Special Events & Programs in Order by Date
Please pre-register for all programs. In the event that scheduling changes need to be made, we can let you know. Call 802-457-3277 or email sborz@thompsonseniorcenter.org.
Language Tables at Thompson!
Our long tradition of offering a lunch space for those speaking French and Spanish is back. For those who enjoy conversing in French, the French language table meets every Wednesday at noon. If Spanish is your language, your group meets on Thursdays at noon. Registration is required for anyone attending lunch.
Writer’s Workshop with Local Author Robin Fisher – FULL
Mondays on 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17 and 10/24
1:00 – 3:00 pm , No classes on 9/5 and 10/10 holidays
Storytelling: How to make your story compelling and cinematic, using mood, detail, description and feelings. The workshop will include instruction as well as short writing exercises using prompts.
Robin Gaby Fisher is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author who has written 12 non fiction books. Her latest book, Unmasked, with Paul Holes, debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list. She retired as Director of the Journalism Program at Rutgers University, Newark campus, last year. She resides full-time in Woodstock with her husband, Loren, co-owner of the Focus Fine Art Photography gallery, and their Bernese Mountain Dog, appropriately named Pudge.
This free workshop requires advance registration and a minimum of 5 people. Students are asked to bring notebooks, ipads or laptops for note taking.
A SLN Virtual Program at The Thompson
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Tuesday, September 27, 2:00 pm
The building of the Casa Grande was a major event of the Classic Period (1100 – 1450. C.E.). The best dating methods available indicate that this large, caliche structure was built during the 1300’s. The construction appears to have been well planned and organized, requiring tons of material and a huge cooperative effort on the part of many people.
Today we can only marvel at the Casa Grande and try to imagine what it was used for. Though many theories have been suggested, we still aren’t sure as to its purpose. All we can assume is that the Casa Grande must have been very important to the people who built it. Join us as we learn about this fascinating mystery in Arizona!
Please call to reserve your spot. Let us know if you would prefer to view from home or watch from the Thompson and leave the technology to us.
A Dartmouth Aging Resource Center Virtual Program
How Do I Find Reliable Health Information Online?
Thursday, September 29, 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
Leaders: Pamela Bagley, PhD, MSLIS and Elaina Vitale, MSLIS
Searching for health information online can be intimidating in the best of times–it is hard to know what to trust! This workshop will introduce sources for finding reliable health and wellness information online. You will also learn tips for evaluating online health information, and discuss how to apply these tips to the ever-changing (and overwhelming) amount of online information about COVID-19.
You will receive a zoom link for this class 60 minutes before the class starts. The zoom link will be sent directly to the email you registered with.
VERMONT LEGAL AID PRESENTS:
A Free Virtual Legal Advice Clinic for Vermont Seniors (Age 60+)
Thursday, September 29, 9:00 – 11:30 am
Vermont Legal Aid is hosting a virtual legal advice clinic by phone for free civil legal assistance to Vermont seniors, aged 60 and up, to answer legal questions about COVID-19 related assistance, federal and state benefits, housing, unemployment, debt, or other civil legal issues. Call and book your free 20-minute appointment!
To schedule an appointment, CALL: 1-802-318-4169. Leave a message with your name and number and the best time to return your call. You can also book an appointment online at https://vtlawhelp.org/seniors. The phone number above is just for the legal advice clinic. If you have an immediate legal problem, call our general phone number and leave a message: 1-800-889-2047.
PLEASE NOTE: Our attorneys cannot help you with criminal issues. Your appointment must involve your own problem, and not a question about a family member or friend’s problem. All consultations are confidential. This clinic is by appointment only. The number of available appointments may be limited.
Mobile Vaccination Clinics
10/1, 10/15, 10/29
9:00 – 11:30 am
The Primary Series (Initial Doses) and Pediatric Covid Vaccines will be available as well as the updated Bivalent Boosters. For more information visit here. Located at the Woodstock HS/MS Parking Lot
Come Travel with us!
Virtual Live Walking Tour in Norway
October 4, 11am – 12pm
The old and well-preserved Bergen wharf is one of the key locations to visit in Norway. Our knowledgeable guide will start this virtual tour right from Bryggen and will narrate about the history of the Hanseatic League and how it had affected medieval trade. You will learn about the everyday life of the locals and merchants of that time and how they made a living. Then, the tour will proceed to the city port, which has played an enormous role in the city’s trade. Eventually, the tour will come to an end near St. Mary’s Church, the oldest building in the city and the church that was eventually taken over by German merchants of the Hanseatic League.
