The Newsletter of the Fairfield Senior CenterVolume 23, Number 1 January, 2013

fairfieldsenior timesservices and support for fairfield’s older adults

Center Adding More Exercise Programs

Town Officials Get Report on Center

According to the Pew Research Cen-ter, Baby Boomers are retiring at the rate of 10,000 every day. And this will continue for the next 19 years. By 2015, the number of seniors age 65 or more will increase by 12 percent, and by 2030 their number will grow by 53 percent.

This dramatic demographic shift means there will be a tremendous increase in demand for the kind of services and programs the nation’s 15,000 senior centers offer; and this will occur as funding for those pro-grams and services declines at all level of government.

It was against this background that a committee of seven volunteers chaired by Dr. Richard DeAngelis un-dertook a careful, unbiased evaluation of the Fairfield Senior Center. The committee’s final report asks whether the center can meet this formidable population shift in terms of its budget, its staffing level, its facility, its pro-grams and services and its manage-ment processes.

The report, known as the Top Ten Committee Report, compares the Fairfield Senior Center to six others in the region and makes a series of recommendations which hopefully will make a good center even better. The committee used a benchmarking process to rate each senior center, ap-

Human Services Commission, Selectmen Hear Recommendations

plying a number of important criteria to each. The report was accepted by the Human Services Commission on November 29th and presented to the Board of Selectmen on December 5th.

The committee found that top-ranked senior centers like those in Milford and Wallingford have budgets con-siderably higher than the state median of $238,000. Milford has a budget of $1.3 million; Wallingford’s is $1 mil-lion; and Fairfield’s is $340,000.

The staffing level at each of the top-ranked centers is a direct reflection of its budget. All of the centers bench-marked in the Top Ten study have a full time director—except Fairfield. And most have more—in some cases many more—full and part time staff positions to support their operations. Fairfield currently has only one full time staff member. The principal recommendation of the committee is to make the position of Director full time, add one part social worker to help handle a dramatic increase in workload, and a part time receptionist to relieve some of the burden on front office personnel.

The committee also recommended the town undertake a feasibility study to find out whether it makes more sense to renovate the existing senior cen-ter (the former Oldfield School) over

Continues on page 5Continues on page 2

In 2012 the Fairfield Senior Center offered eleven different types of exer-cise programs—more than any other center in Fairfield County. New in 2012 were Z-Health, Ballroom Aer-obics and Creative Body, Creative Brain.

Programs that have been in place in-clude: the Pacers Walking Group, Senior Exercise, Flex and Stretch, Ar-thritis Exercise, Tai Chi, Yoga, Zumba Gold and Co-ed Exercise.

According to Center Director Claire Grace, “This is the place to come for physical exercise if you are at least age 50. Exercise is an important com-ponent of maintaining strength, which helps maintain the independence we all want. Our programs provide op-portunities for everyone, from those who exercise in a chair, to those who are quite fit and love Zumba Gold. Just keeping up movement is impor-tant, too. All of these classes help people to maintain or improve their balance, which helps to prevent falls.”

Three additional programs are in the works for 2013: Weight Training, Alexander Technique, a method of ridding the body of harmful tension, and Pickleball, a tennis-like game that most seniors can play. Once these are

Page 2 January, 2013

At the MoviesIN January

Every Friday at 12:15

January 4th — Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray — Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore—and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. 94 minutes.

Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams — Gus is an aging baseball scout who refuses to be benched for what could be the final innings of his career. The front office is questioning his judgment, especially with the country’s hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask—his estranged daughter, Mickey. She joins him on his latest scouting trip, jeopardizing her own career to save his. 111 minutes.

Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling — Hedge-fund magnate Robert Miller (Gere) appears to be the very portrait of American-style success. But he’s in way over his head, involved in fraud and struggling to conceal his financial scheming and marital infidelity from wife Ellen (Sarandon) and daughter and heir-apparent Brooke (Marling). Running on borrowed time, Miller confronts the limits of his own moral duplicity. 100 minutes.

Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones — Decades of marriage have left Kay (Streep) wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband Arnold (Jones). When she hears of a renowned couple’s specialist in the small town of Hope Springs, she persuades her skeptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to go for a week of marriage therapy. The challenge comes as they try to re-ignite the spark that caused them to fall for each other in the first place. 99 minutes.

