Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever this year to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have not done so already, call your Doctor to discuss getting a flu shot.
Flu shots are also available at local grocery stores and drug stores.
If you wish to have your taxes done, please call the Senior Center starting January 4th to add your name to the list. Due to COVID, appointment dates and times TBD. In person appointments may not be available. This is a free-of-charge service through AARP.
(860) 889-5960. Call early, limited appointments available!
It is with a very heavy heart we announce the passing of one of our very own. On the morning of December 9, 2020, Elizabeth “Betty” Bordeau passed away at her home in the loving care of her two wonderful children, Betsy and Bruce Bordeau.
Betty began her career with the City of Norwich and the Rose City Senior Center on September 6, 1988. For 14 years she was the full-time Clinical Receptionist until the position was reduced to part-time in July of 2002. Betty worked part-time from July of 2002 until July of 2009, then volunteered her time as she continued to work tremendously hard to ensure the Senior Center Preventive Health Clinic ran smoothly. Over the years she was the secretary for Dr. Gerard Kerins, Nurse Practitioner Cynthia L’Heroux, Nurse Nancy Pratviel and some for current Nurse Practitioner, Leonna White. During this time, she was also in charge of scheduling and other duties that came along with the Senior Center Foot Care Clinics and Dr. Thomas Walter.
In addition to her duties as our Clinic Receptionist, she was “Mrs. Christmas” as far as we were concerned. For over 25 years, Betty and her late husband William, along with their children Betsy and Bruce and eventually Bruce’s wife Stephanie and their 2 children Evan and Brooke could be seen here many days surrounding Christmas. On Christmas Day they hosted almost 100 seniors, who may not have had another place to go or people to be with, for a luncheon. The luncheon consisted of an hour of hors d’oeuvres, followed by a beautiful turkey dinner and then some great games of bingo. During the program, Santa Claus always made an appearance, bearing gifts for all.
In January of 2003 then Lt. Governor Jodi Rell presented Bill and Betty Bordeau with the CT Treasure’s Award for their outstanding commitment to helping those who are less fortunate.
Many people have many great stories that center around Betty and the majority of them would probably involve some sort of prank or joke. She had an infectious smile, a wittiness that was unmatched and a genuine care for others that cannot be replaced.
Rest in Peace Betty Bordeau.
You’ll be forever missed and cherished by all you’ve come in contact with.
Medication that is thrown in the trash can be retrieved by others and improperly used or sold and flushing medication can contaminate the water supply. Dispose of unwanted medications properly to prevent drug misuse and to protect the environment.
Norwich Police Department has a drop box located in their lobby to properly dispose of unused and expired medication. No questions asked, no ID needed to be shown. The Drop Box is located in the Norwich Police lobby at 70 Thames Street and is available 24 hours a day for medication drop off.
Drop boxes are a safe and confidential way to dispose of unwanted medication.
Deterra bags are also available which are used to deactivate drugs before disposing them in the trash. If you would like a Deterra bag to dispose of your medication, contact Mike at the Senior Center.
During this time it is difficult to contact all Senior Center Members using one form of communication. If you would like to be contacted by email about updates and information
about the Senior Center during our closure, please send me your email address. Although we are uncertain at this point of when we will be reopening and the changes that will be in place once we do, we will email you as soon as we have definite information in place.
Please send Hilary a quick email to be included on our email list.
hsandberg@cityofnorwich.org
Change is defined as – the act of making or becoming different. This whole COVID situation certainly has made our entire lives different in a multitude of ways. From how we stay safe, interact, work and even make purchases evolves constantly.
2020 has been the all-time master of change whether we wanted it or not! Who would have ever dreamed we would be wearing masks? In 2019 we didn’t even know what social distancing was. Also, in 2019 just what could of possibly have been meant by “mandatory stay at home”?? Or that children would no longer go to school?
Even if someone had told you that they were going to make all of this into a movie, most of us would have said it’s all too crazy and no one will ever go see that!
For us New England Patriots fans the biggest 2020 news should have been Tom Brady leaving!! Instead local and high school sports almost doesn’t exist. Fans can’t go to games. We don’t know from week to week which school is opened, and which are closed.
COVID has changed our world forever. Whether we wanted it or not! Life will never go back to what it was.
Now is the time we should be thinking about how we want our individual lives to be as we move past 2020.
What do you want your 2022 to look like? What have you been dreaming about? What did you miss the most? What did you get robbed of in 2020? My husband and I were not able to celebrate our 50th Anniversary the way we had been planning for the last three years. We were going to have a huge party with all of the bells and whistles followed by a three-week vacation to Vancouver, a cruise to San Francisco and then onto Las Vegas.
