The office will be closed Wed., January 1st for New Year's Day

and Mon., January 20th for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day.

January at a Glance

Tues., Jan. 7, 10am - Ladies' Coffee at Staying Put

Thurs., Jan. 9, 10am - Men's Coffee at Staying Put

Tues., Jan. 14, 11am - Darien Museum and Bates-Scofield House Tour

Wed., Jan. 15, 12pm - Lunch at Scena Restaurant, Darien

Fri., Jan. 17, 24, 31, 10am - Walk Irwin with Kate

Tues., Jan. 21, 10am - Men's Coffee with Parks and Rec Director John Howe

Wed., Jan. 22, 12pm - Book Talk Group Lunch with Sky Bull Minckler

Thurs., Jan. 23, 9am - 12pm - Swap Shop Pick Up

Sun., Jan. 26, 2pm - 4pm - Staying Put's 17th Birthday Party

Tues., Jan. 28, 12pm - Lunch at Grace Farms

Thurs., Jan. 30, 12pm - Lunch and Learn at Lapham with Jeanne Gnuse

Welcome New Member!

Mark Weiss

Staying Put's 17th Birthday Party!

Sun., Jan. 26, 2pm - 4pm

St. Mark's Church

Help us celebrate our 17th Birthday! Join your Staying Put friends for appetizers and cupcakes and entertainment from a popular musical duo. Friends and families of Staying Put members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by Fri., Jan. 24th by calling the office at 203-966-7762.

Registration Required for all events.

Call the office at 203-966-7762 to RSVP 

MEMBER EVENTS

Tues., Jan. 7, 10am: Ladies' Coffee at Staying Put. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation. Free. RSVP by Mon., Jan. 6th.



Thurs., Jan. 9, 10am: Men's Coffee at Staying Put. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation. Free. RSVP by Wed. Jan. 8th.

Tues, Jan. 14, 11am: Darien Museum and Historical Society - Darien Dresses Up! Join us for a visit to the Darien Museum and Historical Society to take a look at the current exhibit which has dresses from the last 100 years on display. We will also take a tour of the old Bates-Scofield House. Carpool will be available from the Staying Put parking lot at 10:30am. Free. RSVP by Fri., Jan. 10th.

Wed., Jan. 15, 12pm: Lunch at Scena Restaurant in Darien. Come enjoy a two-course prix fixe lunch with your Staying Put friends. Carpool will be available from the Staying Put parking lot at 11:30am. $26 per person plus cash bar. Please make checks out to Staying Put. RSVP by Mon., Jan. 13th.

Fri., Jan. 17, 24, 31, 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. If weather is an issue for the trails at Irwin, participants will be notified of location change. Free. RSVP by Thursday prior.

Tues., Jan. 21, 10am: Men's Coffee with Parks and Rec Director, John Howe. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation with John Howe, Director of New Canaan Parks and Rec. Free. RSVP by Fri., Jan. 17th.

Wed., Jan. 22, 12pm: Book Talk Group and Lunch with special guest Sky Bull Minckler of Elm Street Books. Join Staying Put members for lunch and an exchange of recommendations about current fiction and non-fiction books. Free. RSVP by Tues., Jan. 21st.

Thurs., Jan. 23, 9:30am to 12:30pm: Swap Shop Pick Up. Have items you want brought to the Swap Shop? Call the office to schedule a pick up. Free. RSVP by Tues., Jan. 21st.

Sun., Jan. 26, 2pm - 4pm: Staying Put's 17th Birthday Party at St. Mark's Church.Help us celebrate our 17th Birthday! Join your Staying Put friends for appetizers and cupcakes and entertainment from a popular musical duo. Friends and families of Staying Put members are welcome to attend. Free. RSVP by Wed., Jan. 22nd.

Tues., Jan. 28, 12pm: Lunch at Grace Farms. Join your Staying Put friends for lunch. Please note that there is a fairly long walk from the parking lot to reach the cafeteria. Credit or debit card required for lunch, cash is not accepted. RSVP by Mon., Jan. 27th.

Thurs., Jan. 30, 12pm: Lunch and Learn at Lapham - The Red Mustang with Jeanne Gnuse (Long-time Staying Put member). Learn about the incredible ride of Jeanne and Tom Gnuse, their life together and Tom's lifelong struggle with Tourette syndrome and their work with Tourette Association of America. Jeanne will also discuss the process involved in writing a memoir. Free. RSVP by Fri., Jan. 24th.

January

Member Birthdays

Beverly Abinanti, Jim Beall, Martine Brophy,

Kip Farrell, Janet Lindstrom, Suzanne Mergue, Kathy Mitchell, Paul Pureka, Evy Rosen,

 Cathie Seton, Shashi Shah, Phyllis Sneddon, Geraldine Snyder, Bill Stoops.

Hello from Kate

There has been some chatter these days about the “strength of weak ties”. The New York Times has referenced it regarding our overall well-being and more recently with regard to all the Christmas cards we get from people whom we don’t see or speak with regularly. MIT, Stanford, and Yale have all published reports and articles in the past couple of years pointing to the importance of weak ties as it pertains to searching for a new job. And any Sociology 101 course probably covers it, too. But I wanted to go direct to the source to really understand what all the hubbub is about. Mark Granovetter published the article, “The Strength of Weak Ties” in the American Journal of Sociology, vol. 78 no. 6 in May of 1973. It turns out that reading an academic article from the 1970s is pretty boring. There are graphs, and formulas, and footnotes…so many footnotes. But the good news is, all these current publications are giving this concept the airtime it really deserves and providing a succinct, practical application that we can all consider.