January 18th — Arbitrage (2012)

January 11th— Hope Springs (2012) ½

January 25th — Trouble with the Curve (2012)

Center Report From page 1

The spirited Elderberries played to a jam packed house at the Center’s annual Christmas party on December 12th. From left to right, tap dancer Nancy McGarry, Cook-ie Kavanaugh, John Bigley in the Santa hat and Mary Grosso at the piano.

time, build a new facility, or renovate another town-owned property. A list of suggested renovations is included in the report.

The center’s programming compares very favorably with that offered by the other centers benchmarked in the study. However, there are a number of programs not currently offered in Fairfield—foreign language, music instruction and dance, to name a few, that are very popular at other centers.

The Millward Brown survey (see the November 2012 edition of the Senior Times), which is summarized in the Top Ten Report, suggested that Fair-field offer more social programs to bring members together, more inter-generational programs to bring young and old together, and programming that would appeal to younger seniors. Since many of these seniors continue to work, the report recommends ex-tending the center’s hours one day a week, and a half day on Saturdays.

Other recommendations include im-proved security in the building and on the grounds, a formal member registration process, the use of mod-ern information technology to gather accurate data about how the center is used, food service improvements, and seeking national accreditation.

Many of the committee’s recommen-dations require no funding from the town, while others can be funded by donors.

Members of the committee are Rick DeAngelis, Chairmen, Margaret An-drews, Ron Atwater, Mary Jo Cornell, Nancy Legare, Betty Minor, Dave Peck and Palma Senatore.

The Top Ten Report is available at http://www.fairfieldct.org/senior.htm for reading and downloading. The committee hopes that you’ll support its efforts to make the Fairfield Se-nior Center one of the very best in the state.

Page 3January, 2013

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1 2 3 4

Cranberry Juice Pineapple Juice Butternut Squash Soup

Broccoli Quiche Oven Fried Chicken Unsalted Crackers

Carrot Coins Mashed Potatoes

Spinach Onions and Peppers

100% Whole Wheat 7 Grain Bread Coleslaw

Hamburger Roll

Peaches Birthday Cake Banana

7 8 9 10 11

Apricot Glazed Hearty Vegetable Soup Pork Stir Fry with Grape Juice

Chicken Breast Unsalted Crackers Lemon Wedge

Whipped Potatoes Meatloaf Brown Rice Parmesan Baked Yam

Capri Blend Veggies Mushroom Gravy Marinated Cucumbers

Buttered Beets Marinara Sauce

Diced Potatoes Garden Salad, Italian

Multi Grain Bread Split Top Wheat Bread Rye Bread Dressing, Wheat Roll Pumpernickel Bread

Fresh Apple Tropical Fruit Cup Pineapple Chunks Ice Cream Cup Apricots

14 15 16 17 18

Sliced Ham Open Faced Turkey Mushroom Barley Soup Grape Juice Lemon Pepper Fish

Mustard Glaze Sandwich Unsalted Crackers Roast Beef Lemon Wedge

Baked Sweet Potato Turkey Gravy Ravioli Beef Gravy Whipped Potatoes

Green Beans Stuffing Marinara Sauce Baked Potato Zucchini

Italian Blend Vegetables Green & Gold Beans

Dinner Roll Berry Sauce,Whole Italian Bread 12 Grain Bread

Stewed Fruit Wheat Bread, Pears Fresh Tangerine Butterscotch Pudding Fruit Cocktail

21 22 23 24 25

Orange Juice Cranberry Juice Beef Stew Minestrone Soup

Spaghetti with Homemade Turkey Loaf Diced Potatoes Unsalted Crackers

Meatballs Turkey Gravy Cucumber Onion Salad Baked Codfish

Parmesan Cheese O'Brien Potatoes Tartar Sauce

Italian Blend Vegetables Country Style Veggies Harvest Rice

Rye Bread Pumpernickel Bread Biscuit Broccoli, 12 Grain Bread

Chocolate Pudding Lemon Pudding Fruit Cocktail Fresh Orange

28 29 30 31

Roast Pork Escarole White Bean Pineapple Juice Cream of Carrot Soup

Apple Glaze Unsalted Crackers Cranberry Glazed Unsalted Crackers

Oven Browned Potato Lasagna Chicken Roast Beef

Diced Carrots Marinara Sauce Buttered Noodles Mushroom Gravy

Peas Scandinavian Veggies Rice Pilaf

Chuck Wagon Veggies

100% Whole Wheat Italian Bread Multi Grain Bread Pumpernickel Bread

Cinnamon Applesauce Mandarin Oranges Rainbow Sherbet Banana

Philly Cheesesteak

White Fish Filet

Au Jus and Vegetables Unbreaded Veal

Baked Ziti with

Peas and Carrots, Cran-

Multigrain Bread

January MenuSenior Community Cafe

Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch service begins at 11:45 a.m. Make reservations three days in advance: call 203.256.3118 after 10:00 a.m. A $2.00

donation is suggested. 1% or skim milk is provided. Margarine is served with all meals. Menu items are subject to change.