So now is the time to start planning to live the life you want. Use the present to get healthier. Find new paths to travel. Start saving, even if it’s only $5.00 a week.
Don’t be afraid to reach out. Talk to your doctor, your friends, your family. Find a therapist. Tell them how hard 2020 has been for you.
Embrace change! No matter what it will look like.
Figure out new ways to socialize. I’m doing a Zoom Paint Night where the instructor will be online, and attendees can be in person in small groups or on Zoom. A network I’m part of is planning a Zoom night where we will learn how to make a couple of drinks.
Start work on your “2020 Bucket List”. Start making the actual plan on how you will achieve those goals. Hit the ground running. Be ready to live.
Now start planning your 2022 so you will know what it’s going to look like!!
These virtual presentations are being shared by Fairfield Senior Center,
West Hartford Senior Center, Cromwell Senior Center and Cheshire Senior Center.
The Strategic Significance of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor presented by Mark Albertson.
Pre-registration required by emailing BigelowCenter@fairfieldct.org to receive the link.
1:30p.m. Jewish Heroes (and Not So Heroic) presented by Susan and Art Zuckerman.
2:45p.m. Klezmer music by Zev & the East Side Klezmer Ensemble featuring Tami Sherman.
Pre-registration required by emailing Lisa.hanse@westhartfordct.gov to receive the link.
East Coast Hop Orchestra Quintet-Live music streamed from Atria Hamilton Heights. ECHO is a jazzy act, combining genres of Jazz from the 40’s to today.
Pre-registration required by emailing Lisa.hanse@westhartfordct.gov to receive the link.
Hartford is home to many historic churches & Synagogues. This talk will focus on some of these buildings used by the major denominations. Walk virtually with Dan Sterner through history as you see these buildings with special historical significance.
Pre-registration required by emailing Lisa.hanse@westhartfordct.gov to receive the link
Holiday concert by jazz group Airborne Jazz.
Pre-registration required by emailing cromwellseniorcenter41@gmail.com for the link.
Mark Albertson Presents: The History of Christmas.
Pre-registration required by emailing BigelowCenter@fairfieldct.org to receive the link.
Join us via Zoom for a Holiday concert with Sal Anastasio.
Pre-registration required by emailing lgravel@cheshirect.org or call (203)272-8286.
Influences of Fashion 1912 – 1925 -Today’s program explores the social, technological, and political developments of the early 20th century as reflected in the evolution of women’s and men’s clothing. We will look at some influential designers and other people who impacted what people wore. Questions/discussion encouraged!
Pre-registration required by emailing Lisa.hanse@westhartfordct.gov to receive the link.
Urban Archeologist Greg Von Antwerp presents beautiful holiday trinkets and decorations he’s unearthed in his travels to estate and tag sales.
Pre-registration required by emailing BigelowCenter@fairfieldct.org to receive the link.
Join Rabbi Barbara Paris, of Jewish Family Service to learn and reflect on Hanukkah.
Pre-registration required by emailing BigelowCenter@fairfieldct.org to receive the link.
A very special thank you to Barbara Althen and Bill Ofsiany for taking great care of our outside garden and removal of the old garden beds.
They also put together 10 new garden beds that should last us the next 10 years.
Thank You!
We sincerely regret to inform the many participants of our December 25th Christmas Day Party that due to the circumstances beyond our control that we must cancel the 2020 Christmas Day program.
We look forward to being able to provide you with this great event again in 2021.
Until then please be safe and be well.
Sincerely, Celia Seifert and the Bordeau Family
On behalf of the entire Senior Center staff, I would like to personally wish all of you great health and happiness for this holiday season. 2020 hasn’t been the most kind to us, but in times of trials and tribulations we can only persevere as we have no other choice. We must fill our hearts and minds with positive thoughts ONLY and if we can do that, we WIN.
We all look forward to 2021 with clear vision, thoughts of better times ahead and if there’s one thing good to come from 2020, it will be our appreciation for the small things.
We know that we appreciate all of you for your continued support of us and the Senior Center in general. We look forward to a time in 2021 when we see our buses drive up full of our members, our exercise classes hooting and hollering, people enjoying one another’s company over lunch at the center. We cannot wait to see a motor coach leaving our parking lot for a trip to Boston or New York and people gathering for a game of cards.
We are turning our focus to a great 2021 and we hope you do the same. As we’ve stated all along, if we can be of any assistance to you, please call us. We are here to help.
Again, Happy Holidays to you all, we miss you and love you.
With utmost respect and love,
Mike, Hilary, Carolyn, Melissa, Shirley, Debbi and Lorie
