The office will be closed Monday, December 23rd through Wednesday, January 1st.

December at a Glance

Tues., Dec. 3, 9:30am - 12:30pm - Poinsettia Delivery

Wed., Dec. 4, 12pm - Book Talk Group and Lunch

Fri., Dec. 6, 20, 10am - Walk with Kate at Irwin Park

Tues., Dec. 10, 11am - Bruce Museum Visit and Lunch

Thurs., Dec. 12, 10am - Men's Coffee with Mike Dinan of New Canaanite

Tues., Dec. 17, 10am - Ladies' Coffee at Staying Put

Wed., Dec. 18, 12pm - Holiday Lunch at One-Twenty-Three Restaurant

Save the Date

Sun., Jan. 26, 2pm - 4pm - Staying Put's Birthday Party at St. Mark's

Welcome New Members!

Nancy Clark, Loni & Alan Haas, Carol Hutchinson, Heidi & George McEvoy, Peggy Sawyer, Carol Talikka, Merrill & Eric Weichmann

Holiday Delivery from Staying Put

Staying Put volunteers will be delivering holiday poinsettias to our members on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd, 9:30am to 12:30pm.  If you are unable to accept delivery, please call the office at (203) 966-7762.

Registration Required for all events.

Call the office at 203-966-7762 to RSVP

MEMBER EVENTS

Wed., Dec. 4, 12pm: Book Talk Group and Lunch with guest Laura Ault. Join Staying Put members for lunch and an exchange of recommendations about current fiction and non-fiction books. New Canaanite "Who Knew" columnist Laura Ault will join the discussion. Free. RSVP by Mon., Dec. 2nd.

Fri., Dec. 6, 20, 10am: Walk with Kate at Irwin Park. Come enjoy a lovely walk with Kate. Please meet in the lower parking lot at Irwin Park and don't forget your sneakers and water bottle. Note - this is for those who are active, with no mobility issues. Free. RSVP by Thursday prior.

Tues, Dec. 10, 11am: Bruce Museum Tour and Lunch. We will have a docent led tour of the new exhibits at the Bruce Museum. Lunch sandwich choices are: Curried Chicken Wrap, Roasted Turkey Pinwheel, Tuna, Turkey BLT, Ultimate Avocado, Roasted Chicken Melt, Turkey & Brie Panini and Tomato Mozzarella Panini. Please place your order when you rsvp. Carpool will be available at 10:30am from Staying Put. $15 - cash or check made out to Staying Put. RSVP by Fri., Dec. 6th.

Thurs., Dec. 12, 10am: Men's Coffee with Guest Speaker Michael Dinan at Staying Put. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation with guest speaker, Michael Dinan, editor of The New Canaanite. Free. RSVP by Wed. Dec. 11th.

Tues., Dec. 17, 10am: Ladies' Coffee at Staying Put. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation. Free. RSVP by Mon., Dec. 16th.



Wed., Dec. 18, 12pm: Holiday Lunch at One-Twenty-Three Restaurant. Join friends as we celebrate the holiday season at one of Staying Put's favorite restaurants. Salad, and choose Salmon, Chicken Marsala or Mushroom Ravioli for your main course and Cheesecake or Tiramisu for dessert. $45 per person plus cash bar. Please make checks out to Staying Put. RSVP with menu choice by Fri., Dec. 13th.

Hello from Kate

The first time I saw “It’s A Wonderful Life”, I was maybe 17. It was Thanksgiving Day, and I was sitting on our comfy sofa wedged between my dad and sister who were likely having some sort of philosophical debate. They weren’t paying attention to the movie at all because they’d seen it a dozen times already. And I wasn’t paying any attention to them because I’d witnessed their debates way more than a dozen times. I was rapt by the movie and it wasn’t until my dad and sister saw tears streaming down my face that they actually took notice of what was on tv. They looked at me incredulously and said, “You’ve never seen this movie before!?” and I said, “I am sure I’ve seen it, but I’ve never watched it”.

We all know the premise of the film; a downtrodden George Bailey thinks life might be better off if he was never around. There enters Clarence, the angel-in-waiting, to show him just what the world would have looked like if that was the case. It culminates with the realization that life really isn’t all that bad, in fact, it’s wonderful. But let’s be honest, this synopsis is an oversimplification of what is really going on. It’s the holidays: a time of celebration and togetherness yet our protagonist is dealing with real anguish. He is someone who is surrounded by love and support and despite all that, he feels darkness, isolation, and hopelessness. This is not some theoretical exercise—George wants to end his life, to be released from the emotions he is feeling. We remember this movie with a sense of warmth because in the end, everything is ok. But the reality that this movie deals with is that sometimes we are not ok. Sometimes the darkness and isolation can creep in and the holidays can exacerbate it, not remedy it. So, I ask you to prioritize your well-being this holiday season and to remember that it’s ok to not be ok. And if you feel more like a Clarence than a George this year, reach out to a friend or neighbor. I don’t need to tell you how much it will mean to the both of you. You can feel the tension ebb, and the relief set in when you offer or receive acknowledgement. That is a true gift.

And for the record- do you want to know the part that made me cry? Not the ringing bell, not little Zuzu announcing “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings”. Nope, it was knowing that in the midst of George’s strife, truly his darkest hour, his family and community were gathering together to offer their support. That when George finally returns home, it is filled with love. Not because they know he’s come around and seen the light, but because they know he might not. They acknowledged that even (or especially) around the holidays we struggle but we are not alone. Now that’s wonderful. 