Take, for example, the impressive list of local resources embedded in this month’s newsletter. These are, to be perfectly blunt, our weak ties: The movie theater, the coffees with the New Canaanite, and Sentinel, the Beautification League. These are the kinds of touchstones that keep us all humming along. They keep us active, engaged and informed which is critical to our health and happiness. Granovetter specifically sites weak ties as “bridges” to information: “A rough principle with which to begin such an investigation might be: the more local bridges in a community and the greater their degree, the more cohesive the community and more capable of acting in concert…Weak ties are more likely to link members of different small groups than are strong ones” (p. 1376). In sum, the more “weak ties” we have, the tighter we are as a community. 

Get Involved

Get the Scoop and Find out What's Happening in Town!

New Canaan is home to two town meetings open to the public:

• The New Canaanite monthly meeting held the first Thursday of every month at New Canaan Library from 8:30am to 9:30am.
• New Canaan Sentinel meeting held weekly on Fridays from 8:30am to 9:30am at Lapham Community Center.

Hear what's happening in town from reporters, town officials and residents. No need to RSVP. Free coffee available at both meetings. For more information go to: newcanaanite.com or newcanaansentinel.com. The first Sentinel meeting of 2025 will take place on Friday, Jan. 10th.

Carriage Barn Arts Center

Located in Waveny Park, the Carriage Barn Art Center showcases world class art and also offers much more. Art gallery hours during exhibits: Wednesday through Saturday 10am – 3pm, Sundays 1-5pm. Entrance to the gallery is free, with a suggested donation of $5-10 for non-members. Programs, classes, workshops, museum tours and musical performances are also offered. For more information go to:

carriagebarn.org or call (203) 594-3638.

Grace Farms

A favorite destination for many in town for a nice lunch with nature views, Grace Farms also offers an array of programs and activities open to both members and nonmembers alike. For more information go to: gracefarms.org or call (203) 920-1702.

Lapham Community Center

Lunch and Learns, art and music classes, movies, Bridge lessons, billiards, history programs, language and fitness classes, health programs and so much more can be found at Lapham Community Center. Open to all New Canaan residents ages 21 and up. For more information on programs or to view the current newsletter, go to: www.newcanaan.info/community/lapham_community_center/index.php or go to newcanaan.info and search Lapham or call Lapham at (203) 594-3620.

Printed newsletters are available at Lapham.

New Canaan Artisans

Founded in 1931, The New Canaan Artisans, formerly known as New Canaan Sewing Group, has donated over 1.5 million dollars in grants to local charities since its inception and is currently looking for new members. If interested, the sewing and knitting groups meet at Lapham on Mondays in preparation for their biannual sales to benefit area local non-profits. For more information, email Sue Scannel at: sscannel@optonline.net

New Canaan Beautification League

 Founded in 1939 to beautify the community and to provide members with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of gardening, conservation and horticulture, the Beautification League has continued to dedicate itself to enhancing the beauty of our town. Members have access to monthly programs, special events, social activities, workshops and private garden tours. If gardening isn't your thing but you still want to help out, writing, fundraising, floral arranging, baking and photography are just some of the other ways you can contribute, but not required. Annual membership is $50 and open to all. For more information to: newcanaanbeautification.org

The New Canaan Library

The Library offers more than just borrowing books. Programs, tech help, support groups, concerts, gentle yoga, cooking classes and so much more. For more information go to: newcanaanlibrary.org or call (203) 594-5000.

The New Canaan Playhouse

Playing blockbuster movies but also showing National Theater Live productions, special documentaries and holding special speaking events with directors and film subjects. To view the schedule and purchase tickets, go to: cinemalab.com and select The Playhouse. Tickets can also be purchased at the concession register at the movie theater.

New Canaan YMCA

The New Canaan YMCA’s ForeverWell program is designed to benefit the total health of active older adults through a variety of fitness and social opportunities. Classes include Aquamates, Chair Fitness, Chair Yoga and Chair Pilates. Monthly enrichment activities connect old and new friends. For more information on the ForeverWell program and membership, call Carolynn Kaufman at 203-920-1656 or email at ckaufman@newcanaanymca.org

Lapham Center Programs

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

Thur., Jan. 2, 16: 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.

Wed., Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Blood Pressure and

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

Thurs., Jan. 9, 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.

Thurs., Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, 1pm - 2pm: Gut Health: A Fit for Life Book Talk with Mike Bacon. Our digestive system is home to trillions of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiome. Join Mike as he shares the latest research on gut microbiome and its crucial role in our health and well-being. Free.

Fri., Jan 10, 11am: Health Talks with Shannon and Ellen. Meet with Shannon and Ellen from the Health Department for coffee and conversation. Free.

Mon., Jan. 13, 11am: Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart and Vascular Disease presented by Michael Argenziano, MD, FACS, Cardiac Surgeon, Stamford Health. Dr. Argenziano will discuss current technology for less invasive treatment options, including minimally invasive surgery and catheter-based procedures. Also, the importance of early diagnosis of coronary and valve disease, and the ease of testing, including calcium score, stress tests, and echocardiograms. Free.

Wed., Jan. 15, 12:30pm: Take Action to Protect Your Online and Financial Security with Allison Donaldson. Incidents of fraud and identity theft are on the rise, so Allison has compiled a helpful list of action items you can implement now, in order to safeguard your personal and financial information. 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