Senior services for Newtown seniors are available at the Multipurpose Building on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. The Senior Center is under the auspices of the Commission on Aging. The center is run by Senior Services Director Marilyn Place. For information about programs offered, call 203-270-4310.

You may drop in at the Senior Center weekdays between 9 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 minibus 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 Walmart Route 6). Cost is $1 each way for the Sand Hill Plaza trip. Call 203-748-2511 TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE to book a ride and get the out-of-town Friday schedule.

This Week’s

Programs

*Come and sit for a few hours and enjoy a holiday movie on Thursdays at 1 pm on December 8 and 15.

*Holidays and grief. A six-week Bereavement Support Group through Regional Hospice with Jenny Casey, MSW, will meet Tuesdays from 3:45 to 5 pm through December 27 in the sunroom.

Upcoming

Programs

*No classes on the day of the Holiday Party, Tuesday, December 13.

*Bingo will be Thursday, December 15. Christmas Bingo Party with caroling will be Wednesday, December 21.

*The center will be closed half day on December 23 and all day December 26 in observance of Christmas and will also be closed a half day December 30 and the full day on January 2 for New Year’s Day.

Day Trips

*Holiday Party at Three Oaks at Capellaro’s Grove, Bethel, will be Tuesday, December 13, from 11 am to 3 pm. Gourmet buffet includes hors d’oeuvres, roasted tenderloin, stuffed chicken, poached salmon, all the fixings, pasta with broccoli and roasted red peppers, apple strudel, “poinsettia” toast, and one hour of eggnog and hot mulled cider. Vinnie Carr will provide the music. A 50/50 raffle and regular raffle are available. Cost is $35 and payment is due by December 1. Reservations requested.

*Chocolate Fest at Hunt’s Landing on Tuesday, February 14, includes hot breakfast buffet on the patio by the pool, play bingo or watch a movie. A three-hour open bar, music, dancing, activities and entertainment, along with a buffet dinner, which includes chocolate dishes and all the trimmings. Cost is $80; depart at 9 am.

*Ace in the Hole presents a Great Day for the Irish on Tuesday, March 13, at the Royal Manor in Garfield, N.J., which includes a family-style lunch of corned beef and cabbage and roasted chicken with all the trimmings, two complimentary drinks during Happy Hour. The St Patrick’s Day party stars Irish tenor Jimmy Walsh, comic Dale Grand, and the Black Velvet Band. Cost is $86; depart at 9 am.

Overnight Trips

*Overnight trip to Mohegan Sun includes food coupons or two buffets, free bet, enjoy the swimming pool or sit in the hot tub. Wednesday and Thursday, January 18 and 19, prices are $116 pp double, $176 pp single and $111 pp triple. The same trip is available on Thursday and Friday, February 23 and 24, but the prices are $121 pp double, $181 pp single, and $116 pp triple.

*Watch a UConn Women’s Basketball vs Syracuse game and spend a night at the Turning Stone Casino on Wednesday and Thursday, January 25 and 26. Receive $40 free play coupon each day, $15 meal credit, full breakfast buffet, health spa and pool and entertainment; $188 pp double, $253 pp single and $183 pp trip.

 

Recurring

Activities

Monday: 10:30 am, exercise; noon, lunch: 1 pm, chorus/sing-along and yoga; 1:30 pm: art class.

Tuesday: 10 am, Cards for Troops; noon, lunch; 2 pm, tai chi; 3 pm, chair yoga.

Wednesday: 10:30 am, exercise; noon, lunch; 2:15 pm: Bridges.

Thursday: noon, lunch; 1 pm, Scrabble and yoga; 1:30 pm, holiday crafts.

Friday: 9 am, Mah Jongg; 10:30 am, quilting; 10:30 am, exercise; noon: knit or crochet; 2 pm, Zumba Gold; 3 pm, chair yoga.

Other items available at any time are: Wii (bowling, tennis, baseball, golf), pool table, ping pong table, card table and various board games.

 

Menu For Week Of

December 5–9

Monday: Apricot chicken quarter, couscous pilaf, California blend vegetables, seedless rye bread, vanilla pudding with strawberry topping.

Tuesday: Beef and bean chili served over brown rice, corn buttermilk biscuits, grape juice, fresh fruit.

Wednesday: Hot open turkey sandwich on wheat bread with gravy, cranberry sauce, steak fries, fresh zucchini, pears.

Thursday: Chicken orzo soup, parmesan crusted fish with lemon and tarter sauce or baked chicken breast, boiled red potatoes, spinach salad with French dressing, multigrain dinner roll, applesauce.

And for planning ahead—

Monday, December 12: Tangerine chicken served over brown rice, Oriental blend vegetables, wheat bread, pineapple tidbits.

Tuesday, December 13: Stuffed salmon with dill sauce and lemon or Salisbury steak, baked potato with sour cream, chopped spinach, whole wheat bread, fresh fruit.