235 Cutlers Farm Road Ι Monroe, CT 06468 Ι (203) 452-2815 Ι www.monroect.org

Director’s Corner The turnout for the Members’ Advisory Council was a bit disappointing, I am assuming it was an inconvenient date and time for many. I would like to acknowledge and thank Janet Marino and Kathy Walsky for their ideas and input. We decided to set up another meeting on Tuesday, November 30 at 2:30 pm. All are welcome to offer your opinions regarding center operations and programs.

If you are unable to make the meeting, no problem. There is a suggestion box on the wall by the front desk; please submit your ideas.

Featured programs for this month: fall prevention and education program; Chromebook basics; Medic Alert System; medical assessments and blood pressure by Maggie; meet the author; exercise programs, combating Holiday stress and, of course, our Thanksgiving lunch.

I am extremely excited to announce that Pat Martin has volunteered to be the Center’s Trip Coordinator! Stay

tuned - she has some great ideas in the works! Kim

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS In observance of the following Holidays, the Center will be closed with no transportation

Thursday, November 11 Veteran’s Day Thursday, November 25 &

Friday November 26 for Thanksgiving

Exercise Update Tai Chi is Mondays at 9:30 am Fit & Fabulous is Wednesdays at 9:30 am Yoga is Wednesdays at 1:30 pm Zumba is Thursdays at 10:15 am Advancement monthly payment is $4.00 per class. Drop-ins are $5.00 per class.

NOVEMBER

2021

Book Club ~ November 10 at 2:00 pm. Join Leslie Gosselin as she leads the discussion on the book ~ Until Tuesday by Carlos Montalvan. This book won a USA Best Book Award.

Chromebook Basics Thanks to a generous donation from Spectrum, we have Chromebooks which can be used on site or signed out for personal use! If you have a computer, Ipad, smart phone and access to the internet at home you do not need a Chromebook. A Chromebook is a portable, lightweight computer which needs an internet connection - at the Center we have that connection! A Chromebook is a great tool for searching web. If you are interested in learning more about the Chromebook, our lending program or more, join our Computer Tutor Cathy Lindstrom on Tuesday, November 9 at 2:00 pm.

Fall Prevention The Lord Chamberlain Rehabilitation Team will be

here on Thursday, November 18 at 2:00 pm to help

people break the “fear of falling” cycle. The team

will educate attendees on various causes of falls, re-

view risk factors and provide tips to prevent falls.

Sign up required as refreshments will be served.

THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON

GIVE THANKS the Senior Center Way!! Celebrate Thanksgiving with your friends, food and entertainment on Tuesday, November 16 at noon.

Enjoy a feast of Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Peas & Carrots, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy, a Dinner Roll, Dessert and entertainment.

The event is $5 per person and registration deadline for attendance or refunds is Tuesday, November 9.

HANDLING HOLIDAY STRESS

Join Art Gottlieb, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Senior Advisor, on Tuesday, November 23 at 2:00 pm as he helps people avoid the funk of HOLIDAY STRESS and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This time of year can become stressful for many due to shorter periods of daylight and being cooped up inside because of cold, wet or snowy weather. The sense of iso-lation has been made worse by the pandemic and the loss of loved ones. Topics concerning personal, interpersonal and interfamily dynamics will be covered, focusing on practical and rele-vant information useful for everyday life. Discussions will be interactive and conducted in plain language with-out any unnecessary psycho-jargon.

Center Staff Kim Cassia - Director, ext. 4 Barbara Agee - Administrative Assistant, ext. 1 Veronica Jensen - Elderly Services Coordinator, ext. 3

John Williams - Transportation Coordinator, ext. 2 - Office Assistant, ext. 0 Rose Marie Syarto - Driver John Delfino - Driver Bob Scopoletti - Custodian Helma Chartier - Chairperson, Commission on Aging

Maggie Sessa, RN, from

Griffin Hospital, will be

here Tuesday, November 16

from 1:30 to 3:00 pm to check

your blood pressure, vital signs

and answer questions about

various health or medication

matters you have. Sign up

sheet for time slot in the lobby

on the counter at the Center.

Our Knit & Crochet group is hard at work creating handmade items for infants to adults.

Not only great gift ideas but items to keep you or your loved ones warm as the weather changes.

Energy Assistance Applications for the 2021-2022 heating assistance program are being done. Oil & propane can be delivered starting November 1.

For eligibility requirements and appointments, call Ronnie Jensen at the Center at 203-452-2815 ext. 3 or Mary Ann Kalm at the Town Hall 203-452-2813.

Medicare Open Enrollment The enrollment period to review your 2022 Medicare Advantage Plans or Drug Plans is open till December 7. It is in your best interest to compare plans every year to ensure that they still meet your needs. Our CHOICES Counselor Ronnie can help you navi-gate the system so you can make an informed deci-sion. To schedule your appointment, call 203-452-2815 ext. 3. Needed are your Medicare card, list of medications (name, frequency and dose). If reviewing MAP plans, we will need a list of your doctors (specialty and location you see them at).

Veteran’s Wall of Honor If you are a veteran, or your spouse was a veteran, we would like to honor them on our “Wall of Honor.” We are looking for their name, branch of service, rank, years

enlisted and a photograph. Please bring items to the Center and we can update our program!

