February 2023 Class Updates and Events
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February 2023
Class Updates and Events
Angelica Fontanez Margherita Pilato Michelle Stillman
Director of Social Services Senior Program Administrative Assistant
203-938-3580 Coordinator 203-938-9725
Click here to email 203-938-9725 Click here to email
Angelica Click here to email Michelle
Margherita
Valentine’s Day Concert and Tea
Monday, February 13th at 3:00 pm
3:00 pm String Concert: Songs of Love and Life
4:00 pm Tea Reception
Fee is $10
The Heritage Center is delighted to host acclaimed violinist Beryl
Diamond Chacon and acclaimed guitarist Roni Ben-Hur for a
Valentine’s Day concert. Performing Songs from the Great American
Songbook, the performance will include music by Ira and George
Gershwin, Billy Strayhorn and Jerome Kern and songs made famous
by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. They'll also
perform Brazilian love songs.
Beryl Diamond Chacon is a concert violinist, music director and
recording artist. She is a Juilliard School graduate with experiences
ranging from performing a private concert for Queen Elizabeth, as
well as appearing onstage as solo violinist with The Royal
Shakespeare Company on Broadway. Beryl regularly performs at the
Met Museum, where her programs link art to music. She has
recorded with artists such as Tony Bennett, Carly Simon, Billy Joel
and Bette Midler as well as releasing her own Chamber Music and
Jazz performances on her own label.
Roni Ben Hur is a renowned Jazz Guitarist, recording artist and
educator. He has released over 14 recordings, collaborating with
many of the Jazz greats of our times. The New York Times praises
his “crisp, fluid style” and Time Out New York called him “a
formidable and consummately lyrical guitarist.” In his world travels
and collaborations, Roni has developed a rare facility in both
straight-ahead jazz and samba/bossa-nova.
We are grateful that the National Charity League will host the tea
reception following the concert. Their royal treatment will include
china cups (for guests to keep), tea sandwiches, cake and desert.
There are limited spots, please contact Michelle
mstillman@townofreddingct.org or 938-9725 to hold your seat; we
ask that the $10 payment be received by Friday, February 10th.
Energy Workshop with Sensei
June Fagan
Wednesday, February 8th, 1:00 pm
no cost
Master Fagan is excited to teach you about energy, also known as
“Qi.” We are all energy. And with some awareness and alterations in
your breathing, you can learn how to focus energy, manage your
energy and that around you. Highlights of the workshop include:
Experience feeling energy
Participate in fun exercises and learn how powerful you truly are
Understand energy blocks, how they are created, and how to
clear them
Learn how to tap into universal life force energy to help your
own energy system
We hope you can join us for Sensei June’s more popular
demonstrations and talk. Please contact Michelle
mstillman@townofreddingct.org (203) 938-9725 to reserve your
spot.
Foot Mobility & Strength:
the Foundation to a
Stronger Body
Tuesday, February 21st, 1:00 pm
With Instructor June Bird, no cost
June Bird teaches our Essentrics class and captivates students with
her knowledge of the body and movement.
Demonstrating a sincere concern to get others moving and feeling
better, June gives specific modifications to students' form; they've
enjoyed both immediate and longer-term benefits. June has a
Master’s degree in dance from Mills College and has done extensive
course work and some research relating to body movement. She is a
level 4 Essentrics teacher.
For this workshop and talk, June will discuss how critical your foot
health is to the rest of the body. For those who want a more “feet-on”
experience, be prepared to use yours for part of the workshop.
Please reserve your spot with Michelle
mstillman@townofreddingct.org, 938-9725.
February Meditation
Session with Dev
Monday, February 6th at 12:30 pm
Run virtually, no-cost, donations accepted
We know many of you have missed meditation sessions. Social
Service’s Dev Patel, certified in meditation, will lead a group again.
He shows how meditation is a useful tool that can be done in the
unlikeliest of places. Dev has an accessible style, he may
incorporate a body scan, breathing techniques and relaxation of the
body. He will offer some discussion between two 15-minute
sessions.
Please contact the Heritage Center (203) 938-9725 or email
mstillman@townofreddingct.org to reserve. We will send you a
link.
For those that prefer later in the afternoon, as a reminder, Yoga
Nidra runs once a month at 4:00 pm. For February, Deby
Goldenberg will run a virtual session on Thursday, February 21st.
