Author: grotonadmin

Thrive55+ Active Living Center (powered by Groton Senior Center) is the premiere location for nutrition, health and technology and recreational classes, special events and trips, transportation, information and referral services for Groton residents 55 years and older. Programs in health, computers/technology, finance, fitness, art, enrichment and more are offered year-round and there are special events constantly throughout the year. We are active, social and involved and welcome all not only Groton residents. You have to see us to believe us; stop by for a tour of our fun and friendly Thrive55+ Active Living Center (powered by Groton Senior Center) Visit Thrive55+ Active Living Center for a delicious breakfast, snack and/or lunch prepared daily by our chef in Coastal Cafe.

July- FROM THE DESK OF MARY JO RILEY

Welcome Back! We have been waiting so long to say that to you all. We know that some of you are still
concerned with COVID even with the vaccines. Please be assured that we continue with our extensive cleaning and
we encourage you to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable.
Staff have been diligently working during this past year on virtual programming,
drive through events and parking lot events. We also have received grants or
Project Lifesaver a program for persons with dementia/Alzheimer’s who
wander. This is a police search and rescue program using radio bracelets. Also we
will continue Community First Meals once a month through the summer. This
program created by Kathy Williams has received national recognition with a
Program of Excellence award from the National Institute of Senior Centers.
One of the unfortunate realities from the pandemic is that finances at the center
are going to be very tight for the next few years. You will see that class prices have
gone up slightly to keep up with increased costs. Pricing has not increased for
many years at the center and we had hoped not to do this. Please feel free to speak to me if you are feeling the
financial burden and we can discuss options for you.
We have also had to say goodbye to several instructors due to the pandemic. Julie Oliver, fitness instructor/
personal trainer, Liz McGee, watercolor instructor and Carol Dunn, Zentangle instructor have moved on to
other things. We wish them all well.
Again, we are so happy to see you all and hope you enjoy being back at the center.

SUMMER 2021 REGISTRATION AND PROGRAMS- July 6 to August 28

Summer session – July 6 to August 28
NO MAKEUP TIME

Residents register beginning June 7
Nonresidents register beginning June 14

Registration Deadline – Please register before the first
week of class. Classes not meeting the minimum will
be cancelled for the session.

Register ONLINE at www.GrotonRec.com/Discover55

Everyone needs a face cover!

EXTENDED TRIPS 2021

2021 EXTENDED TRIPS

Ark Encounter            September 25 – October 1, 2021  (BUS)

Roundtrip Motor-coach, 6 Nights 4-star Accommodations, Tour of Falling Waters & Guided Tour of the Ohio Amish Country, Tour of the Warther Museum, Admission to the Creation Museum & the Ark Encounter—note: moderate walking with up to 3 hours of walking per day.

EXPLORING SOUTH AFRICA, VICTORIA FALLS & BOTSWANAOctober 08 — 22 (AIR)

Pilanesberg National Park, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, 8 Wildlife Safaris, Choice on Tour, Cape Winelands, Cape Town, Table Mountain 15 Days • 29 Meals

SPOTLIGHT ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA        NOV 20– 28, 2021
Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Tropez, Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Choice on Tour, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Cannes,
Fragonard Perfumerie Workshop 9 Days • 11 Meals

___________________________________________________________________________

SOUTHERN CHARM                    FEBRUARY 27, 2022 (AIR)
featuring Charleston, Savannah & Jekyll Island : Historic Charleston, Choice on Tour, Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, Savannah, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island 7 Days /9 Meals

COSTA RICA                                  MARCH 19-27, 2022
San Jose, Coffee Plantation, Guanacaste, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Choice on Tour, Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal Cruise, Cano Negro Refuge, Zarcero 9 Days • 14 Meals

SANTA FE                                        MAY 2022
Walking Tour of Santa Fe Plaza, Open-Air Tram Tour, Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe School of Cooking, Turquoise Trail, Allan Houser Sculpture Garden, Bandelier National Monument, El Santuario de Chimayo 6 Days /8 Meals

SHADES OF IRELAND                             SEPTEMBER 2 -11, 2022
Dublin, Irish Evening, Choices on Tour, Kilkenny, Waterford, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Jaunting Car Ride, Ring of Kerry, Farm Visit, Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Castle Stay 10 Days / 13 Meals

CALIFORNIA DREAMING                            OCTOBER 3 -10, 2022
Monterey, Scenic 17-Mile Drive, Yosemite National Park, Sacramento, Choice on Tour, Lake Tahoe Scenic Cruise, Napa Valley Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, San Francisco 8 Days / 12 Meals

Would you like more details on any of these trips?
Please email colsen@groton-ct.gov or call 860-441-6623 to request a brochure.