Theme Lunch: Norwegian-Style Meatballs with Egg Noodles, Roasted Vegetables, Norwegian- Style Almond Cake, Fresh Fruit. RSVP in advance.
SLN Virtual Program:
“Powerful Partnerships”- Civil War Era Couples
National Portrait Gallery
Tuesday, October 4, 2:00 pm
Long before the term “power couple” found its way into English lexicon, dynamic duos had been making their mark on U.S. history. “Powerful Partnerships: Civil War-Era Couples” sheds light on the stories and faces of five couples whose work and lives shaped the nation around them during tumultuous times. Featuring photography by the iconic Mathew Brady Studio, the exhibition introduces visitors to the exploits of Nathaniel and Mary Banks, John and Jessie Frémont, Ulysses and Julia Grant, George and Ellen McClellan, and Charles and Lavinia Stratton (better known to the public as Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb).
Please call to reserve your spot. Let us know if you would prefer to view from home or watch from the Thompson and leave the technology to us.
Art With Finnie from ArtisTree
Van Gogh Sunflowers
Wednesday, October 5, 1:30 pm
Take inspiration from the master of sunflower painting, Vincent Van Gogh. We will walk through sketching and filling in a sunflower still life using the bold colors and distinct markings to create a VanGogh-like painting to brighten your home or a friend’s day. Please register in advance by calling The Thompson.
Local Author, Geza Tatrallyay Presents at The Thompson
Thursday, October 6, 1:00 pm
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a horrific and devastating destruction of a country and the lives of its people. Geza Tatrallyay lived through a similar invasion during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, and like five and a half million Ukrainians, his family escaped during the conflict. In his first memoir, For the Children, Geza has written about his experiences as a seven-year-old child when his parents tried three times to leave their country of birth to be able to raise their children in dignity and freedom in the West. These experiences shaped his life and also prepared him for two other approaches later in life by young people who wanted to defect – first at the world’s fair, Expo 70, in Osaka, Japan, where he was a host in the Ontario Pavilion and was approached by three Czechoslovak girls, and at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, where he represented Canada in epée fencing and helped a Romanian-Hungarian fencer friend defect to Canada. These two subsequent escape events are the subjects of two other memoirs, The Expo Affair and The Fencers, and the three books together form Geza’s Cold War Escape trilogy, and will form the main subject of his talk.
Seasonal Drive-Thru Flu Clinic
By VNH of Vermont and New Hampshire
Tuesday, October 11, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
We have been assured by the VNH that the high-dose vaccine will be available.
Located behind The Thompson Center at Heritage Condos – no appointment necessary
The VNH requests that pets be left at home and not in the drive-thru.
SLN Virtual Program:
Celebrate Eleanor’s Birthday – at home viewing only
with the FDR Presidential Library and Museum
“Eleanor Roosevelt, Tireless Advocate for Change“
Tuesday, October 11, 2:00 pm
Having been First Lady for 12 years, and then pursuing a career as a social activist for 17 years on her own, Eleanor Roosevelt had a tremendous impact on the social conditions in this country, and around the world. This session explores some of the causes to which she lent her considerable skills and encouragement.
Chat with The Chief
Wednesday, October 12, 12 pm followed by 1pm Open Discussion
Woodstock Police Chief Captain, Robbie Blish, will join us for lunch and open discussion on topics of interest and answer any questions about local matters. Please join us and be sure to call ahead for your lunch reservation.
BAZAAR CRAFT WORKSHOP
Wednesdays, October 12, 19, 26 at 1:00 pm
Calling All Crafters! Join us as we prepare for our annual Holiday Bazaar. We will be making an assortment of knitted and sewn items as well as holiday decorations. Our workshops will be held on Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30 pm. We will have projects set up and we need your helping hands to put them together.
Do you have items to donate for us to sell at the Bazaar? If so, please contact Paula.
Thompson Wagon Ride at Billings Farm
Thursday, October 13
Meet at Billings Farm Visitor’s Center Desk at 1:15 for 1:30 pm departure.
$12/person payable to The Thompson Center
We look forward to enjoying the splendor of October foliage on our private wagon ride at Billings Farm. Our route will take us through scenic farm pastures and woods and there will be fall refreshments at the end of our ride.
Please call The Thompson to reserve your seat. Riders are welcome to bring their own blankets as they are not provided.
Oktoberfest Celebration
Friday, October 14, Noon
Join us as we partake in this celebration with a traditional meal of: Grilled Bratwurst, Kartoffelsalat (German Style Potato Salad), Gurkensalat (German Cucumber Salad), Streuselkuchen (German Crumb Cake). Please pre-register by calling The Thompson Center.
