Town News and Events March 2010

To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine! Mayor’s Corner - Meriden This month has us thinking about the arrival of spring which officially takes place on March 20th this year. “Spring Fever” takes over as we shake off a cold, snowy winter and welcome the sunny, warm days of spring. There is a renewed energy in the air. The Mayor’ Office is planning a number of spring initiatives and events to cleanup and beautify our city, showcase Meriden businesses, and have some fun! On Saturday, May 15, we will host the Annual Mayor’s City Cleanup Day. We encourage residents, civic groups, and other organizations to join us for Meriden’s cleanup day. A free cookout at the Hub will finish off the day for the participants. A new initiative to encourage and recognize area businesses for keeping their sidewalks clean will be launched as well. Official certificates will be awarded to participating businesses. The Flower Barrel Program will also swing into action along our Main Streets. A “Faces and Places” program will showcase small business owners on our City Website and highlight their business presence in our community. And finally, on Wednesday, June 2 there will be an Italian Night at Hubbard Park. This will feature live band performances of the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, and Dean Martin for listening and dancing pleasure. Pizza, Italian meatballs and sausages, and Italian Ice will be available for attendees. More details on these events and activities will follow. Here’s to Spring! Mike Rohde - Mayor of Meriden Mayor’s Corner Wallingford Dear Friends: First, on behalf of the Town of Wallingford, we extend our Congratulations to Andy Reynolds and the People’s Press in celebration of their 125th issue – March 2010. You and your staff have done an outstanding job and we commend you for your efforts. The Town of Wallingford is very excited to be one of six towns in the State of Connecticut selected by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation to participate in the Statewide Pioneering Communities Initiative. The Activate America--Pioneering Healthy Communities initiative is addressing the issue of childhood obesity by promoting better lifestyles through strategies that will result in increased physical activity and healthier eating by children. Coordinated by the Wallingford Family YMCA and in cooperation with various Town Departments and local agencies, a community action plan is being developed. Partners in this work include the Departments of Park and Recreation, Education Department, Health Department and the Youth and Social Services Department. Agencies involved in the planning process include the United Way of Meriden and Wallingford, the Ulbrich Boys and Girls Club and Mid-State Medical Center. Examples of existing programs for children that focus on activity and healthy eating in Wallingford include the YMCA’s “Fit To Go” program for middle school youth and the “KidsMarathon” program held at Cook Hill Elementary School. We are proud to be a part of the Activate America—Pioneering Healthy Communities initiative and look forward to helping the children in our community enjoy a healthier and more active way of life. Sincerely, William W. Dickinson, Jr. - Mayor WALLINGFORD SENIOR CENTER WSC GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE Looking for a gift for your special senior? Consider purchasing a Wallingford Senior Center Gift Certificate for a family member or friend. Our gift certificates, which are available at the front desk, may be used toward senior center classes, trips, special events, and Lake View Café meals. HATS & GLOVES TEA PARTY featuring THE VICTORIAN LADY Wednesday, March 10, 2:00 PM Wear your fanciest hat and your daintiest gloves (if you have them!) and bring your favorite tea cup. Be entertained as “The Victorian Lady” performs her one-woman show about life in the 1860’s. Her authentic costumes and informative presentation are always a Must See! Classic High Tea refreshments will follow the show. Prizes will be awarded for hats and tea cups! Tickets are on sale: $5.00 Members; $7.00 Non-members. OUTSTANDING WOMEN OF WALLINGFORD LUNCHEON Wednesday, March 24, 1:00 PM In celebration of National Women’s History Month, the Wallingford Senior Center will recognize several local women for their many contributions to our community. The Outstanding Women of Wallingford Luncheon and Award Ceremony will be held March 24 in the Great Room. This year’s honorees include State Representative Mary G. Fritz, Lillian Blake, Carolyn Massoni, and Town Councilor Rosemary Rascati. The Wallingford Garden Club will be honored as well. A delicious grilled chicken breast luncheon, key note address, and award presentations are all part of this very special event. Tickets are $5.00 per person and are on sale through March 19. The first 100 people to purchase a ticket will receive a fabulous book celebrating women! SHERRILL DOUGLAS STARS IN A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE “CRAZY ‘BOUT PATSY” Saturday, April 17, 7:30 PM Don’t miss this incredible tribute to Patsy Cline featuring Sherrill Douglas and her outstanding band. The show features all of Patsy’s great hits including