Class Enrollment Monthly Fees
The following are the monthly fees for February. As a reminder, you
can pay for your class by credit card on our website using the PayPal
link. https://townofreddingct.org/government/services/heritage-
senior-center/ You can indicate in the comments which classes you
are paying for. Please register for class prior to the start of the
month.
Talking Books:
The Personal Librarian
Monday, February 27th at 1:30 pm
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
and Victoria Murray
This remarkable novel tells the story of J. P. Morgan’s personal
librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who
was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to
leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times
bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
Please email Hilda Rhodes (stanrhodes@sbcglobal.net) if you
have any questions about participating in this month’s discussion.
Drawing Basics
Sketch, Paint Create
Tuesday afternoons and
Wednesday mornings
On Wednesday, March 1st, Laura McCormick will
resume teaching Sketch, Paint, Create. Artists of
various mediums: acrylic, water-color, pencil, oil,
pastels, etc. are welcome. There are only one or two
more seats available for this popular class.
If you are a budding artist, Drawing Basics is the best place to start.
Laura provides incredible training on perspective. Students will see
objects differently and learn how to translate them to paper. She will
resume classes on Tuesday, March 7th. Please get in touch with
Michelle mstillman@townofreddingct.org (203) 938-9725 to enroll
for either class for the month.
Beginner Pickleball
Mondays, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
in the gymnasium
No-cost
Beginner Pickleball has been running on
Mondays from 12:00 to 1:00. If anyone is
brand new and wants to learn about the
basics, Kim Becker has let us know that she
will be available on Monday, January 30th and Monday February 6th.
She has volunteered herself to offer anyone some assistance.
No Spanish Classes:
February 2
Classes will resume the following week on
February 9th
Gentle Yoga
Wednesday, February 8th
at 9:30 am
Our gentle yoga class will have a substitute teacher. Deby
Goldenberg will teach in lieu of Laurie Mayper.
Heritage Center Closed on
Monday, February 20th in
elebration of President’s Day
C
Heritage Center Hours:
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, our delayed
opening and closure schedule follows the
Redding School system’s. For example:
If schools report a one-hour delay, the Heritage Center will open
at 10:00 am.
If schools report a 90-minute delay, the Center opens at 10:30
am.
If schools are closed, the Heritage Center is closed.
If there is any question about our schedule, please call 938-9725
after 8:15 am that day. The recorded voicemail will be updated with
the day’s hours.
Laws Affecting Seniors
This year we have a short legislative
session, beginning February 8th. This
new column will be providing you with
updates on legislation you might care
about and we are hoping you may want to put your two cents
in. There is an easy way to do so.
Our State Rep is Anne Hughes: AnneHughes@cga.ct.gov,
860-240-8585
Our State Senator is Ceci Maher: Ceci.maher@cga.ct.gov,
860-240-0068
As the session gets underway, we will provide you with information
on bills that might impact you. Stay Tuned!
Jean Rexford Jeanlrexford@gmail.com
Mary Dale Lancaster mdl@mdlancaster.com
Good Ending: Care Givers
We are all care givers, even if that means simply taking care of
yourself. However, as we age, there’s an increasing likelihood we’ll
need to care for a partner or spouse as well. It can be a challenge to
balance self-care with caring for another. But it’s critical both for our
own well-being, and for whomever we are caring for, that we don’t
ignore self-care.
A Google search for “senior caregiver self-care,” or “caregiver self-
care checklist” will turn up a long list of helpful resources (scroll down
past the Ads that are listed first). Some websites we’ve found useful
include the Family Caregiver Alliance, CaringBridge, and the
Mayo Clinic’s Caregiver Stress: Tips for taking care of yourself.
An important component of self-care, as emphasized in The Mayo
Clinic piece, is that caregivers should not hesitate to accept help or
ask for help; but be specific. Family and friends often want to help,
but are waiting to be asked or don’t know how they might help.
Asking someone to prepare a meal, run an errand, or relieve you for
an hour or two can make a big difference. Some caregivers create
detailed schedules of needs and asks family and friends to sign up.
Every little bit helps.
And don’t forget Redding Social Services. You can reach Angelica
Fontanez at (203-938-3850) who can provide guidance and address
a wide range of needs.
Finally, for those who try to do it all GoodEnding offers the sage
advice of a local hospice volunteer. When her husband was dying of
cancer her first instinct was to care for him at home. However, after a
respite weekend, she and her husband realized it was time for her to
step back. He wanted and needed her to just be his wife, let others
do the caregiving. If you’re a caregiver, give yourself permission to
step back, if only for a short time. You and your loved one will both
benefit.