Susan Mangiero, author of The Big Squeeze a book based on kindness for our-selves and others will be here Tuesday, November 2 at 2:00 pm. She will review her book and the important messages found within.

A complimentary copy of her book will be given out to attendees.

If you are interested in writing a book, your memoir or anything else, please attend this session as Susan will discuss how to self publish.

Longer Lifespans Increase the Need for

Emergency Response Service

Join Brianna Trzcinski from Griffin Hospital

on Tuesday November 30 at 1:30 pm to

learn about the Personal Emergency Response Service

(PERS), which enables older adults to get the help they

need in an emergency situation, such as sudden worsen-

ing of a chronic condition, a fall or other injury. Often, a

PERS is used to signal for help to prevent further injury

due to lying on the floor for an extended time after ex-

periencing a fall. While fall management is an important

aspect of PERS, other acute emergency situations may

also occur, such as worsening chronic conditions.

In Memory

Norma McPadden

Evelyn Wales

Mary Jordano

Joan Hammill

Computer Tutor Sign Up If you need help with your device, we have one to one sessions with our Computer Tutor. The sign up sheet is in the lobby and has the dates and times available.

Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Wednesday Every Thursday Every Friday

9:00 Poker

9:30 Quilting

9:30 Tai-Chi

1:00 Bingo

12:30 Mah-Jongg

10:00 Mexican Train & Triominos

1:00 Farkle

9:30 Fit & Fabulous

9:30 Pinochle

11:00 Canasta

1:30 Yoga

9:00 Poker 9:00 Quilting 9:30 Chess 9:30 Mah-Jongg 10:00 Bridge 10:00 Scrabble 10:15 Zumba 12:30 Movie

Big Y Shopping 10:00 Cornhole

10:00 Knit & Crochet

12:30 Mah-Jongg

Monday Specials Tuesday Specials Wednesday Specials Thursday Specials Friday Specials

1 3 5 4 2

2:00 Susan Mangero, Author

2:00 Commission on Aging meeting

12:30 Movie ~ “Sweet November”

8 9 10 11 12

2:00 Chromebook Basics

2:00 Book Club ~ Until Tuesday

Veteran’s Day

Center Closed

No transportation

15 16 17 18 19

11:30 Medical Assessment 12:00 Thanksgiving

Luncheon

12:30 Movie ~ “Home for the Holidays”

2:00 Preventing Falls

22 23 24 25 26

2:00 Holiday Stress Relief by Art Gottlieb

Thanksgiving

Center Closed

No transportation

Center Closed

No transportation

29 30

1:30 Medic Alert Program

2:30 Members’ Advisory Council

Birthstone: Topaz & Citrine

Flowers: Chrysanthemum

Scorpio (October 23 ~ November 21)

Sagittarius (November 22 ~ December 21)

“Winter Wonderland” Day Trip to Newport ~ Tuesday, December 7, 2021 ~ $140 per person See the Breakers in all of it’s Christmas Glory on a self guided tour, following is lunch at Johnny’s at the Atlantic Resort for a choice of an eclectic menu featuring fresh seafood and local fare. After lunch, enjoy a tour and tasting at Newport Vineyards and Winery.

“Swan Lake” @ The Bushnell ~ Saturday, February 12, 2022 ~ $163 per person “David” @ Sight & Sound ~ Monday, April 18 ~ Wednesday, April 20, 2022 ~ $635 per person double “Gloucester Lobster Cruise” ~ Wednesday, August 3 ~ $162 per person “Magical Mackinac” ~ Sunday, August 14 ~ Sunday, August 21, 2022 ~ $1,599 per person double “Newport Speakeasy” ~ Thursday, September 8, 2022 ~ $188 per person “Christmas in the Berkshires” ~ Thursday, December 1, 2022 ~ $143 per person *****************************************************************************************

ADDITIONAL 2022 TRIPS ~ FLYERS AVAILABLE SHORTLY

November 4 ~ “Sweet November”| PG13 | Romance/Drama| 1 hr. 59 min.

Nelson Moss (Keanu Reeves) and Sara Deever (Charlize Theron) have nothing in common except an hour spent in DMV hell. Intrigued by each other, but not quite ready to commit, they settle on a rather unconventional courtship; a one-month trial, after which they’ll go their separate ways. No expectations. No pressure. No strings attached. What neither of them counts on is falling in love.

November 18 ~ “Home for the Holidays”| PG13 | Comedy/Drama | 1 hr. 44 min. Starring Holly Hunter, Robert Downy, Jr. & Anne Bancroft After losing her job, making out with her soon-to-be former boss and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Lar-son faces spending the holiday with her family.

Mississippi River Cruise

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Providence Italian Style

Backroads of Vermont

Gillette Castle & Essex Steam Train

A White Mountains Christmas

Bronx Zoo

Canada

Mystic Boat Parade

Beauty Works By Nanci Until the Center reopens for beauty services,

Licensed Cosmetologist Nanci Sorge will come to your home for your beauty needs.

Call her at 203-556-4639 to schedule your appointment and review pricing options.

Monroe Senior Center 235 Cutlers Farm Road

Monroe, CT 06468