2021 DAY TRIPS

SUNDAY IN AUGUST -RED SOX BASEBALL GAME AT FENWAY

Call Senior Center for more information as it gets closer more information should be available.

O.A.T.S. OUTDOOR ACTIVE TRAVELING SENIORS (55+)

A group with a shared interest of being outdoors and adventure who happen to be 55 and older. Interested?
Email colsen@groton-ct.gov Registration required –for any OATS outing- please call 860-441-6785.

KAYAKING PROGRAM
We are partnering with our brother division – Recreation- to make this happen
again. We shall start on June 29th and meet every other week. (June 29, July 13, 27,
August 10 and 24) We go out on Beebe Cove. Depending upon our group’s level
of experience we may even go out on to the Mystic River. We provide the kayaks
and the life jackets-if you prefer to bring your own that is welcome. You MUST be
signed up for this program prior to participating. Please RSVP at 860-441-6623 or
email colsen@groton-ct.gov

HIKING Thursday, July 15th 9:00 am Bluff Point State Park. We meet there by
the BPSP large sign. We will walk/hike the approx. 3.4mi – the main loop.

Wednesday, July 14 at 11am and August 11 at 1pm- Medicare 2021 Presentation

We’re offering an educational event to review Medicare and how it can impact you and if you’re getting all the
benefits you qualify for. We’ll be discussing the difference between Original Medicare, Medicare Supplements,
Medicare Advantage and Prescription drug plans. The state assistance qualifications for the Medicare Saving
Program will be covered and who fits into which tier. We’ll also review how the Part D coverage gap or
doughnut hole works and how the Insulin Saving program can impact your annual drug cost. This event is being
facilitated by Senior Health and Retirement Service, located in Clinton CT.

Tuesday, July 6th at 1:00 pm- Beekeeping in Connecticut Presentation by John C. Huhn DVM, MS

This FREE program is an intergenerational event that is open to the public Tuesday, July 6th at 1:00 pm. Immediately following , we are having an ice cream social sponsored by Visiting Angels.

THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE OUTDOORS UNDER THE LARGE WHITE TENT LOCATED IN THE UPPER PARKING LOT AT THE GROTON SENIOR CENTER TO REGISTER PLEASE CALL 860-441-6785 BY JULY 2, 2021

Pappy has around 40 bee colonies distributed across 4 bee yards located in Salem,
Waterford, East Lyme and Old Lyme. He is what is called “sideline beekeeper’ as
opposed to what is called a “backyard beekeeper”. The distinction is not only the
size of the operation, but also the fact that the sideliner operates as a business. In his
case, the operation is called “Pappy’s Bees LLC”.
Sideline operations are usually run by one or more experienced beekeepers, and have
a substantial investment in equipment needed to process several hundred pounds of
honey in a given year. He has been keeping bees for over 8 years, and the learning
curve has been steep. Having been both a large and small animal veterinarian for 40
years has given him the right mindset to manage bees as livestock. Bees are important
not so much as individuals but as members of a “superorganism” called a bee colony. The one exception to this
rule is the queen, on whose health the entire colony depends. Without a good queen, a colony is doomed to
failure. However, bees have evolved several failsafe methods to provide for the colony if the queen should be
injured or die. Please join us to learn more at this intergenerational presentation. Registration is necessary.

Need help with Medicare?

CHOICES Counselors provide free, unbiased information about the Medicare Parts A, B, C
and D and provide assistance through the medicare.gov portal to screen and enroll in various
Medicare Advantage Plans or Medicare Part D plans as well as provide screening and application
assistance for the Medicare Savings Programs to help make Medicare affordable.