Bolton Senior Center
Prime Time: Online
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 |
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Keep In Touch! (860) 647-9196
Director: Carrie Concatelli, MSW
Administrative Assistants: Karen Frost & Pam Wentworth
Program Coordinator: Stephanie Crane
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Director’s Note
Dear Senior Center Friends,
Most of us are probably pretty familiar with the song “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles (George Harrison). I heard it on the radio recently and I was immediately transported back to a college music class. You see, right at the beginning of the semester, the professor turned on the song and asked us to listen to it very carefully. The volume was turned up way louder than I would ever choose, and we were instructed to try to hear all of the instruments that tend to be pushed to the background. Well it worked. I heard completely different parts of the song that I had never noticed before and to this day, I now hear the song in a very different way. The class exercise gave us a great lesson in changing our perspective.
Here we are at the end of January. Maybe it has been a bit of a dreary winter so far for you, especially after so many months of the monotony of the pandemic. It has been “a long cold lonely winter” in SO many ways. But we can feel the change is coming. As you can imagine with all of the information about the vaccines coming out, we have been extremely busy around here. But instead of feeling exhausted by it, I choose to feel energized because we have so much to look forward to once we weather through this (yes, a bit of a pun). We haven’t seen the end of all this yet, but if we keep being mindful of our own health and the wellbeing of others, we will get there. Please keep being vigilant, Bolton’s case numbers continue to skyrocket this month and we want to move forward with all of us in this together.
In the meantime, please be aware our call volume has been very high recently. We WILL get back to you as soon as possible and are happy to help in any way we can. Please be patient and we will do our best to keep you informed.
Stay Safe,
Carrie
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Senior Center Status
The Bolton Senior Center building remains closed to the public.
- Drop-off or pick-up items Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. only.
- The Food Pantry is available for pick-up and delivery: please call ahead.
- Transportation is available: please call ahead.
- Water Available! Plan ahead – Call us if you need some water to keep on hand!
- Energy Assistance is help paying for oil, propane, natural gas, pellets or electricity! Call ACCESS Community Access Agency at 860-450-7400 for more info. All Eversource customers are eligible for budget billing. Call 1-800-286-2828 to arrange. For more information or for assistance, call Bolton Social Services at 860-647-9196.
- Need delivery from Bentley Library? Tell Library staff when reserving your items.
- Borrow books or puzzles from the Senior Center! Call for more info.
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Free Zumba for seniors every Monday at 5:30 pm: email marle99us@gmail.com
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In Remembrance
We are saddened by the loss of two Bolton Seniors, Margaret Brown and Ellie Freddo. Ellie was a very active member of the Bolton Senior Center; she organized Bridge games, created the original crafting group, and volunteered with Senior Inc. We are thinking of their families.
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Covid-19 Vaccine Information |
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Wilton Senior Center made a Video explaining how VAMS works!
Here is a video from Wilton Senior Center demonstrating how to use the VAMs registration system. They give many useful tips, such as typing your email address in all lower case letters. We hope you find this helpful!
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AARP Tax Aide
Bolton Senior Center is happy to host the AARP FREE Tax Preparation Program. However, please note that all appointments will be contact-less this year. To schedule an appointment, please call Bolton Senior Center at 860-647-9196. We are scheduling appointments now for March. Staff will assist you in scheduling an appointment date. All intake forms and instructions will be mailed to you and you will be given specific drop-off instructions. You will need to be available by telephone on the morning of your appointment. Strict precautions will be in place to assure all documents remain secure and confidential and you will review and approve your return before it is submitted. For more information or to schedule call 860-647-9196.
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Midwinter Mates
Winter can get a bit lonely sometimes, and this is especially true this year when seniors are unable to visit each other in person or attend programs at the senior center. We would like to offer you an opportunity to stay in touch with someone during the next eight weeks starting on February 1st and ending on March 29th!
Sign up by completing the survey linked below. Once you are signed up, we will match you with another senior with whom you will coordinate a weekly friendly phone call to stay in touch. We will match you based on your answers to the questions listed on the survey, and will provide you with a few facts about each other so you won’t be going into it not knowing anything about your match! We will contact you during the first week of February with your match, so you can begin your weekly phone calls!
Please keep these check-ins virtual - whether that be a phone call or a video chat if you are comfortable. We will provide a list of questions that you can use to keep the conversation going, and you can even email or call us about something cool you learned about your partner to include in the newsletter if you would like! We will be checking in with you at the halfway point during the last week in February and at the end of March to see how it went!
We can provide a physical copy of the survey and/or email it to you as well if you can’t access the survey monkey! Email Stephanie at scrane@boltonct.org or call us at 860-647-9196 to request one!
Sign up deadline is February 1st!
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Charter Revision Comm. Virtual Public Hearing- February 4 at 7:15 p.m.
The Bolton Charter Revision Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 4th beginning at 7:15 p.m. via Zoom.
The purpose of this hearing is to present and gather public comment regarding the BCRC's draft report to the Board of Selectmen recommending changes to the Town of Bolton Charter.
The Charter is Bolton's "constitution" which sets out the basic structure of the Town's government, and defines the roles and authority of its public officers and commissions except where those subjects are mandated by state statutes.
The seven-member Commission, chaired by Gwen Marrion, was appointed by the BOS in November, 2019. The Commission has been meeting since January 2020, reviewing the entire Charter to address issues and suggestions made by the BOS, members of other Town boards and commissions, town staff, and members of the general public for updating and improving the Charter.
The other members of the Commission are Eleanor Georges (Vice Chair), James Aldrich, Jay Brudz, Richard P. Hayes, Jr., Adam Teller, and John B. Toomey, Jr.
The Commission's draft report is being compiled and will be posted on the Town website prior to the public hearing. The draft report recommends that the Town continue the current First Selectman/Board of Selectmen form of government with a Town Administrator handling day-to-day operations, but recommends both substantive and technical changes to the Charter.
Members of the public who would like more information should check the town website for the draft report and the Commission's agenda to be posted in the near future prior to the public hearing. The agenda will provide the telephone access number for the meeting, as well as information for how to obtain the link for participating by Zoom internet access.
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Yoga with Lisa
All classes will be done over Zoom!
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Virtual Zoom Bingo- February |
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The next Bingo event will be Thursday, February 4 from 11 – 12 p.m. over Zoom with Stephanie!
Email Stephanie at scrane@boltonct.org with the subject line “Bolton Bingo” or call us at 860-647-9196 and we will arrange a contactless pick up or delivery to bring a stack of printed bingo cards to you, and we will email you the Zoom invite for the game! If you are not sure how to use Zoom, shoot Stephanie an email or give us a call at 860-647-9196, to arrange a time to help you set up Zoom and practice with you so you feel more comfortable! Register by February 1st to play!
No computer? No worries- you can also call in with a telephone number.
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Educational Chocolate Program!
Join us Thursday Feb. 11, 6:30-7:15 p.m. for a fun, educational program highlighting the history and varieties of chocolate and great tea pairings. You'll also learn how to make chocolate bark! Kim Larkin of Klassic Kreations will share her experience as a chocolatier and discuss how to brew a proper cuppa tea.
You'll receive the bark recipe, recommended teas and a Zoom link upon registration. Try your hand at making bark before the program, then share how it went for you. Kim will answer questions and offer suggestions based on your experience. Call 860-646-7395 or email bmlreference@biblio.org to register.
This joint program is offered by Bentley Memorial Library, Bolton Senior Center and Social Services, and Bolton Recreation Department.
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Save the Date: Unlock Ancient Stories with DNA! |
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A Snowy Winter Poem
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
By: Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-The Bolton Senior & Social Services Staff
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