*High in sugar content. **High Salt Content. +High fat/cholesterol.

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” ― Bill Vaughn

Sweet Potatoes: A Great Alternative to Traditional VarietyOften confused with yams, this tuber is one of the healthiest foods on the plan-et. In addition to countering the effects of secondhand smoke and preventing diabetes, sweet potatoes contain glutathione, an antioxidant that can enhance nutrient metabolism and immune-system health, as well as protect against Al-zheimer’s, Parkinson’s, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, cancer, heart attack, and stroke. One sweet potato a day is a great alternative to the traditional variety.

Martin Luther KingDay

Center Closed

Page 4 January, 2013

January, 2013Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2 3 412:15 Movie: Moonrise Kingdom1:00 Z-Health

7 9:30 Blood Pressure Screening 10:30 Creative Body, Creative Brain Talk12:15 AARP Board1:00 AARP Regular

89:00 AARP Driving Class (snow date is January 15)

911:00 Senior Literary Society Pride and Preju- dice

10 11 12:15 Movie: Hope Springs1:00 Z-Health

14

158:30 GreenfieldHillGar- den Club9:00 Sasqua Garden Club10:00 Chinese Religions11:30 Oil Painting1:00 The Human Heart

169:30 Silver Belles Consign- ment Shop1:00 Genealogy

1710:00 Opera’s Great Comic Scenes1:00 Bernstein the Legend

1812:15 Movie: Arbitrage 1:00 Z-Health

21 229:30 Blood Pressure Screening10:00 Chinese Religions11:30 Oil Painting1:00 The Human Heart

23 10:15 FSCA Board

2410:00 Opera’s Great Comic Scenes 1:00 Bernstein the Legend4:00 Human Services Commission Meeting

2512:15 Movie: Trouble with the Curve1:00 Z-Health

28 2910:00 Chinese Religions11:30 Oil Painting1:00 The Human Heart 1:00 Bunko

30 3110:00 Opera’s Great Comic Scenes1:00 Bernstein the Legend

Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Wednesday Every Thursday Every Friday

Calendar of Events

* Call before coming.

9:00 Woodcarving9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Table Pool9:10 Coed Exercise9:30 Bocce10:00 Senior Exercise11:00 Flex & Stretch1:00 Open Bridge1:00 Ballroom Aerobics

9:00 Pacers-Walking Group

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Woodworkers9:00 Table Pool9:00 Zumba Gold ($5)9:30 Yoga10:00 Senior Exercise10:00 Open Painting11:00 Flex & Stretch11:30 Arthritis Exercise1:00 Model Airplane

Club1:00 Chess Club1:00 Mah-Jongg

9:00 Pacers-Walking Group

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Woodcarving9:00 Pokeno9:00 Table Pool9:10 Coed Exercise9:30 Crafts9:30 Computer Help (by

appointment)10:00 Senior Exercise11:00 Flex & Stretch12:30 Open Bridge1:00 Tai Chi

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Pokeno9:00 Zumba Gold ($5)9:00 Quilters9:00 Table Pool10:00 Senior Exercise11:00 Flex & Stretch11:30 Arthritis Exercise12:15 Movies1:00 Scrabble

9:00 Pacers-Walking Group

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Table Pool9:30 - 11:00 and 1:00 - 3:00 Open Com-

puter Lab*9:00 Pokeno9:30 Sewing Bee10:00 Senior Exercise11:00 Flex & Stretch11:30 Arthritis Exercise12:30 Bingo1:00 Open Bridge1:00 Tai Chi

Martin Luther KingDay

Center Closed

By all means sign up for the fabulous courses offered by the Lifelong Learners Winter Program. Five courses are offered, starting January 15th as listed on this calendar. Brochures are on their way to previous registrants, and they’ll also be avail-able at the center. The cost is a true bargain at only $20 per course.Callthecenterofficeat203.256.3166fordetails.

The winter schedule for some exercise programs has yet to be determined. Check our bulletin boards or ask at the front desk for the latest information.

