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

January 17-21

*The senior center will be CLOSED on Monday, January 17, in observance of MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY. See you on Tuesday.

*LINE DANCING has been incorrectly listed in recent weeks in The Bee’s activities calendar. The classes are still taking place on Thursday afternoons beginning at 1:30. Sorry for any confusion.

*We have an OPENING FOR AN ART TEACHER. The senior center is looking for someone who can lead our seniors on the part of painting with acrylics and oils. Classes are held on Mondays at 1; call Marilyn for details or an interview appointment.

*Why not brush up on your Spanish or try something new? The senior center will begin offering SPANISH LESSONS. Classes will be limited to just eight people, and there will be a small fee involved. Call for information or to sign up.

*Our next POT LUCK DINNER will be Tuesday, February 1, from 4 to 6 pm.

*Newtown seniors are invited to spend a DAY AT MOHEGAN SUN. Departure from the senior center on Wednesday, February 2, will be at 8 am. Cost is $24 per person.

*There is also a day trip planned to New Jersey on Monday, February 14, where Ace in The Hole Productions will present My Funny Valentine at The Brownstone.

Cost is $69 per person. Call or stop by the senior center for details or to sign up.

*AARP INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE returns February 7 to April 11. Representatives will be visiting the senior center Monday mornings from 9 am until noon.

Please call the senior center for an appointment, and plan to bring in last year’s income tax return and any other pertinent information.

*The next AARP 55 ALIVE DRIVING COURSE will be offered Monday and Tuesday, April 11-12. The class will run from 9 am to 1 pm each day.

Please call for fee information and registration.

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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.

*ART CLASSES are Monday afternoons at 1.

*Join Mary Ann Imhoff each Tuesday at 1 pm for FLORAL ARRANGING SESSIONS. Call the senior center for details or to sign up.

*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.

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

*ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Newtown Social Services has begun accepting heating applications for deliverable fuels for oil, propane and kerosene. Assistance is for deliveries continues through March 31.

Applications for YankeeGas and CL&P are also being taken.

Contact Municipal Agent Ann Piccini at 270-4330 for more information.

*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.

If you can’t catch up with Ann during one of her visits at the senior center, try reaching her at her office at 3 Main Street (below the police department). Call her there at 270-4330.

*OVERNIGHT TRIPS in 2005 include January 19-20 in ATLANTIC CITY, March 5-13 in COSTA DEL SOL AND MADRID, and a May trip to GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

Trip booklets will be ready at the end of the month.

*A DAY TRIP in February will take Newtown seniors from Sandy Hook to Westchester Broadway Theatre, where you can enjoy songs about St Louis.

Details about an outing on Thursday, February 3, to enjoy lunch and a showing of Meet Me In St Louis are available at the senior center. Cost is $68 per person, departure will be at 9:30 am, and there are just 54 seats available – come in soon!

Menu For Week of

January 17-21

Reservations must be made one or two days in advance.

Meals are subject to change.

Monday, January 17: Newtown Senior Center will be closed for Martin Luther King Day,

Tuesday, January 18: Stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, carrots, whole wheat bread, fruit cocktail;

Wednesday: Oven fried chicken quarter, O’Brien potato, green beans, biscuit, fresh fruit;

Thursday: Spaghetti with sauce and meatball, salad with Italian dressing, garlic bread, parmesan cheese, apple juice, lemon cake;

Friday: Tomato rice soup, unsalted crackers, seafood salad plate, tossed salad with French dressing, three-bean salad, croissant, diet fruited Jell-O with topping.

Activities Schedule

January 17-21

Monday: AM Bridge, yoga, exercise; PM art class;

Tuesday: AM Pinochle; PM bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), floral arranging;

Wednesday: AM Pinochle, senior fitness tests, exercise; PM Bingo;

Thursday: AM Pinochle, hatha yoga class, Municipal Agent visits; PM bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), TRIAD/Yellow Dot photos taken, line dancing;

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.