Meet me at the Center — September 2023

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Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.

 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.


Special Programs

Aging Mastery Program: Tuesdays, Sept. 12–Nov. 14, 10–11:30 a.m. This 10-session evidence-based program will help you build your own playbook for aging well. Learn healthy habits and practical tips for healthy aging. The program is designed for people age 55 and over to build resilience and enjoy longevity. Explore staying socially connected, community involvement, physical activity and daily movement, healthy eating and financial fitness and advanced planning. This course is typically $65 per person but we are offering it for free.

Hebron Harvest Fair: Friday, Sept. 8, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Crafts, food vendors, animals, special events, entertainment… it’s all at the Hebron Harvest Festival. Friday is Senior Day, anyone 65+ admission is free until 4 p.m. Ride the senior van for $10.

Dine and Drive: Cracker Barrel and Old Country Store: Friday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Enjoy a meal at this store and restaurant in East Windsor, with delicious southern homestyle food, including all day breakfast, lunch and dinner. Take time to shop throughout the country store, take a seat by the fire or play some checkers while you wait for your meal to arrive. Ride the senior van for $5.

Shopping: A Dong Supermarket: Monday, Sept. 18, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. This West Hartford store first opened its doors in 1989 with a goal to offer hard-to-find oriental grocery products. It has added many new products and services but have kept the family-owned mentality. This is a stop that our van driver Jim highly recommends! Ride the senior van for $5.

Lifelong Learning

Coffee Hour with Congressman Larson: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 10–11 a.m. Congressman John Larson will discuss new benefits available to Medicare and Social Security recipients this year and his legislation, the Social Security 2100 Act, which will enhance benefits for the first time in more than 50 years and strengthen the program for years to come. Light refreshments will be provided. Free.

Tales from CT Aviation History: Friday, Sept. 8, 10–11 a.m. Enjoy hearing John Cilio tell some of the stories that unfolded in Connecticut’s rich and perpetual history of aviation. State inventors and entrepreneurs accomplished things many thought impossible across the last 17 decades, and helped pioneer early flight and motivated brave fliers to reach for the stars. Who knew that Connecticut, once the leader in U.S. stagecoach travel, would evolve to provide the global aviation community critical ingenuity, engines, instruments, and technologies? Learn a few stories about Connecticut’s aviation past. Free.

Visual Moments in Iceland: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2–3 p.m. Presented by George Fellner,
this photographic journey of Iceland explores visual moments that express the essential manifestation of place, culture and the natural world. The locale, sense of emotional response and experiencing of place are revealed through the images. In addition, samplings of history, technology, architecture and the humanities are articulated. The natural world forms the overall theme for the depicted scenes that encompass land, water, fire, and ice. Cost: $5.

Karaoke with Nick and Tim: Monday, Sept. 18, 2–3 p.m. Join Nick and Tim for some fun, bring a friend and your best singing voice! Free.

Tibetan Singing Bowls with Brian: Monday, Sept. 25, 2–3:30 p.m. Relax and listen to the beautiful sounds of Tibetan Singing Bowls. Soothing sounds help to reduce stress and to create a deep sense of peace and well-being. This ancient practice has been handed down from generation to generation by the Tibetan Buddhist monks. While chairs are plentiful, participants are also welcome to bring a yoga mat. Cost: $5.

Don’t Lose Your House: Protecting your assets from the costs of long-term care: Friday, Sept. 29, 10–11 a.m. Connecticut’s long-term care costs are the second highest in the nation. You’ve likely heard horror stories of people losing their homes to pay for care. Attend this session with Attorney Lara Bomzer, from Czepiga Daly Pope and Perri Law Firm to learn how you can protect assets with a carefully-orchestrated plan. You’ll walk away understanding how you can properly protect your life savings. You’ll also learn about Medicaid and how it can help you pay for long-term care costs, Medicaid’s confusing rules, what it takes to apply, who can help you complete an application, and much more will be discussed. Plus, strategies to protect your money if an unforeseen crisis arises. Free.

Ongoing Programs

CRT Hot Lunch: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 12–1 p.m. Community Café offers a healthy, low-cost lunch for seniors 60+ and the opportunity to join with others. Monthly menus are available at the Senior Center. All participants are required to complete a one-time informational survey. A donation of $3 per meal is suggested to help cover costs; however, no one is denied a meal if unable to pay. Reservations are accepted until noon on Friday for the following week by calling 860-844-5350.

