Written by Carolyn Kulik, published in The Charlotte News
“I’ve never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting.”
~ Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens)“Everything I know I learned from my cat:
When you’re hungry, eat.
When you’re tired, nap in a sunbeam.
When you go to the vet, pee on your owner.”
~ Gary Smith, Cat Naps
Life is often not as simple as we would like. Despite the announcements that senior centers in Vermont may open again, there are still many guidelines and restrictions that centers throughout the state are grappling with. Published information about what applies to private individuals does not necessarily apply to public group settings. Opening plans need approval and will require considerable adaptation, which will guide our return to what used to be “normal.” Things will be changing soon, though. And, we can be thankful that last year we had no idea just how long this would go
Courses starting soon
4/26. Book Discussion Group: Walking Each Other Home. Mondays, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Dates: 4/26 & 5/17. This facilitated group began with a discussion of Walking Each Other Home, and we are now reading Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death by Joan Halifax. The group now welcomes newcomers. No fee.
The following course is new and does not appear in the Spring Schedule. Art instruction in an online format has proven to be not only doable, but enjoyable for everyone.
5/4. Watercolor—Spring Splash 2021! with Lynn Cummings. Tuesdays, 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. Dates: 5/4 -5/25 (4 weeks). Registration & payment by: 4/27. Fee: $144 for the series. We’ll cover a variety of spring-related subjects and try some unconventional techniques in this class for students with watercolor experience. Get ready to have fun experimenting while painting with the fresh, exciting colors of spring! Class will be held online via Zoom. Upon registering, email the instructor for the supply list.
5/7. Italian for Continuing Beginners with Nicole Librandi. Fridays, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Session B: 5/7–6/4. (5 weeks). Register by 4/30. Fee: $40. You’ve studied a bit of Italian? Are you beginning to put sentences together and carry on basic conversations? Do you spend your free time watching Italian movies and singing along with your favorite Italian songsters? Then this class is for you!
5/7. Italian–Intermediate with Nicole Librandi. Fridays, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Session B: 5/7–6/4. (5 weeks). Register by 4/30. Fee: $40. If you’ve studied Italian, but your knowledge of the language is rusty, then this class is the right place for you.
5/7. Italian–Advanced with Nicole Librandi. Fridays, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Session B: 5/7–6/4. (5 weeks). Register by 4/30. Fee: $40. Join this class to strengthen your knowledge of Italian through conversation and grammar updates. Class is conducted almost exclusively in Italian.
5/7. Italian for Total Beginners with Nicole Librandi. Fridays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Session B: 5/7-6/4. (5 weeks). Register by 4/30. Fee: $40. You’ve never studied Italian? Now is the time to begin your study of Italian—and have fun along the way! Questions about these Italian courses? Contact the instructor.
Talks on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
These talks do not require advance registration, are always free—plus, they now include a closed captioning option for those who are hearing impaired. The Zoom invitation/link to the talks are posted on the website the day before at the here. Talks are recorded and posted for two weeks afterward on the website.
4/28. Conservation of Your Heirlooms with Rick Kerschner. Objects Conservator Rick Kerschner will evaluate your heirloom’s condition online and advise on how to preserve it, whether conservation treatment is necessary, and how to find a qualified conservator. Join the meeting using the Zoom mobile phone app; place heirlooms on a table so all sides can be easily viewed using your phone. This virtual platform enables viewing furniture, paintings or other heirlooms difficult to transport. He cannot address value. Richard Kerschner is Conservator Emeritus, Shelburne Museum.
5/05. The Electoral College: A Disaster for Democracy with Jesse Wegman. The framers of the Constitution battled over it. Lawmakers have tried to amend or abolish it more than 700 times. To this day, millions of voters, and even members of Congress, misunderstand how it works. There is a way we can at long last make every vote in the United States count – and restore belief in our democratic system. Jesse Wegman is a member of the New York Times editorial board, where he has written about the Supreme Court and legal affairs since 2013.
5/13 (Thurs.). “Live Free or Die” in China with Tao Sun. Learn about the tragic story of a U.S.-educated English literature scholar who went back to China just after the Communist Party came to power. In his autobiography, Prof. Wu tells of being imprisoned and publicly shamed after being labeled as an “ultra-rightist.” Targeted because he was outspoken, he liked to repeat the slogan, “Live Free or Die.” Heavy-handed political control by the party/state was partially responsible for the spread of coronavirus in China and beyond. Dr. Sun is associate professor of public communication at UVM and a former news editor in China.
Art Exhibits
The Senior Center’s monthly art exhibits are suspended until further notice. Stay tuned.
We can do it! Don’t stop now. Keep up the good work.
The mission of the Senior Center is to serve those 50 and up; some course enrollments are limited, and if a course is not full, younger participants are welcome to enroll. Feel free to leave a message anytime at (802) 425-6345; voicemail is checked frequently.