March at a Glance

Wed., March 5, 12pm - Book Talk Group Lunch with Ellen Cravatto

Thurs., March 6, 10am - Ladies' Coffee at Staying Put

Fri., March 7, 14, 21, 28, 10am - Walk with Kate at Irwin Park

Tues., March 11, 10am - Men's Coffee with Jeff Williams of NCCF

Wed., March 12, 12pm - Lunch at Spiga Restaurant in New Canaan

Thurs., March 13, 3pm - Afternoon Tea at Staying Put

Tues., March 18, 12:15pm - Foreverwell Program on Ireland at NC YMCA

Thurs., March 20, 3pm - New Canaan Chamber Music Concert

Tues., March 25, 12:30pm - Lunch and Learn at Lapham

Wed., March 26, 11:30am - Tour of the Jim Bach Building at NCM&HS

Thurs., March 27, 10am - Men's Coffee at Staying Put

MEMBER EVENTS

Wed., March 5, 12pm: Book Talk Group Lunch with Special Guest, New Canaan Library CEO Ellen Cravatto. Join Staying Put members for lunch and an exchange of recommendations about current fiction and non-fiction books. Free. RSVP by Tues., March 4th.

Thurs., March 6, 10am: Ladies' Coffee at Staying Put. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation. Free. RSVP by Wed., March 5th.



Fri., March 7, 14, 21, 28, 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., March 11, 10am: Men's Coffee with Special Guest Jeff Williams, Board Chair of

New Canaan Community Foundation. Join your Staying Put friends for coffee and treats and hear about the latest developments at New Canaan Community Foundation. Free. RSVP by Mon., March 10th.

Wed., March 12, 12pm: Lunch at Spiga. Join Staying Put friends for Lunch at Spiga Restaurant, 136 Main Street, New Canaan. The prix fixe menu includes choice of Spiga salad or Cesear salad, followed by Short Rib, Veal Milanese, Linguine Carbonara, Chicken Parmigiana or Roasted Salmon. Non-alcoholic drink, coffee and tea included. Carpooling available from the Staying Put parking lot. $35. Cash or Check made out to Staying Put. RSVP by Mon., March 10th.

Thurs., March 13, 3pm: Afternoon Tea at Staying Put. Come join your Staying Put friends for tea and cake. Free. RSVP by Wed., March, Feb. 12th.

Tues., March 18, 12:15pm: New Canaan YMCA Foreverwell Program - Tales of Ireland with Bob Doran and Ned Monaghan. Enjoy a visual trip through Ireland with Irish natives and New Canaanites Bob Doran and Ned Monaghan leading the adventure. Lunch will be served. Free. RSVP by Fri., March 14th.

Thurs., March 20, 3pm: New Canaan Chamber Music Concert - The Link from Mozart to Film. Join Staying Put for an afternoon concert with world class musicians at The First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan. $50 for General Admission ticket. Please make checks out to Staying Put. Checks must be received by Mon., March 17th. Carpooling available from the Staying Put Parking Lot. RSVP by Mon., March 17th.

Tues., March 25, 12:30pm: Lunch and Learn at Lapham - Growing Herbs Indoors for Beauty and Use with Jen Cipriano from Copia Home and Garden. Learn about different types of herbs, indoor planting techniques, and how to care for your herbs. Enjoy the benefits of growing your own fresh herbs at home. Free. RSVP by Fri., March 21st.

Wed., March 26, 11:30am: Tour of the Jim Bach Special Collections Museum at New Canaan Museum and Historical Society and Lunch. Take a tour of the new Jim Bach Special Collections Museum, led by NCM&HS Executive Director, Nancy Geary. Lunch will be served following the tour. Free. RSVP by Mon., March 24th.

Thurs., March 27, 10am: Men's Coffee at Staying Put. Join Staying Put friends for coffee, treats and good conversation. Free. RSVP by Wed., March 26th.

