Author: norwichadmin

Time: 9:30am- 11:30am

$5 per person for 4-week class
Instructor: Liz Popinchalk

Check the display case near the library for examples of the fun that you can have with “Inks”!
Alcohol ink is a vibrant and breathtaking art medium that leaves a colorful, tie-dyed like pattern.  Using alcohol inks can be a fun way to use colors and create fun backgrounds and designs on glass, tiles or paper.  Mixing colors can create a vibrant marbled effect and the possibilities are endless of the variations you can make.  Decorating glass, tiles and paper with alcohol inks is easy and yields beautiful results.  This class is great for a beginner or advanced artist.
In this 4-week class, you will be creating fun pictures and vibrant patterns using alcohol ink on glass, tile and paper.  All materials will be supplied.  Class size is limited.
One 4-week session will be offered.  Classes will be April 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.
You must sign up in order to take this class.  Payment is due by March 28th.

Alcohol Inks Demonstration Class
A demonstration class will be offered to those who are interested in taking the 4-week class.  Demonstration classes will be held on March 21st and March 28th.  You can only sign up for one demonstration class not both.  The demonstration class is free.  You must sign up to take the class.
Please sign up at Reception for either March 21st or 28th.  Class size is limited.

The Christmas Party on the 25^th of December at the Senior Center was a success again this year!

With almost 100 people attending, everyone enjoyed great food, fun, friends, bingo and a visit from Santa.  It was also great to see and talk with Betty, as she has been involved for so many years.

Thanks to everyone who donated food, money and time for this special day.  A special thank you to: The Bordeau Family who always do the “heavy lifting” for this event; Ben for the turkeys; Hart’s Greenhouse and Florist for the poinsettias for everyone and the Plainfield High School students who wrote a special message for each Senior.  You all made this Christmas special for everyone attending!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped out!  This has been another great year!

Happy and Healthy New Year to all.  See you all again next year!

Celia Siefert, the “Christmas Dinner Lady”

Keep yourself, loved ones and property safe!  Stay in the know about potential disasters around you!

The City of Norwich is participating in the CT Alert System.  It is an excellent tool for alerting you by text, email or phone call if any of the following emergency situations occur in our area:

• Emergency Evacuations
• Missing Persons Alerts
• Natural Disaster Alerts
• Hazardous Material Leaks
• Search and Rescue Operations
• Neighborhood Emergency Incidents
• Homeland Security Notifications

Contact Outreach Administrator Carolyn McAuliffe (860) 889-5960 to schedule an appointment with Andre James (Norwich Human Services Intern) to register for this free service.

Thank You to Rose City Senior Center’s glee club, Golden Nuggets  and concert band Roseland Combo for the wonderful Winter Concert they performed in January!  The concert really showcased Golden Nuggets amazing talent and was a wonderful treat for the crowd watching!  The Roseland Combo delighted all with some wonderful holiday songs.  Thank you for the fabulous Winter Concert!

Thank You to Rose City Senior Center’s concert band, Roseland Combo, who delightfully entertained us in December with a special Holiday Concert!  The event was well attended and much appreciated by all.  This very talented band consists of Senior Center members ~ Dan Bettencourt, Paulette Devino, Mike Manning, Phil Murtha, Lolita Wood and Bill Wrobel.  Thank you for your wonderful music!

Time has a way of passing much faster than we realize. I think they – whoever they are – steal time as we sleep. Haven’t you been shocked when you look in the mirror and see how time has passed. Or looked at your children and been surprised how many years have flown by? And it doesn’t seem possible for all those years have gone by. If you close your eyes and look at yourself as you feel you are, you’re much younger than that darn mirror tells you.

Recently I came across photographer Tom Hussey’s work “Reflections” which shows elderly people looking in the mirror and seeing who they were many years before. A fireman, a nurse, the scholar, the pharmacist, a new mother, a welder.

“Reflections” was inspired by a World War II veteran who said, “I can’t believe I am going to be 80, I feel like I just came back from the war. I look in the mirror and I see this old guy.”

It brings to mind that with retirement and age we lose a big part of our identity. As we enter adulthood we are often asked “What do you want to be?”

But seldom after we retire are, we asked “So what did you used to do?” “Who were you before?”

We have been a big part of building our towns and cities. We have served in many positions be it elected or volunteer. We have been the scout leaders, the umpire, the coaches, the committee member.

And for those of us who feel we might be losing our identity lets share the stories of our past, volunteer to teach others, once again become that committee member, volunteer at the local school, senior center or hospital. Continue to be an active part of the community.

And for those who haven’t reached those later years, the next time you encounter the elders in your community be it at the grocery store, at your place of business or just in passing take a few minutes to find out more about who they are and who they were. You will be surprised just who you are talking to!

How it can assist us in ways we never imagined!!

At every age we want to feel safe and independent. And as we age those around us become more and more concerned about our wellbeing. With today’s technology there are devices that can help us know what’s going on around us, monitor what we are doing, learn from us and help us.

Doorbells now can have wi-fi cameras so with your smart phone you can see who is at the door and you can talk to them.

Thermostats can be programmed and hooked to your Wi-Fi. They can learn when you are home or away and adjust the temperature. You can adjust the thermostat with your smart phone.

Smart phones can do a huge number of tasks from making phone calls, storing information, reminding you to do any number of things. They have calendars, timers, alarms, calculators, cameras plus more. A smart phone is actually a full-fledged computer that you put in your pocket! They can connect to any number of devices using your wi-fi.

Home Security System – smart sensors and security cameras can be set up inside or outdoors. With wi-fi we can see if anyone or anything is out there. Used indoors our loved ones can see if we are ok, up and about. They can track activity, the fridge door, the medicine cabinet. Some you can even talk to.

Smart speakers are great because they respond to our voice. We can ask “what time is it” “play the Beatles” “what’s the joke of the day” or any question. Of course, the speaker is not going to always know the answer. The speaker can remind you to take your meds, an appointment, etc.

Timers – as simple as turning the living room light on every evening and then again in the morning. To those passing by it looks as if someone is home. For us its light when we get up and go to bed and reduces the change of tripping.

Smart TVs – who knew!! I can now talk to my TV. I don’t even need to know the channel that the game is on. I just say, “Patriots game” and it shows me. The TV also shows me who’s calling me on my phone before the phone rings.

Emergency pendants – We all remember “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” commercials now they can also detect falls. The device knows if you fall and alerts the company. Plus, we can activate these devises, tell them what has happened and get help.

Tracking chips can be attached to the dog’s collar, so we know where he ran off to. Put on our key rings so we can find them, and we can have them in our loved one’s pocket so if they get lost, we can find them. We could even attach it to their smart phone, emergency pendant or key ring even.

Smart pillbox – medicine reminders, dispensers – notifies a smart phone if you forgot to take your pills or if you take the wrong ones. And who doesn’t forget to take their meds from time to time!

Now why might I need some of these things?

To be and feel safe

To be able to get help if I need it

To be independent

Not such bad things….

Now let’s reassess how we feel about all of this…..