08/22/2026
Senior and Community Center Update - week of 8/23
The air certainly feels like Fall is just around the corner and the lack of oppressive heat is a big relief. We have excellent meals planned for this week and fun activities coming up.
As usual, if there are folks interested in Bingo after lunch, Dean Reynolds will happily be the caller. We are also updating information on our attendees, so please fill out a simple paper when you check in at the door, if you haven't already.
Lunch for this week will be very enjoyable, so please join us for good food and good conversation. The crowds coming to breakfast the last few weeks have been terrific, and somehow the kitchen crew has been able to keep up with it and provide great meals, all made to order. We are lucky to have dedicated volunteers, but we are always open to working with new folks who would like to become part of our crew. Let me know if you are interested in helping, even as a sub.
LUNCH – Tuesday, August 25 – 12:00 noon – Julie's special egg salad sandwich, garden salad, chips and ice cream
BREAKFAST – Thursday, August 27 – 7:30–9:00 – cooked to order, as usual -- your choice of eggs any way you prefer, bacon, sausage links or patties, ham, pancakes, French toast, waffles, home fries, hash, fresh fruit cocktail, orange juice and more. We also have gluten free bread available.
As always, meals are $5.00 – additional donations are always welcome. Gluten-free options are also available, so please let us know if those dishes are something you would like or need. We also try to accommodate other dietary restrictions for those who cannot eat certain foods.
Here are the upcoming activities:
Wednesday, August 26 – 11:30-12:30 – Tai Chi – Tai Chi is normally twice a week, except this week since the instructor will be away on Monday, August 24th. The classes are $5. Feel free to join us even if you have never tried it, as It is focused on improving balance and flexibility for seniors who are beginners. Remember, all of us are amateurs.
Thursday, August 27, after breakfast - The Weeders and Readers club meets during the Spring/Summer months as a garden club and during the Fall/Winter it becomes a book club. Meetings are normally the last Thursday of the month beginning at 9.30 a.m. (after breakfast) and I will confirm the date with the club leader.
Tuesday, September 8 - 1:00PM (after lunch) - Ann Travers has planned Container Planting for Fall. We will be planting grasses, decorative cabbages, and late blooming annuals in a bring-your-own container. A sign-up sheet is available at the Center and there is a $10 per person fee for plants. Bonnie and Ann will provide the soil and are asking everyone to bring a 12-inch container.
Tuesday, September 22 - 6:00PM - Monthly Trivia night will be the 4th Tuesday in September rather than the 3rd Tuesday. These continue to be great successes, thanks to Bob and Linda Pulford. Everyone is welcome whether you are part of a team or come by yourself. We always have room for individuals to join a table even if you are new to the group or the game. Last week, we set a record with about 40 people, so it is clearly a popular, fun activity.
The Traveling Trout are unable to play in August at the Senior and Community Center for their jam session. They hope to be back in September or October.
As I mentioned last week, Chelcy Htoo, M.P.H., who is on the Choices Support Staff in the Western CT Area Agency on Aging, has reached out and we will be able to schedule one-on-one sessions on November 4. There is a sign-up sheet in the Center and they can do 8 people in one day. It is best to sign up early if you want to take advantage of their free counseling. If you cannot fit in the session in our Center, there may be openings in a surrounding town.
Here is an excerpt from their flyer.
"Our Open Enrollment presentations and one-on-one sessions are important opportunities to help your community understand their Medicare options better, learn about changes for the upcoming year, ask questions, and receive guidance based on their individual needs. The presentation will provide valuable information about the Open Enrollment period, while the one-on-one session allows you to meet with a certified counselor for personalized assistance.
Our calendar is already starting to fill up, and availability may become limited as we get closer to the event dates. To make sure we are able to accommodate everyone, we highly recommend booking your appointment soon."
I am still working on scheduling a trip using a bus from the Northwest CT Transit District. Their buses are free to us, since the Town pays dues to the district, which provides that service. Sorry for the delay, but it seems to be difficult to find a trip that is both handicapped accessible, and fun and interesting.
If you would like to hold a crafts or other activity or have an additional exercise class that you would like, please let me know. If you have ideas for events or programs you would like to have us schedule, please reach out to me and I will work to get them on the calendar.
We are still collecting food for the Community Food Bank in Barkhamsted. It is extremely important that those who can help, contribute what they can, even if it is a small amount. The food bank is at the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church and does a great service for those in need. Check their page for their operating hours. We also have a box at the Center if you would like to leave a donation off and we will make sure it gets to the Food Bank. If you have food or cash to donate and they are not open, you can also message them on Facebook to let them know about your donation.
Their page is https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551048540688. They are open every other week on Monday and Thursday. Here are the dates and times for the second half of August.
Monday, August 24th 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, August 27th 2-4 p.m.
That's it for today. Please stay safe. Feel free to reach out to me if you need assistance and I will do whatever I can to help or get help from the Town.
Don Stein
