Senior services for Newtown seniors are available at the Multi-Purpose Building on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. The Senior Center is under the auspices of The Commission on Aging. The center is run by the Senior Services Director, Marilyn Place. For more information about programs offered at the Senior Center call 270-4310.

You may drop in at the Senior Center on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm. A hot meal is served at noon for which you must reserve three days in advance.

Newtown has daily door-to-door mini-bus service Monday through Friday. Buses also run all day from the senior center to Sand Hill Plaza. On Fridays, the bus alternates between rides to Danbury Fair Mall and Berkshire Plaza in Danbury (to the new Wal*Mart store on Route 6). Cost is 65¢ each way for the Sand Hill Plaza trip, 75¢ each way for out of town. Call 748-2511 TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE to book a ride and get the out-of-town Friday schedule.

News For Week of November 8-12

*The next FLU SHOT CLINIC at the senior center will be on Tuesday, November 16, from 10 am until noon. Consent forms should be picked up at the senior center and returned here prior to November 16.

*The next BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS will be at the senior center on Thursday, November 18, from noon until 1 pm.

*A CRIME PREVENTION PRESENTATION will be offered at the senior center on November 18, at 1 pm.

Speakers will include Officer Amity Robinson, M.H. McCarthy, and S.A.L.T. Council members. Stop by and become an informed senior citizen with the latest crime prevention information. This will be a TRIAD program presentation.

*Mark your calendar: Believe it or not plans are already well underway for this year’s Newtown SENIOR CENTER HOLIDAY PARTY.

This year’s party will be Thursday, December 9, from 11 am until 3 pm, at The Fireside Inn. Join us for live music and entertainment, gourmet buffet, and a raffle.

Tickets are $22 per person. Call the senior center to sign up.

*ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Newtown Social Services will be accepting heating applications for deliverable fuels for oil, propane and kerosene. Assistance is for deliveries from November 1, 2004, through March 31, 2005.

Applications for YankeeGas and CL&P will be taken starting January 1, 2005.

Contact Ann Piccini at 270-4330 for more information.

 

This Week’s Programs

*Danbury’s newest ophthalmologist, Sarah Baroody, MD, a member of EyeCare of Danbury, will offer a PRESENTATION ON CATARACT SURGERY on Monday, November 8. Dr Baroody’s program will begin after lunch, at 1 pm.

She will be here to discuss modern cataract surgery. Please call the senior center to sign up.

*Our next POT LUCK DINNER will be Tuesday, November 9, from 4 to 6 pm. The center will take care of cups, plates, utensils, coffee and tea. Diners will supply the “pot luck” and conversation. Please join us – and remember, you need to sign up in advance.

*SENIOR FITNESS TESTS will be administered at the senior center on Wednesday, November 10. Stop by or call the center for details and to sign up; appointments are needed.

*The senior center will be closed on Thursday, November 11, in observance of VETERANS’ DAY. We’ll see you again on Friday,

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REMINDERS: Has it been a while since you’ve played BRIDGE? Would you like to learn how? Stop by the senior center any Monday at 10 am for a game or two.

*EXERCISE CLASSES: The senior center has different forms of exercise classes available. Why not stop by and find a class that fits your needs?

YOGA classes are offered on Monday and Thursday mornings at 10. Try a class to get rid of stress and anxiety while learning to breathe correctly. Bring a mat or towel to lie on and wear loose clothing (no belts; sweats are perfect). Also learn how to use all the muscles in your body through relaxation.

*Our SEWING CLASS is working on chemo caps, totes for cancer patients, and trach bibs. If you are interested join us on Mondays at 1 pm.

*ART CLASSES are Monday afternoons at 1.

*AFTERNOON CRAFTS are offered Tuesdays at 1:30.

*Join us at BROOKFIELD LANES each Tuesday and Thursday for a great time bowling. We meet at noon; the cost is $1.25 per game.

*CHORUS GROUP meets each Thursday at 1. Pianists are also invited.

*Lynn Flanders has begun teaching COUNTRY-WESTERN LINE DANCING on Thursday afternoons beginning at 1:30. Cost for each class is $1. Lynn has a unique style and she’s full of energy – come join the fun!

*MAH JONGG players have two opportunities on Fridays. The advanced group plays at 9 am, and a beginner’s group plays at 1.

*QUILTING CLASS meets on Fridays at 10 am.

*MUNICIPAL AGENT ANN PICCINI VISITS the senior center on Thursday mornings from 10 until noon to help with Conn Pace, medical information and Title 19 issues you may be having. Call ahead or just stop in to talk with someone who can help you figure you way through these sometimes confusing subjects.

*Also on Thursdays, Newtown’s seniors are invited to stop by between 2 and 3 pm to have their pictures taken and to fill out pertinent information that will be stored in the glovebox of your car, all of which is part of the new NEWTOWN YELLOW DOT PROGRAM.

This is a Triad Project that will help save lives, and it’s the first project of its kind in our state. The project consists of an information card and a yellow dot sticker that is affixed to your car window. In the event of an emergency, first responders can identify the vehicle as being part of the Yellow Dot Program and will look for the information in an envelope inside your car, saving time and supplying life saving information. The project is a partnership between the community’s senior citizens, People’s Bank and Newtown Police Department.

*Newtown senior citizens are invited to take part in A TASTY THANKSGIVING at MT HAVEN RESORT in Milford, Penn., on Wednesday, November 17.

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving but with a feast – and not just one, but two! You day will start with a complete breakfast buffet, soup to nuts. After breakfast a full day of activities is planned including Bingo, movies, comedy and singing.

A complete dinner buffet, accompanied by a four-hour open bar with beer, wine, soda and cocktails, is also included in this day trip.

Cost is $60 per person, and departure is 8:45 am. Call the senior center or stop in for details. Early reservations are strongly recommended.

Menu For Week of November 8-12

Reservations must be made one or two days in advance.

Meals are subject to change.

Monday: Veal parmesan with penne and marinara sauce, fresh zucchini, garlic bread, parmesan cheese, apricots;

Tuesday: Harvest soup, unsalted crackers, hot open turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with gravy, cranberry sauce, French green beans, chocolate chip cookie;

Wednesday: All-American hamburger on roll, lettuce and tomato, ketchup, baked beans, coleslaw, cherry pie.

Thursday: No lunch today. Senior center will be closed in observance of Veterans’ Day.

Friday: Spinach quiche, stewed tomato, tossed salad with Italian dressing, soft breadstick, butterscotch pudding with topping.

Activities Schedule,

November 8-12

Monday: AM Bridge, hatha yoga class; PM Bingo, art class, cataract surgery presentation;

Tuesday: AM Pinochle, exercise; PM bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), pot luck dinner;

Wednesday: AM Pinochle, line dancing, senior fitness tests;

Thursday: No activities today – senior center will be closed on Veterans’ Day.

Friday: AM advanced mah jongg, sewing, quilting; PM beginner’s mah jongg, knitting.

 Remember, you must call at least one day in advance to book a meal or a ride, 270-4310; the Senior Bus, 748-2511.