Your Weekly eNewsletter 4.10.20
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!
We look forward to hosting a volunteer recognition dinner when we can gather together again, but we can’t let this month pass without recognizing our wonderful volunteers. We would like to shine the volunteer spotlight on this vibrant group of older citizens who give their time and talents year in and year out. We value your service and contributions to our community. We'd also like to recognize the group of community members who quickly stepped forward to fill-in for Meals on Wheels deliveries during this time so that we could ask many of our regular drivers to stay safely at home. This is a very special community that supports each other in times of need. 
Hats off to Thompson Volunteers!
Remember this video we made 5 years ago? What a fun memory and thought you would enjoy watching again. Watch Video Here or click on image.
Don't miss next week's eNews where we'll feature some of our wonderful volunteers
News & Updates
Looking for a Good Book?
 
Two of our avid readers have suggestions for some good reads right now.
 
From Beryl Spencer:
Running the Books, by Avi Steinberg, 2010. The author was born in Jerusalem, raised in Cleveland and Boston. He had extensive education in Talmudic studies and a degree from Harvard. He accepted a job with the Boston Globe writing obituaries. In a bad economy he left the Globe and accepted a position as librarian at the Suffolk County House ofCorrection. This is an entertaining account of his interactions and support/restrictions with con men, pimps, psycho killers, bank robbers, gun runners, gangsters and prison staff.
 
And from Sherry Belisle:
The Sound of Music is probably America's favorite movie of all time, and there are 5 books about the family and the movie. The book on which the movie was based is "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria Auguste Trapp. Maria also wrote "Around the Year with the Trapp Family Singers". She shares the traditions they followed, stories, recipes and illustrations by her daughter Rosmarie.
 
Captain von Trapp's oldest daughter (not Leisel, but Agathe) wrote "Memories Before and After The Sound of Music”. Some years ago, I was privileged to see and hear Agathe at a bookstore in West Lebanon, now gone. She sets some history straight, such as the fact that her mother was as musical as Maria and taught the children to sing. Also, Tom Santopietro has written "The Sound of Music Story", by and Julia Antopol Hirsch has written "The Sound of Music, the Making of America's Favorite Musical".

Have a book review to share? Send it to jbloch@thompsonseniorcenter.org for our May Newsletter.
Update from Yankee Book Shop & Norman Williams Public Library
 
Looking for a book, or book suggestions? Need a card or a board game instead of a book? While closed, Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock is taking orders by phone, email, and on their website - all for curbside pickup or for delivery/shipping.
 
Here’s how things will work - which is always subject to change:
 
  • Call for orders: 802-457-2411 on M, T, TH, F
  • Visit their website 24/7: www.yankeebookshop.com for book recommendations
  • You can also email them anytime: info@yankeebookshop.com
  • They are providing Front Porch Delivery every Tuesday & Friday, call the store for details, and extending free media mail shipping to those they cannot reach directly through April 30th. Please note: Thompson Center volunteers are in place to pick up and deliver pre-paid books if you want to stay home.
 
Update from the Norman Williams Public Library website, www.normanwilliams.org:
All late fees will be suspended and due dates extended during the closure period.
Through the Library website, there is access to e-books and other online resources. - Stay tuned to further communications on their webpage, Facebook, email newsletter and the Woodstock Listserv.
Since you can’t visit the Hop, Hop@Home brings the arts to you. Each week, they’ll send out a different menu of enticing, interactive, online content created by Hop artists—plus a weekly selection of Hop staff recommendations from the wider world of digital live arts. Stay home, stay safe and stay creatively connected! Read More
Age Well
Update from Ottauquechee Health Foundation (OHF)
 
OHF will continue to offer financial assistance for health and wellness needs through grants to those living in any of their nine service towns which include Woodstock, Barnard, Bridgewater, and Pomfret. If you or someone you know is experiencing financial stress in light of COVID-19 or other health reasons, please contact OHF. They will continue to serve the community by being available via email at info@ohfvt.org or by calling 457-4188, Monday-Thursday, 9am-4pm. Applications for financial assistance can be found on their website at www.ohfvt.org or by calling The Thompson Center, 457-3277.
Local Grocery Shopping Options During COVID-19 Community Response:
 
Barnard General Store is offering Curbside Pick-Up & Delivery. Free Delivery service is only for Barnard Residents who are elderly, or who have compromised immune systems or are quarantined. There will be a limit of one delivery per week, per household. Curbside pick-up of groceries is also available for Barnard residents. Call the Barnard General Store for details at 234-9688 or email barnardstore@gmail.com . Barnard Helping Hands and Barnard BEES have volunteers in place for deliveries.

Thompson Center volunteers are in place in all of the communities we serve to help shop for and deliver vital necessities. Thompson volunteers will typically shop on Tuesdays and Fridays – those days are subject to change based on volunteer availability - and ample advance notice is requested by calling The Thompson Center.

Each town has resources and plans in place to assist people during their time of need. In the event of needing more support please call your town’s emergency phone number as listed below.

Woodstock Emergency Management   hotline  at 802-457-7516.
Emergency Manager - David Green

Bridgewater Emergency Management Team:
Selectboard Chair - Lynne Bertram: 802-342-0784
Town Health Officer - Ellen Quinn: 802-281-0615
Emergency Management Coordinator - Josh Maxham:
802-299-8428

Barnard Emergency Management Team:
Contingencies and updates will be concentrated on the Barnard town website:  www.barndardvt.us
Selecboard Chair - Rock Webster: 802-234-9391
Town Health Officer - Tom Morse: 802-356-3576
Emergency Management Coordinator - Mike Manning: 802-234-5263

Pomfret Emergency Management Team:
Emergency Management Director - Kevin Rice: 802-356-7643
Town Health Officer - Hugh Hermann MD: 802-457-1200 office,
802-457-1300 home

See more specifics on grocery shopping on page 3.
For state information & resources dial 2-1-1
For online information visit cdc.gov
Dementia Caregiver Support Group
Available via Zoom at DHMC Aging Resource Center
Wednesdays, 12:30-2 pm
 
This is an open support group for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. This group will meet virtually every Wednesday from 12:30 –2:00 pm until they can resume in person meetings.  
Active Aging
Take Tai Chi in the
Comfort of your Home!
Tai Chi Instructor, Anne Bower, has organized a schedule of online Tai Chi classes offered through Zoom, a FREE wireless screen sharing app. The following is a list of classes which can also be found on our website with live links to access the online classes.
 
Fall Prevention Tai Chi Mondays 10-11am
Sun 73 forms Tai Chi Wednesdays 11-12pm
Yang 24 Forms Tai Chi Fridays 10-11am
Introduction to Tai Chi Saturdays 11-12pm
 
For more information, email Anne at: anniebower@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.anniebower.com.
Strength & Stretch
Zoom Classes

Exercise is more important now more than ever to keep our immunity and bodies physically and mentally strong. Liz is now offering online classes via Zoom. The schedule will be every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 am until May 28.

Below is information on how to join:


Meeting ID: 276 977 822
Password: 897561

For more information, contact Liz directly
802-522-9273 or  ebhatfield@aol.c om

Curbside Pick-Up Menu
Call the day before to order take-out & pick-up from your car between 12:00 - 12:30 pm  
Do you or someone you care for need a wheelchair or other medical equipment, help with taxes or applying for Medicare, caregiver referrals, help with odd jobs around the house, have transportation needs? Just ask us!    Click here for more information