A SLN Virtual Program:
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, DC
“I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”
Tuesday, October 18, 2:00 pm
Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for justice and equality. Born into slavery in 1818, he escaped as a young man and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. People everywhere still find inspiration today in his tireless struggle, brilliant words, and inclusive vision of humanity. Douglass’s legacy is preserved here at Cedar Hill, where he lived his last 17 years.
Please call to reserve your spot. Let us know if you would prefer to view from home or watch from the Thompson and leave the technology to us.
Nunsense – The Funny Nunny Musical
At the Grange Theater, October 19, 2:00 pm Matinee
Cost $25 per person with your own transportation
Join the Little Sisters of Hoboken for a hysterically haphazard variety show to raise emergency funds for the convent. After a bad batch of Sister Julia – Child of God’s vichyssoise killed off fifty-two of the nuns, the survivors emptied the coffers to bury the deceased but ran out of cash before the last few bodies could be laid to rest. Will their prayers be answered before the health department discovers their secret? With hilarious talent acts, musical numbers, and help from the audience, Nunsense has blessed theatre goers worldwide for over 30 years and is the second longest-running Off-Broadway show in history.
We have purchased a limited number of the first two front rows of seats and payment with your reservation will confirm your seat.
Open Enrollment Period
1:1 Assistance Available at The Thompson by Appointment
October 20, November 3, 7, and December 1
October 15 through December 7, 2022 is the Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Prescription Drug Coverage Plans (Part D). During this time you are able to join a Medicare Part C or D plan. Your plan will take effect on January 1, 2023. If you already have a Medicare plan, this is the time to re-evaluate your health care needs and compare them to your current plan benefits. If you decide to stay with your current plan there is no further action required to renew it.
Thompson’s Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Program and Balance Screenings
Presented by MT. Ascutney Hospital Physical Therapists
Thursday, October 27, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
There are so many things you can do to stay steady and prevent a fall!
- Check your vision yearly
- Pick up clutter
- Review your medications
- Get physically active
Individual balance screenings by licensed Physical Therapists using the CDC-approved STEADI criteria are available by appointment. Participants can participate in a brief balance screen and receive recommendations based on the results. Pre-registration is needed to ensure that time is allotted for screening. For more information and to register, please call The Thompson. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
SLN Virtual Program:
“The Tabors: An Epic Tale of the West”
National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
Tuesday, October 25, 2:-00 pm
H.A.W Tabor lived the 19th century dream migrating to the west and finding wealth. After working as a stone cutter he moved west from Maine with an abolitionist party He took up a farm in Kansas. in 1855 he married a long time sweet heart Augusta Pierce and brought her from Maine to the Kansas farm. In 1859 they joined the Pikes Peak gold rush. The family’ including Augusta and their one and one half yare old son Maxcy traveled 600 miles in a covered wagon to Auraria (now Denver Colorado where they struck it rich in CA. Gulch (near what is now) Leadville Colorado .According to the 1860 census Augusta was one of 36 women and 2000 men in the gulch. They stayed in the area where he, Augusta and Maxcy were successful in business and mining. In 1874 silver was discovered in the area. By the end of 1878 H.A.W. had accumulated immense wealth from his mining interests. He was elected Lt. Governor of Colorado and served a brief term as U. S. Senator. In 1883 he divorced Augusta his wife of 26 years and married Elizabeth Bonduel McCourt Doe (later known as Baby Doe) 24 years his junior. Stay tuned for the fascinating “ rest of the story!”
Please call to reserve your spot. Let us know if you would prefer to view from home or watch from the Thompson and leave the technology to us.
Thompson Annual Meeting
Building our Future Together
Join us on Wednesday, October 26th at 10:30 am for the meeting and a delicious lunch to follow.
The Annual Meeting is also an opportunity to vote on and welcome new board members and council members, celebrate achievements, and review our year-end (unaudited) financial statements. We will be sharing details about our newly adopted 5 year strategic plan and next steps in our Building Renovation Project.
Our Lunch Menu Includes: Spinach Ravioli with Turkey Bolognese Sauce, Greek Style Salad with Feta and Olives, Garlic Bread, and Fresh Fruit, Suggested Donation: $5.00
Call 457-3277 or email: sborz@thompsonseniorcenter.org to order lunch and RSVP for the annual meeting. In person and virtual options.
