Trends & Traditions March 2016

Madison Senior Center

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ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION Join us to celebrate the “Wearin’ o’ the Green” this month by enjoying a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day lunch. For a special treat the Mulkerin Irish Dancers will get your feet tapping with some step dancing. Fee: $10 Thursday, March 17th at 11:30am

Tracey Finch O’Neill, from Collette Tours, highlights and ins and outs of traveling to Italy on their trip “Reflections of Italy.” If you’ve always wanted to go to Italy or are dying to get back there, this is your chance to find out all about it. Monday, March 7th at 10:30am FREE

Visit the Yale Art Gallery We will have a docent-led tour that will focus on four to six key works in the permanent collection from across curatorial departments with a focus on the American collection. The experience is discussion-based and encourages visitors to look closely, ask questions, and talk about what they see. There will be a little time after the tour to visit the gift shop before we leave. There is no admission fee or tour fee. Friday, March 4th depart MSC at 12:30 Bus fee: $3

Rene Dupuis, President of Tours of Distinction, will cover the trip to Nova Scotia we are running in July and the trip to Lancaster County to the Sight and Sound Theatre to see Samson in October. Rene will tell you about all the charming villages and shops in Nova Scotia and the exciting International Royal Tattoo (we are not talking about skin art!) you will see on the trip to Nova Scotia. Then he’ll talk about the amazing spectacle that is Samson at the Sight and Sound theatre in Lancaster County Pa. Monday, March 21st at 1:00 pm FREE

For more info on these trips see pg. 8 of this newsletter.

AARP INCOME TAXE$ Get Free Help with Your Tax Return AARP Certified Tax-Aide counselors provide free income tax preparation assistance for low -and-middle-income taxpayers of all ages, with special attention to those 60 & older. Taxes are prepared by appointment only, please call (203) 245-5627 to set one up. Taxpayers MUST bring copies of their 2014 tax return, as well as all 1099’s for 2015 Tuesdays from 10 to 3 FREE through April 12th

Basic Italian Explore this melodic language through Italy’s rich culture, customs and traditions. Learn common expressions and phrases in a relaxing 4-part class. This new course offers an appreciation of all things Italian. Instructor: Elaine Jackson 4 Mondays, April 4th-25th at 10:30 Fee:R$36|NR$46

The A !"n#$r%u& Culinary Club La Foresta is a large restaurant in a beautifully renovated barn in Killingworth serving Northern Italian cuisine.“...exciting, modern, a little bit sophisticated but (departing from the trendy playbook) exuberantly bountiful. If you’re secretly a little sick of fiddling around with a slew of tapas, tacos, nibbles and bites, you’ll be in seventh heaven here. But not to worry, if huge portions daunt you, the staff is ready with share plates, pastas are available in whole or half portions and the kitchen will obligingly wrap whatever you wish to take home. Monday, March 14th

leaving MSC at 11:45

Bus Fee: $2

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General Information/Ongoing Activities COSMOS

MADISON SENIOR CENTER 29 Bradley Road, Madison, CT 06443 PHONE: (203)245-5627 FAX: (203) 318-0670 WEBSITE: www.madisonct.org/seniors HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:30-4:00pm SR. COMMUNITY CAFÉ (203) 245-5627 DIAL-A-RIDE (203)245-5627 Operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. 48 hour notice required. MUNICIPAL AGENT FOR THE ELDERLY (203) 245-5687

“Astronomer Dr. Carl Sagan is host and narrator of this 13-hour series that originally aired on PBS in the United States. Dr. Sagan describes the universe in a way that appeals to a mass audience. He uses Earth as a reference point, by speaking in terms intelligible to non-scientific people, by relating the exploration of space to that of the Earth by pioneers of old, and by citing such Earth legends as the Library of Alexandria as metaphors for space-related future events. Among Dr. Sagan's favorite topics are the origins of life, the search for life on Mars, the infernal composition of the atmosphere of Venus and a warning about a similar effect taking place on Earth due to global pollution and the "greenhouse effect", the lives of stars, interstellar travel and the effects of attaining the speed of light, the danger of mankind technologically self-destructing, and the search, using radio technology, for intelligent life in deep space.”