Page 5January, 2013

The Fairfield Senior Times is published monthly by the Fairfield

Senior Center,100 Mona TerraceFairfield, CT 06824

Hours: Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

DirectorClaire Grace, 203.256.3169

Town HallHuman Services

Commission

Senior Times StaffEditor: Ron Atwater

fsteditor@hotmail.com

Editorial Assistant: M.A. Atwater

© 2013. All rights reserved.Printed in USA by Community

Publications, Cromwell, CT 06416

Information: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 203.256.3166.Transportation: M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 203.256.3168.Lunch (three days notice required): M-F, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 203.256.3118 after 10:00 a.m.Coffee Shop: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Gift Shop: M-F, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Social Worker: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 203.256.3125.Blood Pressure Screening: 203.256.3166Notary Public: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 203.256.3166.

Senior Center Services

Legal counseling; long term care; medigap and Medicare counseling. Services Below by Appointment Only. Call 203.256.3166

Visit the Senior Times online at www.fairfieldct.org/senior.htm

Reminders & Other Stuff Feldenkrais Expertto Give Free Talk

An Open Invitation to Artists! Starting this month, the newly ren-ovated main corridor of the Senior Center will become a gallery dis-playing the works of local artists. This is an open invitation to all art-ists, no matter what your medium or style, to submit your work.

This new venture is designed to in-vigorate the center and give local artists another venue for exhibiting and selling their works. The center has installed a secure hanging sys-tem along one wall, and will extend it as more artists apply to display their work. While the center will give preference to Fairfield artists, artists from other towns are also invited to submit their work.

The center’s staff is still working on the details of the program, but appli-cation forms should become avail-able shortly. For more information, call the center at 203.256.3166.

Exercise Programsup and running the center will have increased exercise programs by 43%.

Some programs are free of charge. Others have nominal fees, typically $5.00 per class.

For more information, please call the center at 203.256.3166.

From page 1

The Fairfield Senior Center will host a free lecture entitled Creative Body, Creative Brain, on Monday, January 7, 2013, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The presenter is Cathy Paine, M.A., GCFP, a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner and Integrative Move-ment Coach.

This one-hour lecture will give a brief introduction to current theories of brain plasticity, a discussion about how and why habits are formed, and gentle Feldenkrais® lessons which will be done seated and standing. Par-ticipants will learn how moving with less effort can dramatically increase flexibility, comfort, efficiency, and fluidity of movement.

The free AARP Tax-Aide program starts February 4, 2013 at the cen-ter and runs through April 11. Ap-pointments (call 203.256.3166) are available on Mondays and Wednes-days from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Free tax help is for low and middle income taxpayers with preference given to those age 60 and older with moderately complex returns (this does not include casualty losses).

Bring the following when you come to your appointment: proof of iden-tity (a picture ID); Social Security cards for you, your spouse and de-pendents or a Social Security num-ber verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter for you, your spouse and dependents; birth dates for you, your spouse and claimed dependents; wage and earning statement(s) from all employers (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc; interest and dividend state-ments from banks (Form 1099); the cost basis for any capital assets sold; a copy of last year’s federal and state returns; proof of bank ac-count routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit, such as a blank check; and total paid for a day care provider and the day care provider's tax ID number.

To file a joint tax return electroni-cally, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Page 6 January, 2013

And a Jolly Good Time Was Had by All!

From left: Dave Farrington, Carlos Clavarino, Carol Jablonski, Dolly Utzig, Carol Powell, Norma Driscoll, Sally Williams and Ann Farrington.

From left: Mary Ann Atwater, Bill and Mary Jo Cornell, and Jeanne and Wayne Harrison.

From left: Frank Rice, Carolyn Venturini, Anna Carf-agno, Ann Monk, Gladys Gress, Barbara Fitzgerald, Bill Clabby and Kathleen Rice.

From left: Pat Jankovsky, Bob Stilson, Jerry Hemen-way, Eleanor Whitaker and Millicent Zolan.

Top left: The center’s annual Christmas party on December 12th drew the larg-est crowd in recent memory—not an empty chair in the house.

Center left: The delightful Barbara Hageney belts one out for the capac-ity crowd. She lost much of her sheet music courtesy of Storm Sandy. That’s Mary Grosso at the stage piano.

Left: John Bigley performs as Cookie Kavanaugh looks on.

Photos right: The Pacers, the center’s walking club, held their annual Christ-mas bash at Luigi’s Restaurant in Fair-field.