March Birthdays

Betsy Afragola, Tom Ayoub, Jack Bilhardt,

Susan Blabey, Lila Coleman, Christine Dora,

Sky Field, Lou Guzzetti, Dorcas Hills,

Joan Jaworowski, Linda Kelly, Ned Leeming,

Hector Lopez Rodriguez, Riv Neiss, Harvey Place,

Tatjana Pogacnik, Peg Ulrich, Jim Walsh

Hello From Kate

The other day Adelaide asked us, “Mom, Dad, what was your most favorite trip you’ve ever taken?” She asked us this as we were sitting aside an infinity pool that poured over towards sand dunes and The Atlas Mountains, a blazing sun above us, a cool breeze keeping her from fully plunging into the pool, recalcitrant goats disobeying their herders in the hills, camels slowly batting their big eyelashes nearby and Charles and I sipping gin and tonics. We were in Morocco, Agafay Desert to be exact. We were glamping (and no, I am not ashamed to say it). And believe it or not, our knee jerk thoughts were not the very trip we were on. Charles and I started sifting through the memories of trips gallivanting through Europe and wild adventures through southeast Asia, and Adelaide quickly registered our walk down memory lane and clarified: “I mean your favorite trip with me”. Touche. The answer she was looking for, I think, was “why this very trip!” but let me add a little more context to this. We had just come off of a long, bumpy, arduous car ride that led to another long, bumpy arduous camel ride, and our daughter who loves nothing more than couscous and roasted vegetables when stateside wouldn’t even look at a tagine in the country that invented her favorite dish. We were pooped. Our minds had instantly raced back to a time where travel was…selfish. In all fairness, Adelaide is a great traveler and we have never handed her “easy” trips. They are always to a place where Charles and I want to go and then we find a way to make it exciting for her (hence said camel ride). We frequently tip our hats to her, and this trip certainly ranks up there. But now, back to the question she asked - Charles reminded me of the time we spent lazing about the ancient temples in Angkor Wat with not a soul in sight. I reminded him of the hostel we stayed in, where a toad as big as a bowling ball watched your every move and fluorescent green spiders would probably have paralyzed us in our sleep had Charles not killed them. A far cry from glamping, let me tell you. I reminded Charles of the finca we stayed in, in Majorca which overlooked the Balearic Sea and where we hand picked lemons from the trees outside our window to make cocktails. He reminded me how our car key got submerged in his bathing suit trunks in that sea and we had to spend an entire day hitchhiking back around to the other side of the island to explain to the car rental that the key “just stopped working”. About 500 euro later we finally get back and realize we forgot to close the gates leading up the hillside to our finca and had to chase all the goats out. So I guess my point in all this is, when Adelaide asks me that question again in about 10 years the answer will no doubt be, “Morocco”.

New Canaan: Texture of A Community Book

Staying Put members can stop by the office to pick up a free copy of New Canaan: Texture of A Community, donated by The Town of New Canaan. While supply lasts.

Calling All Staying Put Artists

We are looking to organize a members' art show and would love to exhibit your work. Paintings, photography, pottery, sculptures and more. If interested, please call Robin in the office at 203-966-7762.

Community Events

Terra String Quartet & Oskar Espina Ruise, Clarinet

Sunday, March 2, 4pm

New Canaan Carriage Barn

Enjoy a concert by the prizewinners at the 2023 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and 2023 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Program to include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581 and Ludwing van Beethoven String Quartet in A Minor, Opus 132. Tickets are $45 each plus service fee. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to: treetopscms.org

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide at Lapham 

Wednesdays, through April 9, 10am - 3pm 

By appointment only 

 IRS trained and certified AARP Tax Counselors will provide free, income tax preparation, with a focus on adults aged 50+ with a low to moderate income. AARP membership is NOT required. Since 1968, Tax-Aide has helped over 80 million taxpayers receive all the credits and deductions to which they're entitled. The AARP volunteers are IRS-certified every year, so they understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Call

(203) 674-9336 to make an appointment. 

CARES Crafts Club: Craft for Your Community!

Monday, March 24, 4:15pm - 5:00pm

New Canaan Library

Join New Canaan CARES and New Canaan Library, with the helping hands of New Canaan Girl Scouts, to get crafty and create projects reflecting kindness and caring. This month, New Canaan Cares and New Canaan Library will partner with Planet New Canaan to upcycle an array of materials. This program is designed to encourage intergenerational collaboration--adults and children are welcome and will have opportunities to work together and learn from one another. To register call Staying Put at 203-966-7762 or go to: newcanaanlibrary.org

Lapham Center Programs

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

Wed., March 5, 12, 19, 26, 12:30pm: Blood Pressure and

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

Thur., March 6, 20: 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., March 12, 10am: A Literary Tour of Ireland with Ned: A Lively Reading to St. Patrick. Ned Monaghan, will regale attendees with the poetry and anecdotes of his beloved homeland. Irish treats served alongside the poetry of the Emerald Isle. Free.

Thurs., March 13, 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., March 14, 11am: Health Talks with Shannon and Ellen. Meet with Shannon and Ellen from the Health Department for coffee and conversation. Free.

Staying Put's Summer Soirée

Staying Put's Summer Soirée, our annual fundraiser,

will be held Thursday, June 5th from 5pm to 7:30pm at Waveny House. Invitations will be mailed.

If you would like to be an event sponsor, please return the form below or call the office at 203-966-7762.

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