Tech Support:
Using your iPhone
Chad Pranzo, an Eagle Scout and Redding resident,
has created videos instructing uses for the iPhone. The
lessons below include how to download an app, how to
send a photo, how to download a photo and how to
text. You may have already seen them, but you also now have
access to a “cheat sheet” for all these lessons can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ORZs4eUwaQ33Z5qvwp16fe0XK
o8VrpDo/view
How to Download an App:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwzDEiuOYBM
How to send a photo:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYCSazHYi4Q
How to Download a photo:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoH56YYes_M
How to Text:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5OwlKaP7tY
Weekly Class Schedule for February
Please call (203) 938-9725 to register. The Heritage Center
will be closed on Monday, February 20th for President’s Day.
Classes with an * are full, but please get in touch
to get on the waitlist.
Mondays (No Classes February 20th)
9:00 am Beginner Qi Gong & Tai Chi with Sensei June
Fagan
10:30 – 12:30 pm AM Clay*
12:00 pm Beginner Pickleball
2:00 pm Playing with Clay*
Tuesdays
9:00 am Fitness to Fit You
10:00 am Intermediate Qi Gong & Tai Chi with Sensei June
Fagan
11:00 am Tai Ji Quan Continued
12:30 – 3:00 pm Bridge
2:30 pm Intermediate Ukulele
4:00 pm Advanced Beginner Ukulele
4:00 pm Yoga Nidra (2/21 only)
Wednesdays
8:30 am Barre
9:30 am Gentle Yoga
10:00 am Redding Discussion Group (Current Events) live
session 2/1
10:00 am Mah Jongg (2/15 is final session)
10:00 am Sketch, Paint Create (resumes on 3/1)
Thursdays
9:30 am Fitness to Fit You
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Quilting Group
10:00 am Intermediate Spanish (No Class on 2/2)
10:45 am Tai Chi with Deby Goldenberg
11:00 am Beginner Spanish (No Class on 2/2)
12:30 – 3:00 pm Bridge
Fridays
9:00 am Essentrics
10:00 am Moving & Grooving
11:00 am Tai Ji Quan Continued
Virtual and Live Programs
Outside the Heritage Center
Metropolitan Opera LIVE streamed:
Ridgefield Playhouse
Saturdays this Spring:
3/18, 4/1, 4/15 and 4/29
Experience the Metropolitan Opera LIVE streamed at the Ridgefield
Playhouse, courtesy of First Light Homecare. Please contact
Margherita mpilato@townofreddingct.org / 938-9725 if you are
interested the following performances. Feel free to bring a friend,
FirstLight will hold a ticket for you at Will Call.
Lohengrin (Wagner), Sat, March 18, 2023 at 12:00 pm (Live)
Falstaff (Verdi), Sat, April 1, 2023 at 12:30 pm (Live)
Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss), Sat, April 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm
(Live)
Champion (Terence Blanchard), Sat, April 29, 2023 at 1:00 pm
(Live)Senior Life Skills Series
with Village to Village
Virtually on the 3rd Monday of the month
throughout 2023,
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
One of the “villages” of the Village to Village Network is offering free
Senior Life Skills session throughout the year. Village to Village is a
national non-profit that serves to help local communities support,
engage and help keep their vibrant aging members healthy.
An Oklahoma City community, VillagesOKC is launching virtual (and
live) learning sessions for older adults as a response to negative
chatter about decline, aging and being over the hill.
While the sessions are free, registration is required. You can register
for each session individually, here: https://www.villagesokc.org/
You can also call (405) 990-6637.
Their Monday Learning sessions will be from 1:00 to 2:30 pm Central
Time
2023 Schedule
Feb. 20th Rocks: Not in your Head
March 20th I Want to Volunteer, But
April 17th Your Brain Can Change Your Blood Pressure
May 22nd Get a Grip on Improving Your Brain
June 19th Alzheimer’s vs Dementia: What is the Difference?
July 17th How to Live Scam-Free
Aug. 28th Smelling Your Way to a Better Brain
Sept. 18th Insider Tips on Doctors Visits
Oct. 23rd Communication Success: Say Yes
Nov. 13th Balancing a Strong Brain on 1 Foot
Dec. 18th What’s Cooking: Tasting FairFebruary Calendar of Events
Above all, stay safe, be well!
Redding Park and Recreation | Redding Community Center, 37 Lonetown Road, Redding, CT
06896
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