A stroll through Lee Memorial Gardens is always lovely!

Mon., May 25, 9am: Memorial Day Parade - Meet at St. Mark's Church and walk with Staying Put.

June at a Glance

Wed., Jun 3, 10am: Wednesday Walk with Kate at Irwin Park

Thurs., Jun 4, 6pm: Summer Soirée at Serafresca at IC

Fri., Jun 5, 12, 19, 26, 10am: Friday Walk with Kate at Irwin Park

Tues., Jun 9, 10am: Men's Coffee at Staying Put

Wed., Jun 10, 12pm: Lunch with Health and Human Services Commission Chairperson Barb Achenbaum at Staying Put

Thurs., Jun 11, 11:30am: Hammond Museum and Japanese Gardens Tour with Lunch - Carpool from Staying Put

Tues., Jun 16, 2pm: Name That Tune Musicals and Ice Cream at Staying Put

Wed., Jun 17, 12pm: Book Talk Group Lunch at Staying Put

Thurs., Jun 18, 10am: Ladies' Coffee with Dede Bartlett at Staying Put

Tues., Jun 23, 12pm: Father's Day Hot Dog Lunch at Staying Put

Wed., Jun 24, 11:30am: Rain date for Hammond Museum and Japanese Gardens

Thurs., Jun 25, 10am: Men's Coffee with Sarah Carey, Town Planner, at Staying Put



July Event

Sun., Jul 12, 2pm: New Canaan Summer Theater's "Matilda" Matinee at NCHS. Discounted tickets available through Staying Put. See below.

Member Events

IMPORTANT

Please RSVP by the date listed for each event so we can plan properly and have enough supplies and treats for everyone. Thank you.

Hello from Kate

Have you ever found yourself chiming into a conversation about books saying, "Oh, yeah, I read that book, or, um...well, I listened to it" as though maybe it doesn't count the same way, or you didn't experience it as fully as the friend next to you who poured over each word, punctuation mark and maybe even caught a typo? (guilty). Or have you ever been caught mouthing the words to a book that you are reading (guilty). Being the silent stoic page turner isn't always easy and it turns out, that's perfectly normal and possibly even quite beneficial.

While we tend to think about "read alouds" as a defining characteristic of childhood and the stepping stones to literacy, studies are emerging that show reading out loud (to yourself, or others), and listening to stories are excellent ways to keep our brains sharp. As a Philosophy major in my undergraduate years I can tell you reading out loud helped me make sense of some pretty heady material. I'd read some dense passage once and just not get it, I'd try again and my brain would hurt, the third time I would pretend I was Christiane Amanpour and read it out loud full force and guess what? Kierkegaard suddenly isn't so intimidating anymore: "Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards". Read that one again. Out loud this time. See-- it makes so much sense! Joking aside, reading and listening are a perfect pair. My in-laws have recently started doing this together in the evenings and have delighted in a whole range of subjects they might not otherwise be drawn to independently. Charles and I relish our long car rides when Adelaide falls asleep and we can listen to our favorite NPR programs like The Moth. 

Our brains are firing on all cylinders when we are actively reading aloud, or actively listening. We stand a much better chance of remembering what we've consumed by voicing, or listening to a text. As a total bookworm myself, I don't think I will ever abandon the beauty and comfort of quietly reading and getting lost in a good book. But I know for many of us, failing eyesight, or being in a home that might feel too quiet, an audio book can transport us; and practicing out loud the voices we hear in our heads for various characters in a book will just make for a good laugh. And won't Kierkegaard sure be proud to see us all living forwards.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety relies on a system involving:

1. Ensuring that you have functioning CO detectors on all floors of your residence 
2. Avoiding running gas-powered equipment inside or near the residence 
3. Evacuating the residence if the CO Detector activates and then calling 911 for NCFD response.

Carbon Monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion and is dangerous to health when someone is exposed to elevated readings. It is odorless and colorless, and without a Carbon Monoxide Detector you will not know that you have been exposed to CO until you present with symptoms. 

