Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check the Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.
All in-person classes will be subject to Senior Center membership and pre-registration. Wearing face masks and social distancing is recommended.
If you are a Granby Senior Center member, please register for programs through SchedulesPlus.com/granby If you are not a member of the Granby Senior Center or you do not have access to a computer, please call 860-844-5352 to register.
Special Events
Holcomb Farm Fresh Access for Seniors: Thursdays, 11 to 11:45 a.m. at Granby Senior Center. This extraordinarily successful program is back for another season. Enjoy fresh produce graciously donated from the Fresh Access Program through Holcomb Farm. Please bring your reusable bag. Drive-thru only. Must be a senior with paid membership. New membership cards will be given out during your first visit with us and then shown at each subsequent visit. Limit one bag per household. Call to pre-register.
Pie in the Park: Wednesday, July 28, 1 to 2 p.m. at Ahrens Park. Rain Date July 29. Enjoy some great music and blueberry pie. Entertainment provided by Bill Benson. Bring your own chairs. Register by July 21. Cost $4.
Stamping Summer Edition: Thursday, July 29, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Instructor Sharyon Holness is returning for this special summer stamping/card making class. Must pre-register by July 12. Cost $5.
Ice Cream Social: Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1 to 2 p.m. at Ahrens Park. Rain Date Aug. 26. Co-sponsored by UNICO and Big Y of Simsbury. Enjoy a novelty ice cream and some socially distanced conversation. Bring your own chairs. Register by Aug. 18. Cost $4.
Ongoing Programs
You must be a Senior Center member to participate, and pre-registration is required.
Knitting Group: Mondays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
History Class: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Set Back: Tuesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Music Jam: Every other Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cribbage: Fridays, 1 to 3 p.m.
Kayaking
Bantam River, Litchfield: Tuesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. Guide: Judy Cooper. Bantam River is a small, calm river that flows between a pond at Bantam Lake. Lots of songbirds, vacated beaver dams, water plants. A nice quiet place to paddle. You are responsible for your own transportation and equipment. Pre-registration required.
Farmington River, Avon: Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. Guide: Judy Cooper. We will put in at the new launch on Old Farms Road, Avon. This is very close to Rte. 10 and across the road from Fisher Meadow Recreation Area. We’ll paddle up river for a few hours and then float back to the car. The water level and flow will determine the mileage. Pre-registration required.
Health and Wellness
Chair Massage: Tuesdays, July 6, 20, Aug. 3, 17 and 31, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Massage therapist Bev Harris offers a 15-minute chair massage for $10. You must make an appointment and be a Senior Center member. Call 860-844-5352 to register. Masks required.
Blood Pressure/Blood Sugar Clinic with the Farmington Valley VNA: Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Granby Senior Center. By appointment only. Call 860-844-5350 to register. Masks required.
Support Services
Alzheimer’s Support: Caring for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association for assistance at 800-272-3900.
Ask the Attorney: The first Wednesday of the month, by appointment at the Granby Senior Center. Specializing in Elder Law. Please call 860-844-5352 to set up an appointment for a free consultation.
CHOICES Counseling: CHOICES provides information and assistance about Medicare and its drug coverage plans. Call 800-994-9422 to speak with a counselor.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Thursdays at Noon. A group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Join others to share friendships, tips and ideas on being a parent again. Free.
Senior Van Service
The Senior Vans operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Out-of-town medical appointments may be made no earlier than 9:30 a.m. and no later than 2 p.m. Call at least one week in advance when requesting rides for appointments. Annual van fee is $10. Call 860-844-5350 to schedule a ride or to get more information. Cost $5 per trip.
Shopping Trips
Registration opens July 1 at 9 a.m. for Granby members. Registration for Out-Of-Town members opens July 2 at 9 a.m. You must call 860-844-5352 to register; voice messages and emails will not be accepted for trip reservations. A current membership and van pass is required. We can only accept registration for the person calling. Masks are required on the van.
Windsor Court: Wednesdays, July 7 and Aug. 4, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Windsor Court offers something for everyone. Stores include HomeGoods, Target, The Dollar Tree, Stop and Shop and a variety of restaurants nearby.
The Promenade Shops, Evergreen Walk: Wednesday, July 21, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Evergreen offers something for everyone. Whether it is kitchen stores like Williams Sonoma or Pottery Barn to clothing and shoe stores including New Balance, Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Talbots and Chicos, you are sure to find something on your shopping list. There are plenty of places to enjoy lunch.
The Shops at Farmington Valley/Walmart: Wednesday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. These wonderful shops in Canton give book lovers, clothes shoppers, and food shoppers the opportunity to find all that they are looking for. Stores include Barnes and Noble, Chico’s, Clarks Shoes, J. Jill, Kohl’s, Talbots, and Shop-Rite. Lunch will be on your own before you head to Walmart.
