m.
Möchtest du dein Deutsch üben? Come join this group to meet other German speakers and practice your German. No agenda, just a casual conversation. All experience levels are welcome. Questions? Contact Dan York. Free. No registration required.

Pilates fitness
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Join Phyllis Bartling in this pilates class for folks 55 and over. It includes upper-body strength work with hand weights and mat exercises. You will work core muscles to improve balance, strength and posture. Cost: $10 a class. No registration required.

Play reading
Thursday, Aug. 22, 1-3:30 p.m.
Join Sue Foley and Wally Gates for table-reading fun. No tryouts, no rehearsals, no critical reviews. The group meets monthly and is for people who enjoy reading plays aloud or listening to others. Each month a play is selected, parts are assigned and scripts are distributed. It is suggested that a good way to test the waters is to attend a session as a guest. If you have questions or would like to sit in, please contact Foley. Free. Registration required.

Samba-canasta
Tuesdays, noon, & Fridays, 12:30 p.m.
Samba is a new version of canasta that has quickly become very popular due to its variety of melds, which keeps the game interesting. If you are curious to learn how to play Samba, call Sandy Armell at 802-425-3248. Free. No registration required.

Shanghai mahjong
Tuesdays, 12:45-3:45 p.m.
New to or experienced in the Shanghai style of mahjong, you are welcome to join this informal get-together. For questions email Nan Mason. Free. No registration required.

Photo by Lori York. 
Tuesday afternoons are when folks gather to play Shanghai mahjong in the cafe at the senior center.
Tuesday afternoons are when folks gather to play Shanghai mahjong in the cafe at the senior center.

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 to and up from the floor with or without props. Cost: $10 a class. 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
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 at charlotteseniorcentervt.org. 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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