Bolton Senior Center

Prime Time: Online
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Keep In Touch! (860) 647-9196

Director: Carrie Concatelli, MSW


Administrative Assistants: Karen Frost & Pam Wentworth


Program Coordinator: Stephanie Crane
Director’s Note 

Dear Senior Center Friends,

As we witness Inauguration Day in our separate homes, I am reminded of the last Inauguration Day. Since it was a Friday, the quilting group was together at the Senior Center on that day. It would be nice to be together again at the next Inauguration Day, however, January 20, 2024 is a Saturday! Interestingly, the very first Inauguration took place on April 30. From 1793 until 1993 the date was March 4, with the exception of years that fell on a Sunday, therefore moving it to March 5. Our current date was set in 1937 following the ratification of the 20th amendment to the United States Constitution. The Sunday rule still applies – so the one day delay has occurred three times - in 1957, 1985 and 2013. Today is another day in the history of our country. 

In other news, more information continues to pour in about the vaccines and we continue to update you as we can. More information is also included for Tax Aide and a new program with Stephanie. Keep reading and we’ll talk to you again soon!

Stay safe,

Carrie
Senior Center Status

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.
  • Water Available! Plan ahead – Call us if you need some water to keep on hand!
  • 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.
  • Need delivery from Bentley Library? Tell Library staff when reserving your items.
  • Borrow books or puzzles from the Senior Center! Call for more info.
  • Free Zumba for seniors every Monday at 5:30 pm: email marle99us@gmail.com
Covid-19 Vaccine Information

Vaccine appointments are currently available for individuals age 75 and older only. Other groups will be added soon.

There are three options to schedule an appointment. Please read carefully.

1.Schedule through your healthcare provider. NOTE: DO NOT CALL your provider.
  •  Some healthcare providers are calling or emailing patients to schedule.
  •  Some healthcare providers are now scheduling on their websites through online health accounts. 
2.If your provider is not currently administering the vaccine, go to the website ct.gov/covidvaccine and click on “Individuals 75 and older.
  • Step 1: Fill out a form to register in the VAMS system. You must enter an email address.
  • Step 2: Later you will receive an email back. 
  • Step 3: The email will give an invitation to schedule an appointment.
3.Call the telephone number 877-918-2224. Call volumes are high and you may need to request a call back. Only call this number if you have no computer access to schedule an appointment. If a family or friend can help you schedule online, please ask for their help. 

Other Considerations

  • Additional appointments will be added very soon so please be patient.
  • You will be asked for your name, address, phone number, date of birth and insurance information. 
  • Insurance is only collected to bill the provider, there is NO cost to you.
  • You will NOT be asked any financial information. If asked for this, HANG UP, it is a scam.
  • If you need transportation, call Bolton Senior Center at 860-647-9196.
  • For frequently asked questions go to: https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccinations---faqs
Wilton Senior Center made a Video explaining how VAMS works!

Here is a video from Wilton Senior Center demonstrating how to use the VAMs registration system. They give many useful tips, such as typing your email address in all lower case letters. We hope you find this helpful! 
AARP Tax Aide

Bolton Senior Center is happy to host the AARP FREE Tax Preparation Program. However, please note that all appointments will be contact-less this year. To schedule an appointment, please call Bolton Senior Center at 860-647-9196. We will begin scheduling appointments as of January 25 and appointments will begin the week of February 15.  Staff will assist you in scheduling an appointment date along with specific document drop-off and pick-up times. You will need to be available by telephone for the duration of this time. Strict precautions will be in place to assure all documents remain secure and confidential and you will have the opportunity to review and approve your return before it is submitted. For more information or to schedule call 860-647-9196.
Midwinter Mates

Winter can get a bit lonely sometimes, and this is especially true this year when seniors are unable to visit each other in person or attend programs at the senior center. We would like to offer you an opportunity to stay in touch with someone during the next eight weeks starting on February 1st and ending on March 29th!

