January 2020, Vol. 2; Number 1 An e-letter published by the City of Milton Senior Program and RSVP Santa Rosa County

Lunch and LearnDate: Feb. 5, 2020Topic: Services that AARP offers seniors. RSVP by calling: 983-5466 before Jan. 31st.

Let’s Sing Kara-oke! Join us Feb-ruary 5th at 1 p.m. for a fun filled couple of hours of karaoke. Come with a tune on your mind and in your heart. Come out and if nothing else listen to all the music and fun.

Line Dancing! Ev-ery Monday at 10 a.m. Come out and enjoy learning how to dance a shuffle, slide, soul, or mod-ern country and western steps while getting exercise.

For more information check us out on-line at www.miltonfl.org/205/Senior-Citizens-Pro-gram.

Mark your calendar

Pickin’ & Grinnin’ Pickin’ and Grinnin’ was started because one senior (Steve Schaffter) was learning to play the bass guitar and wanted a place to play. After meeting with other seniors who played and sang Pickin’ and Grinnin’ was started on Sunday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. with Steve as the master of ceremonies. As Steve became busier behind the scenes, Bobby Flats became the master of ceremo-nies. More musicians joined and with everyone enjoying this so much the time changed to 2-5 p.m. Some of the musicians were here practicing a couple of Fridays a month, and people start-ed coming in and singing along, so practice turned into Pickin’ and Grinnin’ Sing Along, which meets every Friday from 11:30-1:30. Musicians of all levels are welcome to partic-ipate. For lots of fun come join us on Fridays and the second Sunday of each Month.

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Here are 10 healthy New Year’s resolutions for older adults from HealthinAging.org. 1. Eat healthy foods, but fewer calories. The USDA’s Choose My Plate program (choose-myplate.gov), and your healthcare provider, can help you make good choices. 2. Consider a multivitaminConsult your healthcare provider about any nutri-tion issues that may need over-the-counter vita-mins or nutrition supplements. 3. Be activePhysical activity can be safe and healthy for older adults-even if you have heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis! In fact, many of these conditions get better with mild to moderate physical activity. 4. See your provider regularlyYou should schedule an annual Medicare wellness visit with your healthcare provider around your birthday month to discuss health screenings and any changes in your advance directives. 5. Toast with a smaller glassExcessive drinking can make you feel depressed, increase your chances of falling, cause trouble sleeping, interact with your medications, and can contribute to other health problems. 6. Guard against fallsOne in every three older adults falls each year — and falls are a leading cause of injuries and death among older adults. Exercises such as walking or working out with an elastic band can increase your strength, balance, and flexibility and help you avoid falls. 7. Give your brain a workoutThe more you use your mind, the better it will work. Read. Do crossword puzzles. Try Sudoku. Social-izing also gives your brain a boost, so join a bridge club or a discussion group at your local library or senior center. 8. Quit smokingDid you know that cigarette smokers are twice as likely to develop heart disease as non-smokers? It is never too late to quit. You can still reduce your risk of many health problems, breathe easier, have more energy, and sleep better if you quit smoking. You can access www.smokefree.gov for resourc-es. 9. Share with NeighborsAbout 1 in 5 older adults suffers from depression or anxiety. Some possible signs of depression can be lingering sadness, tiredness, loss of appetite or pleasure in doing things you once enjoyed. 10. Get enough sleepOlder adults need less sleep than younger people, right? Wrong! Older people need just as much — at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Avoid daytime naps, which can keep you up in the evening.

Senior TipsTen healthy New Year resolutions

Pickleball is a sport that started at the Milton Community Center roughly four years ago. The sports went from one day at week to now four days a week. Pickleball is played every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. and Wednesday at 11 a.m. for beginners.

Pickleball

January BirthdaysHappy birthday to:

Sharon Stout - Jan. 1Orlene Marchal - Jan. 3

Val Martin - Jan. 3Mary Westmoreland - Jan. 4

Ruby Engle - Jan. 5Christine Gillet - Jan. 7Linda Royal - Jan. 23

Dolores Terry - Jan. 25Ildi McElroy - Jan. 26

Doris Rogers - Jan. 26John Ware - Jan. 27Dot Rose - Jan. 29

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Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I want to thank all the people who worked so hard to put on the Christmas Luncheon, it was enjoyed by many seniors, many who otherwise would have spent Christmas Day alone. As we approach the middle of the January, I have noticed that some of the wonderful people who come to the center have been in an irritable, impatient mood for the last few weeks, maybe they are just tired, because of the holiday stresses or have other things going on. So please try to be patient with each other, if you have a need, ask one of the staff nicely and it will be taken care of for you. Remember programs like Bingo are fun not serious, help keep them fun by not being overly loud, the room has a lot of people in it, or not making

rude commits, even in fun, some people that commits to heart. And when someone is having a bad day re-member, forgive, no one knows what is going on their life. If you need someone to talk to my door is always open, I may not be able to fix things, but I can listen. On a more positive note, RSVP will be doing vol-unteer trainings in preparing for this year’s hurricane season. If you are interested in CPR, first aid, working in a shelter, or VRC (Volunteer Reception Center). Get with Faye or Kiwi to sign up for these trainings. As al-ways, we are looking for more people to drive people to doctors, shopping, sometimes to the center, if you can help come by the office. The RSVP office will be closed January 27 through January 30, we will be in Panama City for the State Senior Corps Conference.

A ‘New Year’ ahead

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John Feeser is one of our awesome seniors at the Milton Community Center who partici-pates in a variety of our programs. 1. Are you a native of Northwest Florida? If not where are you from and how long have you live here? No, I am originally from Pennsylvania. I have lived here for 20 years. 2. What is the favorite place you have visited? Bavarian South Germany 3. What are the three things you will always find in your refrigerator? Orange juice, milk, and cheese. 4. What is your favorite food or meal? Hot lettuce and fried bacon. (You need him to give you the recipe) 5. What hobbies do you have? Playing cards, dominoes, bingo, going to pickin’ and grin-nin’, karaoke, working out, and dancing. 6. What was the last movie you watched and enjoyed? Sound of Music. 7. What invention has had the biggest im-pact in your lifetime and why? The automo-bile, it got me to travel on my own if I wanted, as well as, the atomic bomb. In the Air Force I never dropped any, but I was ready to do so if I had to. 8. What historical event in your lifetime stands out in your mind the most? When John F. Kennedy was assassinated. 9. What do you prefer – water, coffee, soda, or something stronger? Depends on what I am doing. Mainly coffee, but a mixed drink on occasions. 10. Name one more thing to do that is still on your bucket list? I am okay.

Getting to know .....John Feeser

Feeser Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil 1 sm bunch of green onions (or to taste) 1 Tbsp chopped fresh sage or ¼ tsp dried sage 28 oz. reduced – sodium chicken broth 2 cups water 2 15 oz cans of cannellini beans, rinsed 1 2lb roasted chicken (you can use left over or you can cook chicken) shredded, appx 4 cups

Instructions: Heat oil on medium – high heat. Add green onions, cook until tender, add sage and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in broth & water, bring to a boil and then add beans and cooked chicken, cook until heated all the way through. Serve hot.

Make ahead tip: Cover & refrigerate up to 2 days. Nutrition: This recipe is courtesy of the Santa Rosa County Extension Office lo-cated on Dogwood Drive in Milton.

White Bean and Chicken Chili

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