Bolton Senior Center
Prime Time: Online
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 |
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Keep In Touch! (860) 647-9196
Director: Carrie Concatelli, MSW
Administrative Assistants: Karen Frost & Pam Wentworth
Program Coordinator: Stephanie Crane
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Dear Senior Center Friends,
Happy December! I think we are all a little happy to see this year come to a close. The holiday season is upon us, which is the busiest time of year for this department! But that is really good news, since as always, the generosity of this community continues to be a bright spot! A big thank you to all of you!
As it gets darker out earlier, it is nice to have some lights up in the neighborhoods. I know there is much debate over how early is too early for decorations. Many families have different traditions. But this year it really seems like we need some light and some cheer, so I am trying to embrace it and enjoy it all I can, even if it is not quite our usual festivities. I encourage you to do the same. Please check out all of the contact-less activities we are offering over the course of the month in collaboration with other groups and departments. We hope they bring you some joy.
Stay Safe,
Carrie
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The Bolton Senior Center building remains closed to the public.
- Drop-off or pick-up items Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. only.
- The Food Pantry is available for pick-up and delivery: please call ahead.
- Transportation is available: please call ahead.
- Need delivery from Bentley Library? Tell Library staff when reserving your items.
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Borrow books or puzzles from the Senior Center! Call for more info.
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Free Zumba for seniors every Monday at 5:30 pm: email mrle99us@gmail.com
- Water Available! Plan ahead – Call us if you need some water to keep on hand!
- Looking for yarn for your next crafting project? Call us at 860-647-9196
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Medicare Open Enrollment is going on until December 7th!
To compare plans, go to Medicare.gov and use the plan finder. You will automatically remain in your current plan unless you enroll in a new provider. If you have questions, feel free to call 860-647-9196
Energy Assistance is help paying for oil, propane, natural gas, pellets or electricity!
Call ACCESS Community Access Agency at 860-450-7400 for more info.
All Eversource customers are eligible for budget billing. Call 1-800-286-2828 to arrange.
For more information or for assistance, call Bolton Social Services at 860-647-9196
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Are you interested in helping a Bolton family have a brighter holiday season?
The Bolton Social Services Department and St. Maurice Church continue our longstanding tradition of collaborating to bring holiday cheer to our neighbors in need.
Food Donations
Food donations may be dropped off at the Bolton Senior Center Tuesdays and Thursdays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or at the Bentley Memorial Library during regular Library hours. Ring the doorbell for assistance. Items may also be left outside St. Maurice Church parish center through December 19 only; volunteers check the premises daily.
Giving Tree Gifts
There are a few remaining Giving Tree Tags at the Bolton Senior Center and the Bentley Memorial Library. Ring the doorbell for assistance. St. Maurice Church does not have any remaining requests but will continue to accept monetary donations. There are a few remaining items on the Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/13HJG3Y8N88UB?ref_=wl_share
Please deliver unwrapped gifts with the giving tree tag attached to any of these three locations by the week of December 6-13.
Thank you for your generosity!
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When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:30 am on Zoom!
Cost: $5 a session
How to pay/ Book a class: Go to vagaro.com/yogawithlisa
Lisa’s Email: lisagaumond@gmail.com
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Remember to mail us your response to your pen pal!
Please get your responses to us by Monday December 7th!
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Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays? Let the Recreation Department know by Thursday, December 3 and you can be listed on our map to join in the Holiday Light Tour around town and for a chance to win a prize! Join us in giving the families in our community the chance to see your outdoor holiday lights and vote for their favorite! To be listed on our map go to boltonrec.recdesk.com to register your house. Maps will be available to the public on the Town website Monday December 7th, 2020. Voting will be done online only with a link listed on the map! |
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STUFF THE CRUISER AND SEE SANTA
Saturday, December 12th – 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – BOLTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bolton Resident Troopers along with the Bolton Fire Department, Recreation Department and Senior and Social Services will be hosting a CONTACTLESS “Stuff the Cruiser” toy drive Saturday, December 12TH from 12-4 p.m. at the Bolton Fire Department – 168 Bolton Center Road, Bolton.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys for all ages are requested. GIFT CARDS AND CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED- a separate deposit box will be available for these donations. Come by the Bolton Fire Department to see the holiday display along with a decorated fire truck. Santa will be on hand to wave to everyone as well. No drive through participants will be allowed out of their vehicles.
