Take tai chi or watercolor classes but don’t forget art exhibit

This month you might check out the new tai chi for arthritis class or the watercolor workshop for beginners or the April art exhibit. Or you might try out a new activity at the senior center.

Community events & services

Annual plant sale
Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m.-noon
Stop by the senior center’s annual Plant Sale and stock up on a great selection of annuals and perennials at great prices. Rain or shine. If you’re dividing perennials in your garden, pot (and label) a few to donate to the sale. Drop off plants at the center any time between Friday, May 17, and Friday, May 24. Need help digging? Call 802-425-6345 and leave your name, address and phone number. A team member will call to arrange a time to dig your plants. The group will be digging plants through May 22. Questions? Email Polly.

Age Well Resources
Monday, May 6, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Stop by the Charlotte Senior Center to talk with an Age Well representative about resources and information available for older adults. Also learn about the restaurant ticket program that can be used for meals at participating restaurants and the Age Well Grab & Go and Meals on Wheels programs.

Red Cross blood drive
Thursday, April 25, 1-6 p.m.
Please consider donating blood. The Red Cross is experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit the website and enter: CHARLOTTE to schedule an appointment.

Alzheimer’s caregivers support group
Wednesday, May 8, 4-5 p.m.
Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or know someone who is? Join the Caregivers Support Group on the second Wednesday of each month from 4-5 p.m. The meetings provide a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to develop a support system. New date and time option to attend by Zoom or in-person. For more information or to receive the Zoom meeting link, email Susan Cartwright.

Weekly Age Well Grab & Go meals
Pick up on Thursdays 10-11 a.m. at the senior center. Registration is required by Monday for the Thursday meal. $5 suggested meal donation but not required. To register, call 802-425-6345 or email.

Programs

April artist exhibit
Found and Fiddled With
This month’s exhibit, “Found and Fiddled With” describes Jan Lawson’s style, themes, palette and materials. Many of her pieces reflect her emotions, ranging from the whimsical light-heartedness of snagging a mermaid and parading chickens to the despair of an earthquake, hunger and the horror of war. Jan enjoys experimenting with the juxtaposition of colors and shapes in abstracts and collage.

Beginner watercolor workshop
Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
If you’ve always wanted to try watercolor but were too intimidated, “The Sky’s The Limit!” with Ginny Joyner is the class for you. Every landscape painting starts with a great sky; learn the basics of water and washes for ways to create clouds, gradations and depth. Learn the properties of a variety of blue shades and experience the “zen” of watching paint dry. Class limit 10 students. For more information about Ginny Joyner, check out her website at ginnyjoyner.com. Registration required. Cost: $35.00 plus $6.00 supply fee which is paid to the instructor.

Shape-note singing
Sunday, April 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Traditional a capella, four-part harmony sung for the joy of singing, not as a practice for performance. Search “sacred harp” on YouTube for examples, then come and sing. Introduction to shape notes and scales is recommended and offered 30 minutes before each first Sunday singing. Contact Kerry Cullinan to schedule. No registration required. Free.

Samba-canasta
Tuesdays, 12 p.m., & Fridays, 12:30 p.m.
Samba is a new version of canasta that has quickly become popular due to its variety of melds, which keeps the game interesting. If you are curious to learn how to play samba, call Sandy Armell at 802-425-3248.

Shanghai mahjong
Tuesdays, 12:45-3:45 p.m.
Whether you are new to or experienced in the Shanghai style of mahjong, you are welcome to join this informal get-together. For questions email Nan Mason.

Exercise activities

Tai chi for arthritis
Thursdays, May 9-30, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Try out this new class. The benefits of a tai chi practice include reduced pain and stiffness and improved muscle strength and joint flexibility. Through learning the tai chi movements and practicing regularly, many have found significant relief from arthritis symptoms. Questions? Email. Cost: $40 for the four-week session. Registration and payment by Tuesday, May 7.

Pilates fitness
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
This pilates class, for folks 55+, is designed to be challenging and safe. Phyllis Bartling leads the class through upper-body strength work with hand weights and mat exercises with the focus on working core muscles to improve balance, strength and posture. Cost: $10 a class. No registration required.

Walking and gentle hiking group
Thursday, April 25, 9 a.m.
Enjoy the beauty of nature. Come walk at a gentle pace with other seniors. The group will meet each month for a congenial non-strenuous walk. Location to be determined based on conditions of the local walks. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Charlotte Senior Center. Questions? Call Penny Burman at 916-753-7279. Registration appreciated. Free.

Yoga strength-building practice
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon
Join Heidi Kvasnak for an integrative practice that builds strength and stability while maintaining a sense of ease and spaciousness in both body and mind. Practice longer-held postures that strengthen muscles, bones and core, as well as breath-led movement, including sun salutations. Prerequisite: Must be able to easily get down and up from the floor with or without props. Cost: $10 a class. No registration required.

Meals
Menus are posted on the website.

Monday lunches
Served weekly. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., or until the food runs out. Suggested lunch donation $5. No registration required.

Senior center info:
The senior center offers programs for adults 50 and older from Charlotte and surrounding communities. Priority is given to seniors, but programs are open to adults of all ages. Programs include weekly lunches, daily exercise classes and many opportunities to connect through board and card games and art and language programming. Interested in receiving a weekly reminder about what is happening? Sign up for the email newsletters. The “Week Ahead” email is sent out on Friday mornings with activities, lunch menus and special programs for the upcoming week.

Lori York, director,
212 Ferry Road, Charlotte
802-425-6345

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