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 April 11-15

*A new series of COMPUTER CLASSES are being offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 to 4:30 pm. All levels of computer users are welcome.

This class will deal with email, Word and the Internet. Stop in for details.

*Join us for “MUSIC & MEMORIES,” featuring Jerry and Peggy King accompanied by Annie Gross, on Wednesday, April 20, at 1 pm.

*UPCOMING TRIPS for Newtown senior citizens include a COUNTRY AND WESTERN THEME PARTY at Hunt’s Landing on Wednesday, April 13 (cost is $64 per person); LUNCH AND “OLIVER” at Westchester Theatre on Friday, April 29 ($68 per person); and POLKA FEST at Mt Haven Resort on Wednesday, May 11 ($66 per person).

Stop by the senior center for a full listing of this year’s trips, and details for any of the outings.

*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.

This Week’s Programs

*The senior center will be hosting AN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP on Tuesday, April 12, beginning at 1 pm.

Speaker Janet Moses, a representative from LifeLine Screenings, will discuss how quality health screenings can prove their value in detecting previously unrecognized symptoms.

*Upcoming MUSIC PROGRAMS will include “Music with Bob Gianotti” on Thursday, April 14, at 1 pm.

All of the selections he performs are arranged by Bob, and produced and performed in their entirety. Bob has been in the music business for 30 years, playing keyboard, piano and the flute. Bring a favorite request and join us for an hour of dance and flute. Reservations are suggested.

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REMINDERS: The senior center is in need of DONATIONS OF YARN AND MATERIALS for crafts. All donations would be greatly appreciated.

*We are SEARCHING FOR AN ART TEACHER to instruction of painting with acrylics and oil-based paints. Contact senior center director Marilyn Place at 270-4310 for details.

*AARP INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE has returned. Representatives will be visiting the senior center Monday mornings from 9 am until noon until April 11.

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

*Back by popular demand: ETHEL KAUFMAN is at the senior center every Monday at 1 pm to lead a CHORUS GROUP. Come enjoy some festive music with your friends.

*Pat Babbage has returned, and she is teaching EXERCISE classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Classes begin at 10:30 am.

*Lynn Flanders is teaching COUNTRY-WESTERN LINE DANCING each Tuesday morning from 10:30 until 11:30. Cost for each class is $1. Lynn has a unique style and she’s full of energy – come join the fun!

*On the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of each month, FLORAL ARRANGING workshops will meet with Marianne Imhoff. These sessions will begin at 1 pm. Please call to sign up.

*Anyone interested in learning HOW TO PLAY MAH JONGG? Lessons will be given on Thursday mornings at 10 am.

*REGULAR MAH JONGG PLAYERS are reminded that the advanced group plays at 9 am on Fridays.

*QUILTING CLASS meets on Fridays at 10 am.

*Municipal Agent 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.

*OVERNIGHT TRIPS in 2005 include a May trip to GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. Trip booklets for 2005 are ready. Stop by the senior center to pick one up.

Menu For Week of April 11-15

Reservations must be made one or two days in advance.

Meals are subject to change.

Monday, April 11: Beer battered fish, tater tots, ketchup, cole slaw, dinner roll, oatmeal cookie;

Tuesday, April 12: Stuffed pepper, mashed potatoes, diced carrots, rye bread, butterscotch pudding with topping;

Wednesday: Escarole-bean soup, unsalted crackers, chef salad (ham, turkey, egg wedge, lettuce, tomato and French dressing), club roll, fresh fruit;

Thursday: Pot roast with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, French cut green beans, whole wheat bread, apricots;

Friday: Herb chicken quarter, brown rice pilaf, fresh zucchini, cranberry juice, pumpernickel bread, diet fruited Jell-O with topping.

APRIL 19-22

Also, for planning ahead—

Monday, April 19: Thinly-sliced steak with mushroom gravy over egg noodles, peas & carrots, multi grain dinner roll, grape juice, fresh fruit salad;

Tuesday, April 20: Cheese lasagna, Caesar salad with croutons and Caesar dressing, parmesan cheese, soft breadstick, vanilla pudding with fruit topping.

Activities Schedule, April 11-15

Monday: AM Bridge, yoga, exercise, AARP income tax assistance (by appointment); PM chorus group;

Tuesday: AM Pinochle, country-western line dancing; PM presentation on the importance of quality health screenings, bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), floral arranging;

Wednesday: AM Pinochle, exercise; PM Bingo;

Thursday: AM Pinochle, hatha yoga class, Municipal Agent visits, mah jongg lessons; PM “Music with Bob Gianotti,” bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), TRIAD/Yellow Dot photos taken;

Friday: AM advanced mah jongg, sewing, quilting; PM 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.