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 Wal*Mart 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.

This Week’s Programs

*Our next POT LUCK DINNER will be on October 4.

These dinners are held on the first Tuesday of each month; call for the start time.

In the fall we’re going to have themes for the monthly dinners. On October 4, join us for Pumpkin Surprise; November 1, Harvest Gathering; and December 6, Holidays.

*Bingo on October 5 will be sponsored by HEALTHNET. Join us for some healthy snacks and fun.

News For Week of

October 3-7

*FLU SHOT CLINICS have been scheduled at the senior center on Wednesday, October 5, and Tuesday, November 1.

The clinics will run from 10 am to noon, and appointments should be made in advance; call 270-4910 as soon as possible to set up yours. This clinic is for senior citizens and those who are at risk.

The vaccine is billed to Medicare Part B, Anthem Blue Cross of CT, ConnectiCare, Health Net, or Health Net Smart Choice (Senior Plan). Be sure to bring your insurance card with you.

If you don’t have any of those plans, cost is $30.

*Keep in mind that the senior center will be CLOSED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, in observance of Columbus Day. It’ll be here before you know it.

*Just ten seats remain this week for the October 12 OCTOBER FEAST. Cost is $73. Call the senior center or stop in today to sign up.

*Returning by popular demand: Join DON SALVATORE as he ENTERTAINS US WITH HIS BANJO on Thursday, October 13, at 1 pm.

Please give us a call if you’ll be attending. We’ll hold a seat for you.

*Join us at the senior center on Wednesday, October 19, at 1 pm, for A FRIGHTFULLY GOOD TIME WITH BILL MICHAELS, complete with some Halloween entertainment.

Don’t forget to dress up!

*Coming up quickly is a trip to OKTOBERFEST AT PLATZL BRAUHAUS, on Thursday, October 20.

Cost is $68 per person and departure will be at 9:15 am. Stop by the senior center for details and to make a reservation.

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REMINDERS: ConnPace/MEDICARE PART D: If you do not understand the letters from Social Security pertaining to changes in Medicare Part D, call 270-4330 for help.

If you need help with your prescriptions and your income is less than $21,400 (single person) or $28,900 (couple), you should apply for ConnPace. You will still sign up for Medicare Part D and if you qualify for ConnPace, you will not pay the $37 monthly premium.

*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.

*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.

*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.

*Pat Babbage teaches EXERCISE classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Classes begin at 10:30 am.

*HATHA YOGA classes are offered on Monday and Thursday mornings at 10. Try a class with Helen Herbold to get rid of stress and anxiety while learning to breathe correctly. Bring a mat or towel to lie on and wear loose clothing (no belts; sweats are perfect). Also learn how to use all the muscles in your body through relaxation.

*Lynn Flanders is teaching COUNTRY-WESTERN LINE DANCING each Tuesday morning from 10:30 until 11:30. Cost for each class is $1.

Join Lynn for a fun hour of line dancing which includes the following steps: the slide, cha cha, vines, shuffles, kickball change, fan and waltz. Enjoy the music of Kenny Rogers, Patsy Cline, Tanya Tucker, Billy Ray Cyrus and Alan Jackson.

*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.

*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 your 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), Monday through Friday. Call her there at 270-4330.

*Returning by popular demand, DON SALVATORE will be at the senior center to give a performance on Thursday, October 13, at 1 pm. Don offers delightful music – don’t miss him this time around.

*THE AARP 55-ALIVE DRIVING COURSE is returning on Monday and Tuesday, October 17-18. Cost is $10 and the course will run each day from 9 am until 1 pm. Space is limited. Come in or call to sign up.

*Join BILL MICHAELS for an afternoon of music and laughs starting at 1 pm on Wednesday, October 19.

*HALLOWEEN BINGO will be played on Wednesday, October 26, at 1 pm.

*In the fall Newtown seniors are invited to participate in a four-day trip to THE ERIE CANAL, leaving Sandy Hook on October 7 ($579/single, $459/double or $449/triple); and/or a four day trip to WASHINGTON, D.C., departing Sandy Hook on November 10 ($569/single, $419/double or $399/triple).

Upcoming day trips include OCTOBER FEAST at Wright’s Mill Farm in Canterbury on October 12 ($73 per person), OCTOBERFEST at Platzl Brauhaus on October 20 ($68 per person), and gambling at MOHEGAN SUN on November 3 ($24 per person).

Stop by the senior center for full details for any of these outings.

Menu For Week of

October 3-7

Reservations must be made one or two days in advance.

Meals are subject to change.

Monday: Home-style meatloaf with gravy, rosemary roasted potatoes, green beans, wheat dinner roll, pineapple juice, apricot halves;

Tuesday: Butter-crumb fish with tartar sauce OR deli turkey sandwich on rye with cranberry sauce, brown rice pilaf, broccoli-cauliflower mix, rye bread, pistachio pudding with topping;

Wednesday: Cheesy baked ziti, turkey sausage, tossed garden salad with Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, Italian bread, seasonal fresh fruit;

Thursday: Yankee pot roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, whole wheat bread, tropical fruit salad;

Friday: Homemade chicken noodle soup, unsalted crackers, grilled chicken sandwich on hard roll with lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing, three-bean salad, chocolate chip cookie.

Also, for planning ahead—

Monday, October 10: No lunch today. The senior center will be closed for Columbus Day.

Tuesday, October 11 (Columbus Day Special): Chicken parmesan a la Santa Maria, New World shells, Columbus vegetable blend, Parmesan cheese, Italian bread, Italian ice.

Activities Schedule,

October 3-7

Monday: AM Bridge, hatha yoga, exercise; PM chorus group, computer class;

Tuesday: AM country-western line dancing; PM computer class, bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), computer class, potluck dinner (Pumpkin Surprise theme);

Wednesday: AM exercise; PM HealthNet Bingo;

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

Friday: AM advanced mah jongg, quilting; PM.

 

Remember, you must call at least one day in advance to book a meal or a ride, 270-4310; the Senior Bus, 748-2511.