Please follow the signs for the one-way drive through (enter the parking lot off of Notch Road) and exit onto Bolton Center Road. Everyone is invited, donations are encouraged but not required. All gifts will be distributed by the Connecticut State Police to children at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
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Join the Bolton Recreation Department by tuning in to Community Voice Channel at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday December 5 to be a part of our annual tree lighting. Since we cannot be together in person, we will bring the annual event to your screens at home. Warm up hot cocoa, make yourself a snack and help Santa count down to the lighting of the tree. The gazebo will continue to be lit up for the entire month of December.
Please note: in person attendance is not permitted at this event.
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Reminder to all who signed up that our next bingo session is tomorrow, Thursday December 3rd from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. over Zoom with Stephanie! |
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AARP CT Webinar Wednesday: Creating Virtual Connections w/ Gary Ware!
Join Gary, Creative Catalyst from Breakthrough Play as he offers ways to use your imagination and creativity to make your winter and holiday fun and creative for the whole family!
AARP CT Webinar Wednesday: Caregiver Roadshow for CT Families Take a journey through the experiences of family caregivers, the backbone of our health care system. Learn about support for caregivers and care recipients, as well as choices to live safely and independently. Learn to navigate and connect to resources to gain an understanding of care options and costs.
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When: December 18th, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m
This event will feature VIP greetings from around the state, holiday music, performances, entertainment and more!
The Holiday Bash is a webinar on Zoom. The webinar format means they will be able to watch and listen to the entertainment but will not be on video or be able to be heard. You will use the registration link (click either of the links listed below) and register yourself. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the webinar link.
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December Data and the Winter Solstice
December is a month of Holiday cheer with Christmas, Kwanza, and Chanukah all falling within its days, but have you ever learned the history of the 12th month of the year and other celebrations that occurred?
December used to be the 10th month in the Roman calendar, as “Decem” was Latin for 10. Once the Calendar was changed to include February and January, it was then the 12th month. During December, the winter solstice occurs on the 21st, and is the shortest day of the year and the day that the Northern Hemisphere is the farthest from the Sun. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is having its longest day of the year, being closest to the sun. The winter solstice has been celebrated by cultures around the world for centuries with feasts and festivities.
The earliest possible celebrations of the winter solstice were during the Neolithic period. Many monuments during this time are thought to align with the sunrise of the winter solstice, such as Newgrange in Ireland and Maeshowe in Scotland. A few ancient Solstice celebrations that have been recorded are Saturnalia, Yule, and Inti Raymi. Saturnalia was a Roman holiday, which was in honor of Saturn the god of Agriculture. It was a weeklong celebration leading up to the solstice, where peasants and the rich traded places, feasted, and enjoyed festivities together. Yule was an ancient Scandinavian celebration from Winter Solstice until January. This holiday was in celebration of the return of the Sun, and fathers and sons would bring home “Yule Logs”, that were lit on one end. They celebrated until the logs burnt out, which would take 12 days. They believed that each spark of the log would bring them good luck and an abundance of animals during the coming year. Inti Raymi was when the Inca Empire celebrated the Sun god Inti, and this celebration happened during June as they lived in the Southern Hemisphere. They fasted for three days, waited for sunrise and made offerings and sacrifices to Inti.
While most of us do not celebrate the Winter Solstice the same way as the ancient civilizations did, we still consider it the start of winter and a significant day! During the shortest days of the year we still have a lot to celebrate, and many cultures have their own type of Holiday during this time.
Which holidays do you celebrate in December?
Have an amazing first week of December!
-The Bolton Senior & Social Services Staff
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