Date: Fri 02-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

senior-center-activities

Full Text:

It's All Happening At Newtown's Senior Center

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Is belly dancing your bag? Or maybe pinochle pleases you.

If you are a senior in Newtown, there is plenty to keep you busy at the

Newtown Senior Center in the Multi-purpose Building, 14 Riverside Road in

Sandy Hook. On Wednesdays, for instance, pinochle starts are 9:30 am, line

dancing at 10 am, lunch is at noon, bingo and crafts compete at 1 pm.

Phew!

There is no charge to take any of the classes, but there might be a 50-cent or

one dollar fee for materials (other than paint) needed for a craft class. Of

course, anyone who cannot pay is given what he needs.

"We add different types of classes. Nobody should be sitting and knitting all

day long, or reading a book," said Senior Center Coordinator Marilyn Place.

"It's stimulation. A lot of the participants have done some of these thing

before, when they were younger. They make birthday or Christmas gifts. Good

quality things we're making here."

For instance, those in the folk painting class were asked to bring in flower

pots to paint. Ms Place provides paints and instructs the seniors as to how to

make specific brush strokes.

The Monday morning craft class at the center is working on faux stained glass

where participants use liquid lead to outline a piece, and textured

water-based paint to create the effect of colored glass. "It's something new

to me," said Nancy Pedone, who was working on a picture of a hummingbird. "I'm

going to hang this on the wall in the foyer near my bedroom."

In total, 300 to 400 seniors attend the various classes offered each week at

the Senior Center. On Monday, art class, pinochle, and crafts are held at 10

am, crafts are held again at 1 pm, and yoga is at 2 pm. Tuesday, pinochle is

at 9:30 am, exercise class at 10 am, and needlecraft at 1 pm. Wednesday

classes are as above. Thursday, pinochle is at 9:30 am, exercise at 10 am, and

crafts at 1 pm. Friday sewing is at 10 am, knitting at 12:30 pm, and belly

dancing is held alternate Fridays at 1:30 pm. A hot lunch is served each

weekday at noon for a donation of $1.50 (reserve a meal by calling 270-4310 by

1 pm the day before you will join them for lunch).

In addition, the center is sponsoring a trip to Tennessee from September 8-17,

and a trip to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Show on November 25.

They group just returned from a 3-day trip to Montreal, Canada.

The seniors use donated yarn to create tightly knitted or crocheted blankets

for the homeless, and donated fabrics to make quilts for medically fragile

babies. "It's phenomenal what they've done," said Ms Place.

Donations of small wood pieces, fabric, yarn, wallpaper, plastic flowers, and

any other items that are in good condition, are accepted by the senior center.

"I take anything and everything," said Ms Place. "And we are most grateful for

donations because we use them all."

Door-to-door bus service is available Monday through Friday to seniors who

need transportation. Reservations must be made by calling 748-2511 at least

two days in advance. On Fridays, the bus will alternate to Danbury Fair Mall

and Berkshire Shopping Center; early reservations are recommended.

For more information on classes at or trips sponsored by the Senior Center,

call 270-4310.