Don’t miss events on Alzheimer’s, funeral planning

This month at the Charlotte Senior Center, visitors can enjoy a new art exhibit featuring landscape paintings by Lillian Kennedy.

In early April, an AARP Smart Drive course will be offered, and there will be a workshop on helping to reconnect with your authentic self.

Additionally, don’t miss The Final Gift: A Guide to Planning Your Funeral and Leaving a Lasting Legacy presentation or the “Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s” film screening.

Programs

Shape-Note Singing
Sunday, March 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 with us. 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. Free. No registration required. For questions or to schedule your introduction to shape-notes and scales, please contact Kerry Cullinan.

“The Final Gift: A Guide to Planning Your Funeral and Leaving a Lasting Legacy”
Wednesday, March 26, 12:30 p.m.
Join Michele Ambrosino, a third-generation funeral director with Ready Funeral Home in Burlington, for a comprehensive session on funeral pre-arrangements, pre-payments, and assisted planning. Michele will cover the benefits of pre-planning, explore the various options available, and help you make informed decisions that will support you and your loved ones during a difficult time. Free. To register, call 802-425-6345.

Death Cafe
Wednesday, March 26, 2-3:30 p.m.
Join us for the monthly Death Cafe as we come together in human fellowship to celebrate life by voicing concerns and sharing questions, ideas and stories around death and dying. These are not always easy conversations, but when we share, heart to heart, we build community and experience a special joy that enhances our lives. Looking forward to sharing the journey and building community together. Free. Registration required. Questions? contact Polly. To register, call 802-425-6345. Cost: Free. Registration required.

Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s film screening
Tuesday, April 8, 1 p.m.
Join us for a showing of this PBS Independent Lens film exploring how Alzheimer’s disease transforms the lives of three families who confront the challenges of becoming primary caregivers. Presented in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Charlotte Library and in conjunction with PBS Independent Lens. Please note that the film will be shown at the Charlotte Library. Free. Register, or call the senior center at 802-425-6345.

“Free Yourself From What’s Running Your Life” workshop
Wednesdays, April 9-30, 10-11:30 a.m.
Ready to reconnect with your authentic self? Join this transformative four-week workshop to overcome negative programming, awaken your true essence and begin living the life you were meant to. Experience inner peace, true joy and the freedom of full self-expression. Led by Jim Koehneke, spiritual director, author and 30-year student of Spiritual Psychology. $60 for the 4-week workshop. Registration and payment required by April 7. To register, call 802-425-6345.

AARP Smart Driver course
Saturday, April 12, 11-4 p.m.
The AARP Smart Driver course is designed for older drivers. It will help refresh your driving skills and may even help you save on your auto insurance. Bring your lunch. Registration required. It’s $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. Checks should be made out to AARP. To register, call 802-425-6345.

Art

A Brush with Nature
The senior center’s March exhibit is A Brush with Nature featuring paintings by Lillian Kennedy. Kennedy, focuses on landscape art with works in corporate and private collections worldwide. Her notable murals include a 54-foot scene at Tavern on the Green, exhibits at the Bronx Zoo and Sunset Park Courthouse in New York.

Arts & crafts group
Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon
Come create, experiment, share ideas, encourage others and have fun with the creative arts & crafts group on Wednesday mornings. Bring whatever creative endeavor you’re working on, enjoy doing, or thinking about trying out—painting, drawing, writing, scrapbooking, coloring, origami, cardmaking, knitting—the opportunities are limitless. Free. No registration required. For questions, email Katie Franko.

Exercise

Yoga dance
Fridays, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Let Your Yoga Dance incorporates basic dance-like movements to music, guided by the body’s energy system (chakras). It is a safe, compassionate, gentle movement practice, allowing for individual expression and nonjudgemental acceptance. This class is appropriate for all levels of fitness and abilities. Everyone can “let their yoga dance.” Cost: $10 a class. No registration required.

Tai chi
Thursdays, 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
The Yang international short form is the most popular form of tai chi practice. It consists of slow continuous soft circular movements which are coordinated with breathing. Regular practice helps to improve balance, mind-body connection, mental awareness, flexibility, stability, coordination and overall health. When practiced in the company of others, it is both uplifting and energizing. Taught by a certified instructor who has studied with the founder of the Tai Chi for Arthritis Association. Email questions. $10 a class. No registration required.

Bone Builders
Mondays, 9:45-10:45 a.m., Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m., & Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. & Fridays, 11 a.m.-noon
RSVP Bone Builders, a program of United Way of Northwest Vermont, is a no-impact, weight-training program designed to prevent and even reverse the negative effects of osteoporosis in older adults. Bone Builders consists of a warm-up, balance exercises, arm and leg exercises, and a cool down with stretching. Free. No registration required, but there is paperwork to complete for the RSVP Bone Builders program.

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.

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. 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,
212 Ferry Road, Charlotte
802-425-6345
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