If you are exposed to high levels of CO it can lead to unconsciousness and even death. The symptoms of CO exposure are:

• Headache 
• Nausea
• Dizziness / Light Headedness 
• Fatigue

Things that you can do to protect yourself:

• Install CO Detectors on every level of your home 
• Read the instructions, as larger homes may require more than one detector per floor.
• Check the detectors and replace batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall. 
• Have all utility units (furnaces, boilers, water heaters, or gas-fed dryers) in your residence serviced annually.
• Do not use gasoline-powered equipment like power washers or generators within 20 feet of a home. The most recent CO emergencies that the NCFD responded to were due to gasoline-powered equipment being operated inside or in close proximity to a home. 

Most Important



If your CO Detector is activated, assume there is CO present. Do not disregard the activation or attempt to investigate. Remember, CO is odorless and colorless, and you will not be able to detect its presence until you develop symptoms. Evacuate your home immediately and call 911. The NCFD will respond immediately and use specialized meters to monitor the air in your home and mitigate any leaks found.

Community News and Events

Caregiver Training Workshop:

Successful Communication Given Alzheimer's Logic

Wed., Jun 10, 6:30-8pm

Zoom

Repeated questions, word finding difficulty, and mixed-up memories are a few of the communication issues found in individuals with Alzheimer's or dementia. Join this virtual workshop to learn the skills and strategies you need to respond with greater confidence as a caregiver to your loved one. To register, call the Navigator Program at 203-594-5289 or use the link below.

New Canaan's America 250 Parade

Sat., Jun 27, 9:30am

The Town of New Canaan is commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a parade on Saturday, June 27th. The parade begins at 9:30am from the Lumberyard Parking lot and proceeds down Elm Street, taking a right onto South Avenue and ending at New Canaan High School. 

July 4th Fireworks

Waveny House Lawn

July 4, Gates open at 5pm

Rain dates: July 5 or 11

Passes are $40 each and are sold to New Canaan residents. For more information and to purchase tickets online use this link - Fireworks Tickets

   In Person Ticket Purchase Locations

• New Canaan Parks & Recreation Dept (677 South Ave)
• Waveny House, 2nd Floor
• Mon–Thurs: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Fri: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
• Walter Stewart’s Market ( 229 Elm Street)
• Mon–Fri: 7:30 AM–7:30 PM
• Sat: 7:30 AM–7:00 PM
• Sun: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Cars: Enter through the South Avenue entrance; Lapham Road is exit only. Please display your pass on your car dashboard - one pass per car

Walkers & Cars parking at NCHS: Please have your paid pass with you for entry into Waveny Park *For anyone who would appreciate a quieter and less overwhelming experience, the NCHS Soccer Field will be open for seating.

Lapham Community Center

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



Tues., Jun 2, 10am - Maintaining Safe Exercise Habits as We Age. Breakfast treats and coffee will be served. Free.

Wed., Jun 3, 17, 12:30pm - Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure Clinic. Free.

Thurs., Jun 4, 18, By appt only - Medicare Counseling. Free. Call 203-594-3620 to make an appointment.



New Canaan Library

Register for Events - Call 203-594-5000

Mon., Jun 1, 15, 22, 29, 11:30 - Chair Yoga. Free. Registration Required.

Tues., Jun 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2pm-4pm - Open Tech. Help with email, smartphones/tablets, social media, etc. Drop In. Free. No Registration Required.

Wed., Jun 24, 1pm - Pollinator Pathways Film Screening: "The Extraordinary Caterpillar". Free. Registration Required.

Wed., Jun 24, 6pm - Bestsellers Book Group Discussing Theo of Golden. Join Reference librarians James and Kassidy to find out why this book is so well-loved and determine if it lives up to the hype. Free. Registration Required.

Gina Z. Blum

Executive DIrector

director@stayingputnc.org

Kim Herr

Manager of Operations

operations@stayingputnc.org

Kate Brambilla

Manager of Member Services

members@stayingputnc.org

Kristin Barnard

Office Assistant

assistant@stayingputnc.org

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm

Friday: 9am-1pm

Please call us anytime

203-966-7762

Gina, Kate, Kim & Kristin