Charlotte Senior Center Happenings
by Mary Recchia, Activities Coordinator

Marty Morrissey will again offer Fall Hikes in the Champlain Valley beginning on Tuesday, September 22. A full description of each trip is available at the host desk. Please bring water and good hiking or walking shoes for an 8:30 a.m. departure. Registration required. No fee. Trip #1: Tuesday September 22 – Mills Riverside Park, Jericho. Hike starts at parking lot off Rt. 15 in Jericho and consists of a series of loops on flood plain and hillside. Total distance is approximately 4.5 miles. Easy hiking with some up and down hills. Trip #2: Tuesday Sept. 29 – Abby Pond, South Bristol. This hike climbs steadily crossing Roaring Branch Brook through mixed hardwoods and swamp maples to a secluded beaver pond. The mountains of the Breadloaf Wilderness overlook the pond. Moderate to difficult hike, total of four miles with 1,160 elevation gain.
Uwe Mester will be offering a free demonstration of Awareness through Movement: The Feldenkrais Method on September 22 at 9:15 a.m. The regular class offering will be Tuesday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Session Dates: 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17. The Feldenkrais Method is a form of somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to increase your range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. Feldenkrais is beneficial for those experiencing chronic or acute pain of the back, neck, shoulder, hip, legs or knee, as well as for healthy individuals. Many seniors enjoy using it to retain or regain their ability to move without strain of discomfort. For further information please visit: vermontfeldenkrais.com. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a blanket or mat. Registration required. Fee: $56
Fabulous Fall Foliage with Lynn Cummings, M.Ed begins Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11:30 on 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, Fee: $80. Join the fun as we explore several methods of painting the beauty of Vermont’s fall foliage with watercolor. Both beginners and intermediate level students will enjoy painting “still lives” of leaves by pouring, spraying and flinging paint, as well as using traditional painting methods of fall landscapes. Registration required.
A Drawing Class with an Eye Toward Oil Painting will be offered with Tracy Vartenigian Burhans on Friday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. Dates: 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30. This class will focus on the fundamentals of drawing through the study of still life, using both pencil and then charcoal on paper. Come if you are interested in drawing for its own sake or with an eye towards oil painting (where a solid foundation of drawing leads to a fuller experience when painting), whether you are wanting to learn to express yourself or are trying to become a more accomplished draftsman/woman. A supply list will be available. Please feel free to call 425-7042 with any questions about supplies. Registration required. Class maximum: 10 students. Fee: $120.
21st Century Toys with Robbie Stanley begins Friday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. Dates: September 25, October 2 and 9. iPods, blogs, Facebook, Twitter - what’s it all about? What use do you have for these new toys? Find out exactly what they are and how they can be incorporated to enrich your life and enhance communication with others. Learn how to use iTunes and an iPod, how to load the music and use it to watch movies or listen to audio books. Do you need a blog? Should you be twittering? Discover what all the talk is about and the possibilities that online social networking holds for you. This hands-on class will cover iTunes and iPods in the first class, move on to the wonderful world of blogging the second week and then finish with Facebook, Twitter and the new e-reading devices like Kindle in the final class. Prerequisite: Should be comfortable with computers and using e-mail, google and the Internet. Please bring a laptop to use in class, if possible. Registration required. Fee: $15/class, $40 for all three.
Senior Luncheons are held every Wednesday at noon. Reservations are necessary in advance and can be made by calling the Senior Center at 425-6345. A $4 donation is requested to help cover costs. Those who do not wish to share lunch with us are welcome to drop in around 1 p.m. to enjoy the After Lunch Offerings:
9/23: Laughing Yoga with Joanna Stein, CVAA AmeriCorps Member
This new type of exercise is great for people of all ages and fitness levels. We laugh for exercises, combining laughter exercises with yoga breathing. Laughter increases oxygen to the body and brain, increases circulation, helps with digestion, and releases “feel good” chemicals in the brain that improve your overall mood. Plus, it’s just plain fun!
9/30: Take a Poem Out to Lunch with Jim Lovejoy
Pack a poem in your pocket before coming to the Center today! Bring along a favorite poem you have written, a book of poetry you enjoy, a literary journal or print out a poem from Poets.org and join Jim for another wonderful afternoon of poetry reading.