The Cheshire Senior Center, 240 Maple Ave., is now scheduling appointments for the AARP Tax Aide Program on a first-come, first-served basis. Call Tracey at (203) 272-8286 to schedule an appointment.
As the winter moves forward and the weather gets colder, the Cheshire Senior Center will post storm closings on its Facebook page and the local news channels. Typically, if Cheshire schools are delayed, Senior Center buses and programs will also be delayed. If Cheshire schools are canceled, Senior Center buses and programs are also canceled for the day.
Reminder: You are not automatically signed up for a ride when you register for an activity. If you need a ride to the Senior Center, call Coleen in the Transportation Office at (203) 272-0047 to schedule a pickup.
The Senior Center Membership Association is starting to plan for the Spring Tag/Bake Sale. An organizational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help out is invited to attend.
Special Programs
To register for any of the following programs, call (203) 272-8286 or email LGravel@cheshirect.org.
Chinese New Year Celebration – Today, Jan. 26, at 1:30 p.m. Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and learn about this important holiday in Chinese culture. The All Connecticut Chinese Chorus will perform and several Chinese appetizers will be served. Cost for the program is $3 per person. (Registration was required by Jan. 24.)
Save the Date! AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities Information Session – Monday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m. Learn more about this exciting initiative. Bagels will be served. Register today!
Relay CT Services Presentation – Friday, Feb. 3, at 10:30 a.m. For people who have difficulty hearing or speaking, the simple act of using a telep[hone can be a challenging and frustrating experience. Relay Connecticut is a 24-hour service that enables individuals who are deaf, heard of hearing, or deafblind, or who have difficulty speaking to communicate freely with friends, family and businesses. Multiple service options are available to fit individual communication needs and will be reviewed during the presentation. Register today!
Cheshire Senior Singles Group will meet on Fridays, Feb. 3 and 17, at 1:30 p.m. – On Feb. 3, attendees will be playing Bunco and talking more about plans to develop the group.
Afternoon Craft – Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 1:30 p.m. Make a rag heart wreath. Registration in advance is required. Cost is $5 per person. Space is limited.
Heart-Healthy Dark Chocolate Presentation – Thursday, Feb. 9, at 1:30 p.m. February is Heart Health Month, and what better way to celebrate than with some dark chocolate goodies! Join Registered Dietician Jessica Dorner for a cooking demonstration, samples, and take-home recipes. Registration is required.
Foods That Built America Video Series: “The Chocolate Rush” – Monday, Feb. 13, at 1:30 p.m. In 1919, Milton Hershey was king of the chocolate business, but everything changed when, in a post-World War I price drop, a rush of competitors sprang up, which included his former employee, H.B. Reese (42 minutes). “Pizza Wars” – Monday, Feb. 27, at 1:30 p.m. In the 1950s, two enterprising brothers from Wichita, Kansas, aimed to build their restaurant, Pizza Hut, into a franchise empire by boldly introducing America to a little-known Italian dish: pizza (45 minutes).
Musical Bingo – Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. A special Valentine Bingo event and special Valentine refreshments provided by Whitney Rehabilitation Care Center. Registration is required.
Calling All Crocheters – Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. Join Lucy to create special crochet projects and to learn about a very special group, Random Acts of Crochet Kindness. Bring your hook; the patterns and yarn will be provided. Register today!
Camp CONNRI Lodge Presentation – Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 1:30 p.m. CONNRI (Connecticut and Rhode Island) Lodge is a senior camp, operated by the Salvation Army, located on a 52-acre private lake surrounded by a 272-acre woodland site right here in Ashford. Come learn about this beautiful camp — relive your camp days, and create new memories. Register today.
Planning for the Next Chapter – Thursday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. The Real Team of Rachael Cisz and Tracey Fiasconaro, will share tips and ideas to get your home ready for selling, attorney Mike Trella will discuss legal paperwork, financial planner Matt Fortney will help with finances, and Randi Bellemare from The Village at East Farms will educate attendees about senior living options. Registration is required.
Afternoon Movie Matinee: “The 44th President in His Own Words” – Thursday, Feb. 23, at 1:30 p.m. In this film, President Barrack Obama offers a firsthand account of his time in office: his successes, his failures, his unfinished business, and what he hopes will be his legacy. Rated PG (1 hour, 25 minutes). Please register.
Aqua Turf Club Senior Events: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – Tuesday, March 14, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. featuring the McLean Avenue Band and Irish Step Dancers, menu of corned beef and cabbage, baked scrod. Cost per person is $52. Shake Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos – Tuesday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Two top piano entertainers will take the stage for an epic battle mixing music, comedy and audience interaction in a sing-along, laugh-along, dance-along show. Menu of Chicken Kathryn, baked ham. Cost per person is $52. Sign up at the front desk.
Coming in March
Read Across America: Intergenerational Program at Chapman School – Thursday, March 2, at 1 p.m. The Senior Center is looking for a few members to visit a second grade class at Chapman School. Transportation will be provided. See Laura for details and to sign up.
A Trip to the Movies: “80 for Brady” – Friday, March 10. Registration will start on March 1 to see the new movie starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field. Watch for details.
Monthly Programs
Line Dancing – Mondays at 10 a.m. (new time). Drop-ins are welcome to attend this free, weekly relaxed instructional line dancing class.