Sign up by completing the survey linked below. Once you are signed up, we will match you with another senior with whom you will coordinate a weekly friendly phone call to stay in touch. We will match you based on your answers to the questions listed on the survey, and will provide you with a few facts about each other so you won’t be going into it not knowing anything about your match! We will contact you during the first week of February with your match, so you can begin your weekly phone calls!

Please keep these check-ins virtual - whether that be a phone call or a video chat if you are comfortable. We will provide a list of questions that you can use to keep the conversation going, and you can even email or call us about something cool you learned about your partner to include in the newsletter if you would like! We will be checking in with you at the halfway point during the last week in February and at the end of March to see how it went!

We can provide a physical copy of the survey and/or email it to you as well if you can’t access the survey monkey! Email Stephanie at scrane@boltonct.org or call us at 860-647-9196 to request one!

Sign up deadline is February 1st! 
Yoga with Lisa has a New Website!

Lisa has a new website!!

Starting January 11 all of Lisa’s classes can be found on her new website www.LisaGaumond.com! This is a one-stop spot for viewing her schedule, registering for classes, signing up for video memberships and buying individual class videos to watch on your own time.

Registration and payment all happens on www.LisaGaumond.com, and unless you decide to purchase a 10-class package or a video download, no password is needed!

If you had an outstanding class package on the last site (Vagaro) you should have gotten an email from Lisa with instructions on how to access your package on the new site. If you didn’t receive your email or if you still have questions, please reach out to her on Facebook or through email so she can get you settled.


There will be a new beginner class on Monday nights at 6 p.m.

All classes will be done over Zoom!
The second graders are back in school and we brought your letters to them last week! We should get the kids replies in a week or so!

Stay tuned for updates!
Virtual Zoom Bingo- February
The next Bingo event will be Thursday, February 4 from 11 – 12 p.m. over Zoom with Stephanie!

Email Stephanie at scrane@boltonct.org with the subject line “Bolton Bingo” or call us at 860-647-9196 and we will arrange a contactless pick up or delivery to bring a stack of printed bingo cards to you, and we will email you the Zoom invite for the game! If you are not sure how to use Zoom, shoot Stephanie an email or give us a call at 860-647-9196, to arrange a time to help you set up Zoom and practice with you so you feel more comfortable! Register by February 1st to play!

No computer? No worries- you can also call in with a telephone number.
Virtual Cooking Class for the entire family!

Reminder that the joint program with the Library, Senior Center and Recreation Department is tomorrow, January 21 at 5 p.m.!

Note: Registration is closed, if you signed up you should have received a link regarding the virtual class information and the shopping list!
Save the Date...

Join Bentley Memorial Library, the Senior Center, and the Recreation Department for a fun and enticing chocolate program with a twist! Learn about fun tea pairings as well as all things chocolate! Plan to join us on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for more details!
Save the Date: Unlock Ancient Stories with DNA!
Airborne Jazz Trio with Enfield Senior Center

Jan 29 at 6 P.M.
 
Jazz Trio with Vocals – Cool Jazz and Island Music 
 
 
 
Cool Jazz, Island Music, Swing, Bebop, Latin Jazz, Smooth Jazz and Vocals. Mellow, easy listening and hot and funky. The music takes you back to another era in time but also keeps you right in the groove. It will have you smiling, singing and swaying.
 
Please click on the link below to be admitted into the virtual concert! 
 
Light Laughter With Lynn
Virtual Fitness and Wellness programs

  • Aiping Tai Chi Center in Orange and Westport launched a free live streaming channel offering free Tai Chi and Health Qigong classes. All classes are available to watch as videos after the stream.

  • Copper Beech Institute in West Hartford is offering a new virtual mindfulness program each day including guided meditations, live online meditation, live workplace webinar, live mindful movement, and a podcast.

  • Hartford Sweat in Hartford is streaming free classes on Instagram/Facebook Live or via Zoom. Classes include Barre, Yoga, Zumba and more. Beginning April 1st, you can even download their app for more direct streaming classes.

  • VidFitness of New Haven is providing a complementary access to a platform for shared fitness videos. You can use a stationary bike, indoor smart trainer, elliptical, etc. to exercise virtually against cycling videos from around the world.

-The Bolton Senior & Social Services Staff