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

December 13-17

*SANTA will be RETURNING, along with children, on Wednesday, December 22, at 1 pm, for more visits.

*Finally this week, 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.

 

This Week’s Programs

*This year’s SENIOR CENTER COOKIE SWAP will be on Tuesday, December 14.

Call the center to sign up. Go through your favorite recipes, bake up a batch of cookies and bring copies of your recipe to share. This is a great way to enjoy a variety of cookies and go home with Christmas memories.

*JERRY KING LIVE: Jerry and Peggy King will be at the senior center on Wednesday, December 15, for A Holiday Spectacular. The Kings will be accompanied by Annie Gross on piano. Please plan to join us for an hour of holiday music.

*We’ll be hosting CHRISTMAS BINGO on Thursday, December 16, at 1 pm. Come join your friends for this holiday party. We expect lots of fun, and a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus, plus some elves.

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REMINDER: 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.

*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.

*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, 2005.

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

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.

*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.

Menu For Week of

December 13-17

Reservations must be made one or two days in advance.

Meals are subject to change.

Monday: Cranberry juice, roast pork with gravy, roasted potatoes, wax and green beans, rye bread, chocolate pudding with topping;

Tuesday: New England clam chowder, unsalted crackers, French dip sandwich on grinder roll, mashed potatoes, fresh zucchini and yellow squash, raisins;

Wednesday: Oven fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, spinach, whole wheat bread, pumpkin pie with topping;

Thursday: Southern breaded fish, tater tots, tartar sauce and ketchup sides, California blend vegetables, corn bread, fresh fruit;

Friday: Baked potato boat (chicken, broccoli and cheese), tossed salad with olives and Italian dressing, sun dried tomato roll, fruit salad.

Also, next week…

Monday, December 20: Veal parmesan, penne with marinara sauce, fresh zucchini, garlic bread, canned apricots;

Tuesday, December 21: Harvest soup, unsalted crackers, hot open turkey sandwich with gravy on whole wheat bread, cranberry sauce, French green beans, chocolate chip cookie.

Activities Schedule

December 13-17

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

Tuesday: AM Pinochle, senior center cookie swap; PM bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), floral arranging, “A Holiday Spectacular” (musical entertainment);

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

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

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.