December

Member Birthdays

Dave Bentley, Barbara Boccuzzi, Mary Cross,

Tanis Erdmann, Karen Ferguson, Tom Ferguson, Elaine Friedman, Lea Gebauer, Diane Getzler, Joan Guzzetti, Jim Hollyday, Andrea Ingalls, Carole Kaye, Sheila McMann, Ruth Rothseid,

Margaret Sandstrom, Gerda Smith, Roger Smith, Bill Taggart

Book Talk Group Recommendations

The Staying Put Book Talk Group meets every six weeks for lunch while participants discuss books they have recently read. This is not a book group, rather a place where readers can share book recommendations with one another. The group also maintains the Staying Put Library which has a collection of current books available to take-out for Staying Put members. Here is a recent list of book recommendations:

The next Book Talk Group Lunch will take place on Wed., Dec. 4th at 12pm.

If interested in attending, please RSVP by Mon., Dec. 2nd.

Barbara Johansen

Honored

with the Jim Cole Inspiration Award

Barbara Johansen, one of the Staying Put founders, was posthumously awarded the Jim Cole Inspiration Award from New Canaan Community Foundation at the 2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards.

Barbara's extensive volunteering career included, the first Waveny Committees, AAUW, the New Canaan Town Band (bass drum), Nature Center, Historical Society, Scouting, Girls and Boys Baseball, St. Aloysius and St. Thomas More Churches, New Canaan Country School, and the Convent of the Sacred Heart (Greenwich). Following her son Paul’s death from cancer, Barbara founded C.O.P.E. (Change of Pace Experiences); a non-profit organization offering programs for parents of children with cancer/catastrophic illness, which merged with Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in order to serve campers’ parents. This parents’ program continues to this day.

Barbara stayed active with Staying Put until just a couple of weeks before her passing this Fall. She could be found at the welcome desk every Wednesday, answering phones, proofreading the newsletter, making calls, stuffing envelopes and working on events suggestions. Barbara also sponsored the annual Valentine mailing as it meant so much to her to have her fellow Staying Put members receive a special card for the holiday.

When asked this summer what Staying Put meant to her, Barbara responded, "Staying Put helps me stay in my home safely and I know I can always call, and someone will be at the other end of the wire ready to respond to whatever my need is. I didn't need Staying Put when I started 18 years ago, helping to found it, and what do you know? It was there when I needed it, and I didn't know I was going to need it. I was a donor at the start and I didn't really think I would need it, but let me tell you, your life changes. So being a member is very, very important because you can be a dynamic support to other members, and it's a fun and enjoyable, that's the joy of life."

Community Events

Holiday Concert at The Carriage Barn

Sunday, Dec. 8, 4pm

Enjoy a stunning performance by Yale’s celebrated A Capella group Whim n Rhythm, accompanied by a wine tasting with Gratsi Wines & Red Grape. Enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Carriage Barn and personalize an ornament to take home! For more information go to:

New Canaan Farmers Market

244 Elm Street (Lumberyard Parking Lot)

10am - 2pm, Through Dec. 21st

New this year, the Farmers Market will run right up to the Saturday before Christmas. For more information or to sign up for the Farmers Market newsletter, go to: newcanaanfarmersmarket.net.

FREE AARP INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE

-Wednesdays: February 5 through April 9, 2025

IRS trained and certified AARP Tax Counselors will be at the Lapham Community Center on Wednesdays between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM starting February 5th to provide free income tax preparation. This will be done by appointment only. Information about scheduling appointments will be available in mid-January.  Questions? Call (203) 674-9336.

Lapham Center Programs

Call 203-594-3620 for more information and to RSVP

Wed., Dec. 4, 11, 18, 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Blood Pressure and

Blood Sugar Screenings. Call to schedule an appointment. Free. 

Thurs., Dec. 5, 1pm: Gingerbread House Decorating. Celebrate the season with festive crafts. No need to bring anything but your creativity and good cheer! Coffee and cookies will be provided. Limited Space. Free.



Thur., Dec. 12: Free Medicare Counseling. Dick Neville, a CHOICES certified Medicare counselor, provides free, objective, person-centered assistance so Medicare beneficiaries can make informed choices about their Medicare options and related benefits. He can guide you through enrolling in Medicare, choosing a Medicare supplement plan and a Part D prescription drug plan, understanding Medicare Advantage Plans, and answer other questions about Medicare. By appointment only. Free.

Thurs., Dec. 12, 2pm - 4pm, by appointment: Ask the Attorney

with Nedder and Associates. Private, 15-minute consultations to answer your legal or financial questions. Call to schedule an appointment. Free.

Fri., Dec. 13, 12pm: Holiday Movie and Hot Cocoa - Love Actually. Follows the lives of eight very different couples dealing with their love lives, all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London. Free.

Wed., Dec. 18, 10:45am: Holiday Performance with New Canaan High School Madrigals. Come and celebrate the holidays with the festive music of the NCHS Madrigals! This extraordinarily talented group of singers is sure to delight, as they perform a variety of seasonal songs. This is an opportunity you will not want to miss, so register now! Light refreshments will be served. Free.

Staying Put in New Canaan Services and Staff

Our Team is Here for You

We provide New Canaan seniors with a wide range of practical services and social connections - from rides to helping with errands, minor home repairs and technology, to brightening the day with a call or visit - all making it easier for seniors to live confidently at home and stay engaged in the community.

Gina Z. Blum, Executive Director

director@stayingputnc.org

Kate Brambilla, Manager of Member Services

members@stayingputnc.org

Robin Bates-Mason, Manager of Events & Volunteers

events@stayingputnc.org

Iryna Radiuk, Office Administrator

admin@stayingputnc.org

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday, 9am to 5pm

Friday, 9am to 1pm

Please call us anytime

at 203-966-7762

Gina, Kate, Robin & Iryna