Crazy, Walking after Midnight, I Fall to Pieces, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Sweet Dreams of You, You Belong to Me, Tennessee Waltz and many more! The Wallingford Senior Center is pleased to present a show that has sold out in theaters across the country. Tickets are $10.00 per person and are available at the front desk. 9TH ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF ART April 8 – 10, 2010 Display your artwork and original creations at the Wallingford Senior Center’s 9th Annual Showcase of Art & Talent, which will be held in conjunction with the Jordan Abeshouse Memorial Student Art Show, Thursday through Saturday, April 8 -10. Last year this joint show attracted hundreds of local residents and provided a wonderful opportunity for public exposure to our members’ artwork. Please sign up by March 26 to participate. 2010 GOLF LEAGUE Our Coed Golf League, held at Miner Hills Golf Course, will begin its 11th season in May. This year, there will be one sixteen-week session, running from May 18 through August 31. The cost for play and the final week cookout is $235.00 for members and $240.00 for non-members. Sign-up will begin in May. Additional details will follow. DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM Did you know that the Wallingford Senior Center offers a small structured, social-model day program designed for seniors with memory impairment? We offer companionship and support, developed and supervised by a Certified Recreation Therapist, an assistant, and many helpful volunteers. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Transportation is provided for Wallingford residents and is handicapped accessible. The daily fee includes participation in the program, lunch, snacks, out-trips, and live musical entertainment at the center. A sampling of programs offered include: News and Views, Word Games, Craft Corner, Pet Therapy, Spiritual Circle, Bocce, Tee Time Golf, Sing-A-Longs, Card Games, Baking/Cooking, and Daily Chair Exercise. Eligibility is based on the physical, mental, and social functioning of the prospective participant. If you know someone in need of socialization and guidance throughout the day and experiencing mild memory impairment, please contact Melinda Welch, D.A.I. Coordinator, for more information at: 203.265.7753 Ext 205. SOCIAL SERVICES MEDICATION SAFETY – NOT EVERY PILL IS PERFECT! Monday, March 22 10:30 AM Everyone has a medicine cabinet filled with pills, crèmes, and lotions. At this month’s To Your Health! program by the VNA of Wallingford, you’ll learn why the medicine cabinet is NOT a good place to store medications, as well as other safety tips about topics like shelf life and cutting pills in half. Please sign up to attend. IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING CONNPACE Please be aware that if you do not renew your ConnPACE when it is due, you will not be able to re-enroll until November 15th. This is due to changes that have been made in the ConnPACE program. New enrollment in the ConnPACE Program will be limited to November 15th through December 31st. A few exceptions do apply. You will be able to join ConnPACE 31 days after turning 65 or after becoming eligible for Social Security Disability (SSDI) or State Supplement Insurance (SSI). WALLINGFORD ELDERLY NUTRITION INFORMATION The Town of Wallingford is able to provide meals to seniors who meet the criteria. Call the Wallingford Program Planning Department at 203-294-2060 for more information. FOOD PANTRIES IN WALLINGFORD Need a little help with your food bill? Listed below are the names, addresses, and times you can visit. •Angel Food Ministries: Get $75.00 worth of food for $30.00. See member interest table at the center, or call 203-284-8975 for additional information. •Master’s Manna: 46 North Plains Road (in back). ID required (Photo ID, Birth Certificate or medical card). Distribution times: Tuesday & Thursday, 9-12; Fridays, 4-8 p.m. •Good News Food Pantry: 46 John Street (Good News Church). Distribution time: Wednesday, 11:00 a. m. – 2:00 p.m. •Local churches: Call your church to find out if there is a food pantry available. CT MONEY SCHOOL PROGRAMS CT Money School continues to provide educational programs to seniors. Below are two programs which provide ongoing education. On Your Own Again Friday, March 12, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Divorce and losing a spouse is very emotionally trying. Even under the best circumstances, certain financial steps need to be taken. This class explores the financial issues you need to consider if you find yourself suddenly single due to divorce or widowhood. To register for this program please call 203-265-7753 MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM The Medicare Savings Program assists individuals who meet the income guidelines to pay their Medicare Part B premium. Income limits for a single person range from $1778.91 to $2091.67. For a couple, the income limits range from $2393.55 to $2816.67. There is no asset limit. If you fall within these guidelines, the State may be able to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Income verification is all that is necessary. This includes gross Social Security benefit (gross is before the $96.50 is taken out of the check), pension, dividends, interest, rental income, gross wages, etc. To schedule an appointment for completing the application, please call (203) 265 7753. BENEFITS SCREENING Tuesday, March 16, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Do you often wonder if you might be eligible for any State or Federal programs? Benefits QuickLINK is a free and confidential program which can quickly screen for eligibility. Supporting Documents are not required, but please bring the following information with you to your appointment: 1. Monthly income (social security, pension, dividends and interest). 