Staunton Senior Center News
Rhythm & blues Black History Program presented at SSC: Did you know that it wasn’t jazz, it wasn’t blues, and it wasn’t gospel that was the most popular form of music among African-American people in in the 1950s?
You guessed it! It was rhythm and blues! Continue reading “Staunton Senior Center News” »
United Way to launch Volunteer Centers
The United Way of Greater Augusta will launch its Volunteer 2012 initiative at area Senior Centers on Friday. The Volunteer Center is an online center approved by the Virginia Office of Volunteerism and Community Service to serve our region.
Over the next 12 months, the UWGA Volunteer 2012 initiative is to Give 20 hours, Volunteer 20 times, and Impact 20 lives. The launch will be the first program associated with the initiative as the United Way of Greater Augusta partners with Senior Centers in hopes to engage active adults and retirees with opportunities in volunteerism. Continue reading “United Way to launch Volunteer Centers” »
Cranberries at the Staunton Senior Center
Even though the holidays are past, it wasn’t too late to pull out the cranberries and hold a contest at SSC. Whoever most closely guessed the number of cranberries in the jar would receive a mystery prize the next day of Center attendance.
The idea was introduced from the Breakfast for Your Brain manual, pulled out recently by Program Director Lori Pullin searching for ideas for mental health fitness exercises. Along with the contest came several math pages which were photocopied out of the manual, all concerning cranberries and other types of berries.
Center members busily solved problems with their pencils and scratch paper, performing math that may not been done for quite some time. But then engaging in new and different brain-stretching activities is always a “plus” for the brain!
More online at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
United Way of Greater Augusta’s Volunteer Center Launch at local Senior Centers
United Way of Greater Augusta will launch their Volunteer 2012 initiative at area Senior Centers on Friday, Jan. 20. The Volunteer Center is an online center approved by the Virginia Office of Volunteerism and Community Service to serve our region.
Over the next 12 months, the UWGA Volunteer 2012 initiative is to Give 20 Hours, Volunteer 20 Times, and Impact 20 Lives. The launch will be the first program associated with the initiative as the United Way of Greater Augusta partners with Senior Centers in hopes to engage active adults and retirees with opportunities in volunteerism. Continue reading “United Way of Greater Augusta’s Volunteer Center Launch at local Senior Centers” »
Staunton Senior Center to be site of filming in January
A video crew from the Internet program called Bus 52 will be filming Three Guys with Notes, a local band that will be playing at SSC on Friday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m.
Bus 52 journeys around the U.S. interviewing people who do creative things to make a difference. Three Guys with Notes is a musical outreach program that conducts interactive performances with drums, rhythm instruments, and Native American flutes. The leader is the son-in-law of one of SSC’s former members.
The Waynesboro Senior Center is coming that day as well as second graders from Grace Christian School. So we will have a full house and much excitement as the film crew sets up and Three Guys with Notes performs and encourages interaction with the audience. It should be a fun day!
Staunton Senior Center invites apartment residents for goodies
On Thursday, Dec. 22, the Staunton Senior Center invited residents of Gypsy Hill Place where SSC is located down for an informal open house.
We wanted to meet them, show them our Center, and wish them a Merry Christmas! Although only two residents took advantage of our invitation, Center members thoroughly enjoyed all the goodies, fixing plates to take home. There had been a festive atmosphere all day at the Center as there was stringed Christmas music enthusiastically played and sung by the program director’s husband and two friends and just plain merry making amongst members and staff.
We were reminded of the thoughtful spirit of this time of year as Girl Scout troop #54 dropped off some goodies the day before, so we were able to offer some of those as well as put a lot in the freezer for later occasions.
We wish everyone a most happy new year as we approach the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 soon!
More online at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
Busy schedule at Staunton Senior Center
Grief Share Group: Melissa Morris, social worker with Gentle Shepherd Hospice, facilitates a Grief Share Group every first Thursday of the month at 10:45 a.m.
This program provides seniors with an opportunity to discuss feelings related to various losses they may have experienced in the past several years such as loss of independence, divorce, death, or loss of a pet.
Members have discovered this time to be beneficial as they enjoy Melissa’s gentle, encouraging approach!
Continue reading “Busy schedule at Staunton Senior Center” »
Christmas spirit abounds at the Staunton Senior Center
Dec. 16 was a busy day at the Staunton Senior Center, as there was much Christmas cheer as well as December birthday celebration and Red Hat Day!
Two volunteers, Dorris Cogar and Marge Whitmer, led a Christmas sing-a-long dressed in sparkly green and red attire. Dorris added to the festive atmosphere by conducting a drawing for gifts using numbers tied to cut holly branches given to each member as they sang “Deck the Halls.”
Immediately after the singing, a drawing was made for the traditional prize that is given out on each Red Hat Day. Looking out into the sea of purple and red, Center Director Lynn Harris drew the lucky name which happened to be one of our birthday people! We then sang “Happy Birthday” to our special members and proceeded to eat our lunch which consisted of the additional mac ‘n’ cheese and jello added to our meal by staff.
After lunch, nine members, staff, and a volunteer departed the Center to give away some Christmas cheer at Rittenour Adult Home as we sang Christmas carols and songs with the residents. It made our hearts sing as we observed the delight on their faces as the group enjoyed the familiar songs of the season!
More at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
Staunton Senior Center: New Current Events Group Gets Off To Good Start At SSC
The SSC conference room was the site of the new Current Events Focus with Liz Williams which will be a monthly program, occurring on the second Thursday of each month.
Liz, one of our newest volunteers, was a writer-editor in Washington, DC for many years, has traveled extensively, and is very knowledgeable concerning current events. The topic chosen to kick off the discussion related to campaign financing, but the conversation took many twists and turns as the group entertained thoughts on such topics as the election, corporate greed, and the commercialization of Christmas just to name a few.
Every month will be different, so it will be interesting to find out what topics are broached in December!
More online at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
Staunton Senior Center: National Memory Screening Day
SSC will participate in the National Memory Screening Day on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
An initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), National Memory Screening Day is part of the organization’s ongoing effort to promote early detection of memory problems, including Alzheimer’s disease. The effort also encourages the use of appropriate intervention, including medical treatments, social services, and other resources to enable early diagnosis of memory problems.
AFA collaborates with other organizations and health care professionals nationwide to bring all resources together for National Screening Day. Participating sites offer free, confidential memory screenings as well as follow-up resources and educational materials to those concerned about memory loss.
To register for the free screening, please call 540.886.4634.
More information on the Staunton Senior Center at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
Staunton Senior Center: Current Events Focus Group
Do you have opinions on national or global affairs you want to express? You’ll have the chance to do so at the Current Events Focus Group on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at SSC.
New SSC volunteer and retired federal employee Liz Williams will facilitate the group. Think about topics you would like to discuss, and we can decide at the first focus group what to cover in the second one, to be held on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 10:30 a.m.
More info on the Staunton Senior Center at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
Staunton Senior Center: Help Available at SSC to Manage Your Chronic Disease
SSC Program Director Lori Pullin has received leader training for the “You Can! Live Well, Virginia!” Chronic Disease Self- Management Program (CDSMP) which will enable her to co-lead workshops at the Staunton Senior Center in the future.
Free workshops are held 2.5 hours once a week for six weeks. These workshops involving active participation are designed to help adults with chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease to learn ways to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.
To register for an upcoming workshop or to receive more information, call Lori at 540.886.4634.
More on the Staunton Senior Center at www.StauntonSeniorCenter.org.