Wednesdays and Thursdays, March 9th through the 30th at 1 pm

FREE

Lunch with Tom Come enjoy lunch with our First Selectman, Tom Banisch. Tom is joins us on the third Tuesday of every month to have lunch and chat with Madison seniors. Bring your questions, concerns and compliments. Please remember to make a reservation for lunch, the day before, by noon. Tuesday, March 16th, at 11:30 Lunch Fee : $4

with Ellen Olson

SENIOR COMMISSION Vice-Chairs ................. Dr. Gerard Kerins ............................................ Wendy Oberg Members ................................... James Ball .............................................. Craig Bernard .......................................... Patricia Melady ............................................. Sheri Puricelli ............................................ Marcy Sanders The Senior Commission meets on the second Thursday of the month at the Senior Center. The next meeting will be

If you are someone who can sew, cut or iron or wants to learn how to quilt and contribute your time, join us for “Quilts of Joy.” Volunteer your time to help create beautiful quilts that are being donated to New Horizons Women’s Shelter in Middletown. Please bring scissors, pin cushions (rotary cutter and board if you have one) and an excitement for quilting! Please call to register. Meets Tuesday’s from 1:15-3:30 FREE

Mah Jongg Game Play It’s a game of skill, strategy and a certain degree of chance. Lots of opportunities to play at MSC. Monday: 11:30 - 3:30pm Wed.: 9:30-12 & 11:30 - 3:45pm Thurs: 12 - 3:45pm Fridays: 9:30-12 & 11:30 - 3:45pm

All are welcome!

Crochet with Mrs. Wimble Learn how to make beautiful crocheted bags from your recycled plastic shopping bags. Please bring 2-3 colored bags, scissors and a large crochet hook, size (7-10). 1st Wednesday of the month, 1-3pm.

March 10th, 2016 at 5:30pm

Ongoing Activities at the Senior Center

SENIOR CENTER STAFF Director of Senior Services.. Austin Hall Asst. Director .............. Heather Castrilli Program Coordinator ...... Ellie Gillespie Receptionist ................ Peggy Zambarano Chef ……………………. Kevin Wolfe Server ........................... Yamilette Moshier Server ........................ Stephanie Jacoboski Bus Driver: ........................ Michael Rand Bus Driver: ....................... Helen Sneider Bus Driver: ..................... Dennis Marron Bus Driver: .......................... Tina Macero

Bridge

Thursdays & Fridays

1 – 4 pm

Canasta

Tuesdays

1 – 4 pm

1st Wednesday of the Month

1 - 3 pm

Fridays

1 – 4 pm

Wednesdays

12:45 - 3pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays

10am - 12pm

Crocheting Bags Hand & Foot Poker Knitting Group Walking Club

10am

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Messages from the Municipal Agent

REMINDER: SENIOR & DISABLED TAX RELIEF PROGRAM Tuesday, February 2nd – Friday, May 14th The Town of Madison and State of CT offer tax relief for elderly and/or totally disabled residents that own and occupy their property as a primary residence. There are income, age, and residency requirements in order to be eligible and qualify for the program. Please stop into the Senior Center for a complete list of guidelines. 2015 income taxes must be filed prior to appointment. Maximum Annual Income: $63,660. TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM Intake begins Tuesday, February 2nd Eligible participants can defer payment of the real estate taxes for as long as they meet the qualifications of the program. Deferral of taxes cannot exceed $8,000 in any one tax year. Tax deferrals will be secured by a lien in the full amount and an interest rate is charged. The current interest rate is 1%. An applicant must first apply for the Tax Relief Program to be eligible for a deferral. 2015 Maximum Annual Income: $63,660. (2015 Income guidelines not available at time of printing)

RENT REBATE Application Intake begins Monday, May 16th, 2016 If you rented an apartment in CT in 2015 and would like to file for the rent rebate program. Please contact your electric company, landlord, the water company, and heating company to get proof of payments made in 2015.

CONNECTICUT ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Energy Assistance helps to offset heating expenses during the winter. All fuel sources welcome to apply. Income and assets are counted for all members living in the household who are benefiting from the heat. Asset limit for homeowners is $15,000 & for renters is $12,000. Proof of all income, rent, & utility expenses, & bank statements for the month prior to the application date are required. Monthly Income Guidelines: Single: $2761 Couple: $3610

MADISON SENIOR CENTER DINING PROGRAM ASSISTANCE 3rd,

Beginning August The Madison Senior Center new lunch program changed for the better. We have hired a Chef, Kevin Wolfe, who will prepare lunch in our kitchen each day for the seniors of Madison. The cost of the program is $4.00 per meal. We understand that the cost could be burdensome for some seniors and we have developed the following guidelines for assisting those who cannot afford to eat at the Senior Center each day. We will use Energy Assistance guidelines to help us determine what level of assistance you can receive. Please see the guidelines listed below: Income Number of Possible Meals Subsidized Per Week