Day Tripping
Registration opens July 1 at 9 a.m. for Granby members. Registration for Out-Of-Town members opens July 2 at 9 a.m. You must call 860-844-5352 to register; voice messages and emails will not be accepted for trip reservations. A current membership and van pass is required. Only one Day Trip per person per month. We can only accept registration for the person calling. All meals and ice cream are your expense, not included in the trip cost. Masks are required on the van. Cost $10.
Shore Drive, Waterford/New London: Thursday, July 15, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Your shore drive will start in Waterford, with a stop at beautiful Harkness Park. Spend some time exploring the gardens, walkways, and beach. Next, drive down Pequot Avenue in New London with views of the Sound and the Thames River. Lunch will be at Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock. Your last stop will be at Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream.
Lunch Lakeside-Lake Waramaug: Tuesday, July 20, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Travel to Warren, with a tour around Lake Waramaug. Lunch will be at the beautiful Hopkins Inn. The last stop will be at Arethusa Farm Dairy in Bantam for ice cream.
Shore Drive, Old Saybrook/Westbrook: Thursday, Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Enjoy a leisurely ride through Old Saybrook to Bill’s Seafood Restaurant, right on the water in Westbrook for lunch and ice cream. Cash only at Bill’s.
Lunch Lakeside-Lakeview Coventry: Tuesday, Aug. 31, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Enjoy outdoor dining at the Lakeview Restaurant on Coventry Lake. Choose from sandwiches, pasta, seafood and much more. Last stop is for ice cream at Dairy Cream in Windsor Locks.
Dreaming of Traveling Again?
With an abundance of optimism, the Granby Senior Center is partnering with Collette Travel to offer some exciting travel destinations in 2022. More details to follow.
National Parks of America: May 14-25, 2022. Twelve days including Scottsdale and Sedona Arizona, The Grand Canyon, Brice Canyon in Utah, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone, and Rapid City, South Dakota. Includes 10 breakfasts and six dinners. Cost $4,699 per person, double occupancy. Includes round trip transportation to the airport from Granby.
Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights: Oct. 22-28, 2022. Seven days. See all the magical wonders of Iceland: the Northern Lights, massive glaciers, Geyser thermal areas, double cascading waterfalls, the crest of the Mid-Atlantic ridge, natural rock formations, volcanic sand beaches, floating icebergs, glaciers, lava fields, geothermal pools and so much more. Includes five breakfasts and five dinners. Cost $2,999 per person, double occupancy. Includes round trip transportation to the airport from Granby.
Exercise Classes via Zoom & at Sr. Center
Must pre-register for all classes. No drop-ins allowed.
Yoga Flow via Zoom: Mondays at 10–10:45 a.m. July 12-Aug. 23 for seven classes in the session. Instructor, Mary Fuller. Emphasis is given to finding a balance between flexibility and strength and exploring how, with practice, we can find increased fluidity of movement. Yoga experience is somewhat helpful but not required. Cost: $35 Granby residents; $42 non-residents.
Chair Yoga: Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. July 6-Aug. 31 for nine classes in the session. Instructor, Paula Pirog. Enhanced breathing, seated and standing classic yoga poses, plus balance training and core strengthening. Guided meditation finishes the class in a calm and relaxing manner. Cost: $54 Granby residents; $63 non-residents.
Yoga: Tuesdays at 4 p.m. July 6-Aug. 31 for nine classes in the session. Instructor, Paula Pirog. Strength building sequences, standing and on the mat. Includes balance and Pilate’s floor work. Cost: $54 Granby residents; $63 non-residents.
Chi Gong via Zoom: Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. July 7-Aug. 25 for eight classes in the session. Instructor, Mary Ellen Mullins. The practice of Chi Gong helps us to feel grounded, nurtured and relaxed so that the body’s energy can be naturally directed to help our organs function optimally, create flexibility in the muscles, suppleness in the joints and bring balance to our emotions. Accessible and beneficial to all levels. Cost: $48 Granby residents; $56 non-residents.
Cardio and Strength via Zoom: Fridays at 10–10:45 a.m. July 2-Aug. 20 for eight classes. Instructor, Mary Fuller. This is a quick-paced class with cardio and a concentration on strength building. Cost: $40 Granby residents; $48 non-residents.
Line Dancing: Fridays, 1:30–3 p.m. (90-minute class) July 16-Aug. 27 (no Aug. 13) for six classes in the session. Instructor, Jim Gregory. This class is a great workout while having a lot of fun. Appropriate for beginner to advanced dancers. A minimum of 12 students needed to hold the class. Cost: $30 Granby residents; $36 non-residents.