Food for thought at the Senior Center
The Charlotte Senior Center is happy to be collaborating again with one of our local chefs on an upcoming Monday Munch.
The Charlotte Senior Center is happy to be collaborating again with one of our local chefs on an upcoming Monday Munch.
As John Steinbeck wrote in Travels with Charlie, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” And sweet it is, indeed. Although now is a great time to be out and about, do take a look at what is happening at the Senior Center.
It is no surprise that the Senior Center primarily serves residents of Charlotte, but did you know that we also welcome those from surrounding communities? What’s more, these participants also contribute financially as Friends of the Senior Center, donate their time and expertise as volunteer instructors and help in many other crucial volunteer jobs around the Center.
How is Charlotte like Utah? Both have snowbirds. There is Snowbird, a ski area in Little Cottonwood Canyon, outside Salt Lake City; and in Charlotte and environs we have our snowbirds flying back from points south. Now is a great time for everyone to reconnect and catch up on winter stories.
It has returned!
Anticipating spring here in Vermont is probably much like the ancients felt during a solar eclipse. There is always some subliminal doubt whether spring (like the sun) will really come back again. And now there is that delicate green haze in the trees from the budding leaves—which is as wonderfully fleeting as cherry blossoms.
So maybe this time, (just maybe) spring has really come. There are actually crocuses outside, and a few folks have reported daffodils. And who could doubt the flowers?
It’s hard to believe, but I fell for that old Vermont spring scam once again. After decades here, I really knew that it was not going to get warm anytime soon, but I just could not face it. So here we all are, still waiting for the crocuses; I bought a bouquet of tulips to get me through.
It looks as though spring has finally arrived, after the usual false starts. This means that the Senior Center will be having more activities geared towards the outdoors as the weather gets warmer. One of the first is the Birding Expedition led by our favorite bird expert Hank Kaestner on April 18. (Registration is required, starts at 9 a.m.)
When you think of “senior center,” do you think bingo, TV and baloney sandwiches on white bread? CSC has none of that. Everyone will tell you that the Charlotte Senior Center is a special place with a welcoming atmosphere, vibrant visitors and a wide variety of activities. There is also the “restaurant quality” food—cooked at the Center by different teams of senior (seasoned) cooks.
The Senior Center’s Spring Program (March through May), included in this issue of The News, describes the programs and classes being offered here this spring, along with schedules and fees. You can register for classes by calling the Center at 425-6345, by mail at P.O Box 207, Charlotte, VT 05445, or by coming in to sign up in person.
Cabin fever have you in its grip? Welcome to the five-minute workout. Do it for 10 minutes and you can count it toward the 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine.
CVSD 2018-2019 budget information session – Members of the Champlain Valley School District school board will be at the Center on Thursday, Feb.15, 11:00 a.m. to explain the details of and answer questions about the district school budget that we will vote on in March. This will be an informal meeting in the café.
Wednesday After-lunch Programs Programs scheduled for Wednesday after lunch begin at 1 p.m. and showcase the many interests of our community. Drop in to share the travels and experiences of our presenters—no need to register.
Do you suffer from the winter blues? Do you feel isolated? Do you have joint pain and suffer from arthritis? Feel stressed out? Forgetting things?
Carolyn Kulik, the new Director of the Charlotte Senior Center, has many interests. She worked in Asia for eight years and has 20 years of experience in cross-cultural training and English as a Second Language. While she predominantly taught adults, her youngest students were pre-kindergarteners.
Join us at the Senior Center for a meet and greet with Carolyn Kulik, our new Center director, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. Take the opportunity to say hello and share some refreshments.
The winter schedule is in full swing as of last week, with the start of new sessions of Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Fitness at Any Age and Pilates, and with a full house for the Cello Quartet for the Holidays program that marked the beginning of the winter Wednesday afternoon event schedule.
New sessions of exercise favorites begin next week: Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Fitness at Any Age, and Pilates. You’ll find schedules and fees in the printed program. As always, you are welcome to come in and try a class to see if it’s the one for you. You can register for classes by calling the Center at 425-6345, by mail at P.O Box 207, Charlotte, VT 05445, or by coming in to sign up in person.
Popular, ongoing programs at the Senior Center range from duplicate bridge on Mondays from 12:30 to 4 p.m., to Mah Jong on Tuesdays from 12:45 to 4 p.m., Spanish Conversation on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon and Strength Maintenance on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 11 a.m. to noon.
The Friends of the Charlotte Senior Center invite you to its Annual Meeting after the luncheon on November 1 beginning at 1 p.m. This is an opportunity for everyone to become better acquainted with the workings of our organization and to consider how they can become more active as volunteers. An update of our financial position will be given, questions will be answered, and the election of board members will take place. Hope to see you there.