2. Monthly expenses (heating, fuel, gas, electricity, water, telephone, rent or mortgage payments and medical expenses not covered by health insurance). 3. Asset information (savings, estimated value of home and car, life insurance benefits). 4. A list of all current prescriptions. Registration required. Call 265 7753 now to schedule an appointment. FOOD STAMP PROGRAM (SNAP) The State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) has changed its eligibility criteria effective July 1, 2009. Income limits have been increased and there is no asset limit when applying for this program. •Single Income: $1,669.00 month •Couple Income: $2,246.00 month For more information or to schedule an appointment to apply for this program, please call Eileen Flynn, Social Worker at 265 7753. VISIT our website at www.WLFDSENIORCTR.COM! To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine! MAX E. MURAVNICK MERIDEN SENIOR CITIZENS’ CENTER The Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Citizens’ Center is open to all Meriden residents age 55 and over. Membership is free of charge and new members may sign-up any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by presenting a driver’s license or other proof of age. New members receive an information package about senior services and a coupon entitling them to one complimentary lunch in our Senior Community Café. Sign-up today and find out about all that is offered for Meriden seniors at the Max E. Muravnick Senior Center! On Wednesday, March 10 at 10:30 AM Wells Fargo/Wachovia Bank is sponsoring an informative program at the Senior Center. Attorney E. Jack Shorr will speak on “Estate Planning and Power of Attorney”, Ted Bell, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hancock Pharmacy, will discuss “Special Services Available for Seniors at Independent Pharmacies” and Joseph Ferraro, Certified Reverse Mortgage Consultant for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, will cover “Good Stories about Seniors who Benefited from a Reverse Mortgage”. Be sure not to miss this program about services for seniors with a variety of topics designed to meet your needs! The program will be held in the first floor meeting room and refreshments will be served. The Senior Center has been designated as a Questionnaire Assistance Center by the U.S. Census Bureau to answer any questions you may have about the 2010 census. A census staff person will be here daily, except Fridays, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon starting March 22 until April 19. They can provide guides in other languages, help in filling out the form, answer questions about privacy and confidentiality issues and provide other services as needed related to Census 2010. If you have any questions about Census 2010 this is the place to ask! The “Move and Soothe” gentle movement class taught by Susan Sandel, Dance/Movement Therapist, will resume on Tuesday afternoon March 16 at 12:30 PM in the mezzanine. New participants are welcome and should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and sneakers or rubber-soled shoes. Appointments for free AARP Income Tax Assistance are still available at the Senior Center. The service is offered in the mezzanine each Wednesday until April 7. Also, there are openings for the AARP Driver Safety Class on April 21 & 23 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Appointments for both services may be made by calling (203) 237-0066 or stopping in the front office. The Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut is seeking people 100 years of age or older, and those celebrating their 100th birthday in 2010, to be honored at the 24th annual Centenarian Luncheon on May 5, 2010. The event is held each year at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge and is free for the centenarian and an escort. Last year 27 centenarians attended this special event. For further information or to register call Janiss Fowler at AASCC at 203.785.8533. For a complete listing of all Senior Center classes, activities, trips and meal menus, pick-up a copy of our newsletter available on the first of each month at the reception desk in the front lobby. John F. Hogarth - Senior Center Director The Meriden Fire Department Local 1148 would like to remind everyone that Sunday March 14th at 2:00 am is the end of Daylight Saving Time. Don’t forget to change your clocks an hour ahead and change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Working smoke detectors save lives! ________________________________________________________________________ To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!