VERMONT LEGAL AID PRESENTS:
Free Legal Advice Clinic for VT Seniors (AGE 60+)
Thursday, October 27, 9-11:30 am
To schedule a phone appointment, CALL: 1-802-318-4169
Vermont Legal Aid is hosting a virtual legal advice clinic by phone for free civil legal assistance to Vermont seniors, aged 60 and up, to answer legal questions about COVID-19 related assistance, federal and state benefits, housing, unemployment, debt, or other civil legal issues. Call and book your free 20-minute appointment!
AARP Smart Driver Class
This 4.5 hour refresher course is open to all drives 50 years and older
Friday, November 4, 8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $20 for AARP Members, $25 for Others. Checks made out to AARP.
The curriculum addresses the normal physical changes brought on by the aging process, how these changes can affect driving ability and how to compensate for those changes. The course also addresses changes in vehicles, regulations and roads. Participants will also learn how to interact with other road users, including truckers, bikers, pedestrians and distracted drivers. The class will address Vermont driving regulations, many of which have changed over the years. Many insurance companies offer a discount to drivers who have completed the class. Drivers who have qualified for a discount by taking the course must take a refresher course every 3 years. There are no tests. Register in advance.
Ongoing Programs in Order by Date
Advance Directive Assistance is Available
Would your loved ones know your wishes about medical care if you were unable to speak for yourself? An Advance Directive spells out your wishes and appoints someone to represent you if you are not able. Trained and caring volunteer will be at the Thompson each month on a Monday afternoon. These volunteers will take the time to explain this simple process. Call The Thompson at 802-457-3277 to schedule an appointment.
Bingo
Monday & Friday mornings, 10:00 am
Join us at the Center or dial 855-223-9106 to connect and play by phone. Bingo players are also welcome to return to The Thompson to play on weekday mornings. Please call Shari for room availability.
Caregiver Support Group with Complimentary Lunch
In-person, 2nd Tuesday of each month at 12:00 pm
Virtual participation will still be available upon request
Support and education can make a critical difference for family members and caregivers of patients with memory loss or disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Please join our confidential monthly support group (with complimentary lunch) on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, and share ideas, concerns, and constructive feedback with others facing similar challenges. Pre-register for lunch.
Reflexology at The Thompson
Enjoy Reflexology to Relax, Rejuvenate, & Reboot Your Body
2nd Tuesday, 10:30 am – 2 pm and 4th Tuesday, 9 am – 12 pm, Please call for availability
Certified Reflexologist Deborah Neuhof is offering appointments at The Thompson. Please call Shari to confirm a morning appointment beginning at 9:00 am on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. $35 for 30 minute hand or foot treatment or $65 for 60 minutes.
Please wear loose fitting clothing and arrive a few minutes early to complete a health & disclaimer form. All clients must be fully vaccinated. Face coverings are required during your treatment.
HANDWORK CIRCLE
Wednesdays, 10:30 am
The Handwork Circle group invites anyone to join them on Wednesdays at 10:30 in the living room. You do not need to be a knitter, all projects welcome. Enjoy some coffee and companionship. Contact Jane Soule at 457-2442 with any questions.
Foot Clinic at The Thompson with Beverly Sinclair, RN
October 20, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Cost: $30 payable by cash or check. Towels are supplied.
Call for your appointment, Face masks required during treatment
Beverly Sinclair has been a practicing registered nurse for 22 years with extensive experience as a staff nurse and in nurse management. She has been providing local foot care service for older Vermonters for the past 6 years.
In-person Tech Support at The Thompson
Appointments on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
In collaboration with the Norman Williams Public Library, you can now get 1:1 tech support at The Thompson. Bring in your mobile phones, laptops, iPads and any other type of tablet device you need help with. Multiple devices can be brought to one appointment. Call Shari to book your 1 hour appointment, and don’t forget your passwords!
Carla Kamel and the Community Health Team
Friday Office Hours at The Thompson, 10am-12pm
No office hours on Sept 23
Community Care Coordinator, Carla Kamel, is available for support in navigating resources and discussing community-based services. Carla expertly and compassionately can identify your needs and goals, and provide information, support and connection to resources to meet individual goals. She is available at the Ottauquechee Health Center (OHC) for a health and social wellness phone visit at 457-5414 or at carla.kamel@mahhc.org, even if it’s a five-minute phone conversation. While walk-ins are welcome, making an appointment is advised by calling The Thompson.
Technical Assistance Available at The Thompson or in Your Home
If you have questions about a device that you are using, help is available on a fee for service basis by a qualified local individual. Please call Shari to learn more.