Move & Groove Workout – Mondays at 10:30 a.m. Drop-ins are welcome to attend this free low-impact DVD exercise class.
Monthly Reflexology with Kim – Monday, Feb. 6. Contact Laura for more information and to schedule an appointment.
Free Memory Screenings – Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m., by appointment only. Erica DeFrancesco from LiveWell Dementia Specialists provides office hours at the Cheshire Senior Center each month for memory screenings, caregiver consultations and additional services, by appointment only. Call (203) 272-8286 to schedule.
Sit Down with Stefanie – Thursday, Feb. 9, at 11:15 a.m. (note new time). Stefanie will answer questions about Senior Center functioning and programs. Please register in advance.
The Cheshire Sherlock Holmes Society – Thursday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m., in person and via Zoom. Please read “The Adventure of the Beggar’s Feast” by Lindsay Faye, from the book “The Whole Art of Detection.” For additional information, contact Andy Tranquilli at tranquilli@hotmail.com. All are welcome!
Cheshire Readers Book Club – Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 10:45 a.m. Book for discussion is “Foster” by Clare Keegan. New members are welcome.
Ask the Probate Judge – Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. A monthly drop-in question-and-answer program with Probate Judge Matt Jalowiec.
Veterans Coffeehouse – Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. at the Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington St., Wallingford. Cheshire members are invited to attend.
Weekly Programs
To register for any of the following programs, call (203) 272-8286 or email LGravel@cheshirect.org.
Moderate Exercise – Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 10:30 a.m. This is now a drop-in class.
Nickel, Nickel – Wednesdays at 11 a.m. (note new start time). Playing fee is 11 nickels and one quarter per person, per week.
Technology Help with Jared – Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jared from the Cheshire Library returns to the Senior Center to help with computer/tablet/cellphone technology questions. Appointments are recommended; call (203) 272-8286.
Golf Card Game – Fridays at 10:30 a.m. on the lower level. Weekly fee to play is $3.
Advanced Conversational Italian – Fridays at 11 a.m. Spend some time speaking Italian with Dea, Kimberly and friends. Registration is required.
Bridge – Fridays at 12:30 p.m.
Setback – Fridays at 12:30 p.m. The group is always looking for more players!
Line Dancing – Mondays from 10 to 11 a.m. (note new time). Drop-ins are welcome to attend this free, relaxed instructional line dancing class. NOTE: No class on Jan. 30.
Move & Groove Workout – Mondays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Drop-ins are welcome to attend this low-impact DVD exercise class.
Travel Opportunities
Flyers are available for the following trips. Contact Laura Gravel, program supervisor, at (203) 272-8286.
Atlantic City Getaway – Bus pickup will be on Feb. 21 at 1996 Highland Ave. Commuter Lot near I-691.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania Bus Trip – May 23–25.
Exploring Britain & Ireland – Sept. 24 to Oct. 8.
Transportation Services
Call Coleen in the Transportation Office at (203) 272-0047 for information and reservations.
Transportation is available for medical appointments in the service area, grocery shopping, pharmacy, visits to the Cheshire Senior Center, and personal appointments based on availability. Ride requests are accepted two weeks in advance. Call by 11 a.m. the day before a ride is needed; any request made after 11 a.m. is subject to availability. Please allow a 10-minute window on both sides of your scheduled pickup time for the bus to arrive.
The Transportation Office is happy to announce the addition of the West Haven VA Medical Center on Thursdays and the Waterbury Outpatient VA Clinic on Fridays starting this week.
Bus drivers accept cash donations each time a rider steps on the bus. Suggested donation is $1 each way for in-town rides, and $6 round trip for out-of-town appointments.
Schedule for Out-of-Town Medical Appointments:
Monday – Meriden
Tuesday – North Haven and Hamden
Wednesday – Wallingford
Thursday – New Haven and West Haven VA
Friday – Southington and Waterbury Outpatient VA Clinic
Ride requests are accepted for appointments between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Dial-A-Ride is available on Fridays for the Waterbury area.
GWTD Dial-A-Ride:
Residents of any of the seven municipalities in the Greater Waterbury Transit District (GWTD) may use the Dial-A-Ride service, free of charge. Dial-A-Ride serves Cheshire on Fridays.
To be eligible to use the GWTD Dial-A-Ride Transportation Service, a rider must be:
•60 years of age or older OR
•a person with a disability AND
•a resident of Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Waterbury, Watertown, or Wolcott.
An application must be submitted to begin use of the GWTD Dial-A-Ride services. Applications may be obtained by calling the Cheshire Senior Center Transportation Office at (203) 272-0047.
Reservations must be made at least two days before a trip, and can be made up to 14 days before each trip. Riders may call the phone number on their ID card between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, to schedule a trip.
Support the
Cheshire Senior Center
Financial support for the Senior Center is very much appreciated and provides additional assistance to the Center in serving our seniors today and throughout the coming years. A gift can be made anonymously, in recognition of the donor(s) or in honor of, or in memory of a friend or loved one.
Donations can be made payable to the Town of Cheshire Senior Center and can be designated for a specific purpose or as an undesignated gift, which will be used at the discretion of the staff. Donations to the Senior Center will be held in a gift account to support the mission of the Senior Center. All donations should be sent to: The Cheshire Senior Center, 240 Maple Ave., Cheshire, CT 06410.