Ask the Attorney: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. By appointment at the Granby Senior Center. Specializing in Elder Law. Please call to set up an appointment for a free half-hour consultation. Free.

Cribbage: Fridays, 3–5 p.m. and Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Join this lively group. Experienced players will assist with refreshing your game play. Free.

Set Back: Tuesdays, 1–3:30 p.m. Free.

Music Jam, Back in Time: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Bring your instrument and join in. Music from the 60s–80s. Free.

Makers Club: Mondays, 10 a.m. Bring your latest project to work on and enjoy some great conversation. Free.

History Revisited: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Jerry Perkins, former professor and high school history instructor, has a way of bringing history to life. Join this informative and fun view of events from Pre-Columbian times to the present. Class attendees will have the opportunity to request specific subjects to review. Free.

Camera Club: Monday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. *Change of date due to holiday* The club is for photography enthusiasts. Each month a different topic of interest is discussed. Annual membership is $10.

Women’s Breakfast: Wednesday, Sept. 13 *Change of date due to holiday* Mark Williams, Ph.D., a Salmon Brook Historical Society historian, will discuss what’s going on at the Wilcox House. Breakfast is at 8:30 a.m. with the speaker at 9 a.m. Cost: $5.

Men’s Breakfast: Friday, Sept. 8, with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Jerry Perkins will speak about John F. Kennedy. Cost: $5.

Health & Wellness

Chair Massage: Tuesdays, Sept. 5 and Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–12:45 p.m. by appointment only.
Bev offers 15 minutes chair massages for $10. Must have a current Senior Center membership to participate.
Blood Pressure/Blood Sugar Clinic: Thursdays, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. No appointment needed. Courtesy of the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurses Association. Held in the Senior Center Community Room.

Healthy Minds: By appointment only, call 860-844-5350. Situations such as the death of a loved one, failing health or strained family relationships can be dauting to face alone. Working with a Marriage and Family Therapist may help you move forward with the better part of life.

Footcare with Sarah: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Sarah from Mobile Manicures will assess feet and lower extremities, trim, file and clean nails. By appointment only. Cost $35 not covered by insurance.

Hearing Screenings: Friday, Sept. 8, 9:30–11:30 a.m. by appointment only. Hearing Screenings with Nova Hearing. Free.

Exercise Programs

See current Center Life newsletter for all program costs.

Gentle Movement: Mondays, 11:15 a.m. Next session: Oct. 16–Nov. 27. Instructor, Paula Pirog. This class will gently increase your strength, help you balance, and provide stretching to maintain and increase mobility.

Chair Yoga: Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. Next session: Oct. 10–Nov. 28. 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.

Yoga: Thursdays, 4 p.m. Next session: Oct. 12–Nov. 30. Instructor, Paula Pirog. Strength building sequences, standing and on the mat. Includes balance and Pilates floor work.

Chi Gong–Virtual: Wednesdays, 9– 9:45 a.m. Next session: Oct. 4–Nov. 29.
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. Beneficial to all skill levels.

Line Dancing with Jim: Wednesdays, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Sept. 6–Oct. 25. Instructor Jim Gregory has been teaching dance full-time for 40 years. His expertise will have you learning the steps in no time and having a blast too. This class is for beginners to advanced dancers.

Tai Chi/Qi Gong: Thursdays, 9 a.m. Next session: Oct. 5–Nov. 23. Instructor, Mary Ellen Mullins. Continuing the forms learned in previous sessions, this class will move on to learn Forms 9–12 of the Yang style Tai Chi. The first half of class will consist of Qi Gong warmups that are suitable for abilities. Experience in first eight forms required to participate.

Everybody’s Exercise with Mary Root: Thursdays, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Sept. 7–Oct. 26. This exercise class is suitable for anyone and includes strength and weights, some cardio, balance, and flexibility. All movements can be modified for chair or standing. Instructor will personalize your routine based off current flexibility, strength, etc.

All About Balance: Thursdays, 2:45 p.m. Next session: Oct. 12–Nov. 16. Instructor, Paula Pirog.
This class focuses on strength for balance efficiency, such as squats, handheld weight maneuvers, and walking drills, as well as core conditioning.

Be on the lookout for Mary Ellen’s new class starting in October—Tai Chi Yang Style 24 Forms 1-5.