Wilmington Senior Center 1901 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE 19802 (302) 651-3400 www.wilmingtonseniorcenter.org info@wilmingtonseniorcenter.

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A Community for Life!

December 2013 Happenings

HOLIDAY HOURS FOR WILMINGTON SENIOR CENTER WSC will be closed Tuesday & Wednesday December 24 & 25 for the Christmas Holiday and Tuesday & Wednesday December 31 and January 1 for the New Year Holiday

WILMINGTONSENIORCENTER VILLAGE THRIFT SHOP 1900 Tatnall Street Open Monday-Friday, 9:00-1:00 Proceeds from the Village Thrift Shop benefit programs and services for seniors. Bring your donations to the Thrift Shop or call 651-3400 to arrange pickup of donations and to volunteer.

WILMINGTON SENIOR CENTERS HOLIDAY DINNER PARTY

DATE: Friday, December 13, 2013 New Location: Mary A. Wright Mancus Foundation 2900 Jessup Street, Wilmington TIME: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

For more information and tickets: Contact Regina Harris at 652-6596 or Marie Dash at 655-8979

DONATION: $12.00 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Hors doeuvres 5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Dancing Door Prizes, 50-50 Raffle, and tons of fun MENU Roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Gravy, Cranberry Sauce Baked Ham, Fried Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Candied Sweet Potatoes String Beans Rolls and Butter Punch Assorted Desserts Come out and join us!!!!! We wish all of you a SAFE and HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. Sponsored by The Membership Council

Monday 12/3 Flounder with Lemon Dill Sauce Roasted Potato Wedges Stewed Tomatoes Mandarin Oranges Double Fiber Bread 12/10 Herbed Tilapia Macaroni & Cheese Stewed Tomatoes Pears Double Fiber Bread ***12/11*** Pot Roast with AuJus Garlic Mashed Potatoes Peas & Carrots Ultimate Grain Bread Apple Cobbler 12/19 Stuffed Peppers in Spaghetti Sauce Mashed Potatoes Hot Fruit Compote Animal Crackers 12/12 Chicken & Dumplings Succotash Hot Fruit Compote Sugar Wafers 12/13 Salisbury Steak w. Gravy Mashed Potatoes Brussels Sprouts Fruit Mix Wheat Bread 12/4 Fire Braised Chicken Stew Mixed Greens Salad Peach Cobbler Split Top Wheat Roll 12/5 Ham & Swiss on Club Roll Lettuce, Tomato, Onion Banana Cream of Broccoli Soup Crackers 12/6 Chili Topped with Cheese Baked Potato Mixed Greens Salad Mini Corn Muf in Mango Yogurt Parfait

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

12/2 Herbed Baked Chicken Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Peaches Double Fiber Bread

12/9 Stuffed Shells in Spaghetti Sauce Green Beans Mixed Greens Salad Applesauce Ultimate Grain Bread

2 12/24 WSC CLOSED 12/25 WSC CLOSED 12/31 WSC CLOSED ***1/1*** WSC CLOSED

12/16 Beef Burgundy over Egg Noodles Key West Vegetables Pineapples with Whipped Cream 12 Grain Bread

12/17 BBQ Chicken Breast Southern Potatoes w. Peppers & Onion California Blend Veggies Banana Mini Blueberry Muf in

12/18 Roast Turkey in Sage Sauce Mashed Sweet Potatoes Greens Mandarin Oranges Double Fiber Bread Cranberry Sauce

12/20 Tuna Melt with Cheddar Cheese on 12 Grain Bread Fresh Pear Tomato Vegetable Soup Crackers

12/23 Salmon w. Lemon Dill Sauce Roasted Potato Wedges Broccoli Wheat Bread Chocolate Pudding

12/26 Hamburger on Whole Wheat Bun Lettuce & Tomato Fresh Pear Minestrone Soup Crackers 1/2 Chicken Supreme Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes with Gravy Carrots Fresh Pear

12/27 Roast Pork w. Gravy Baked Sweet Potato Green Beans Split Top Wheat Roll Hot Cooked Apples

12/30 Turkey & Swiss on Club Roll Lettuce, Tomato, Onion Orange Cream of Mushroom Soup Crackers

1/3 Meatloaf with Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce Roasted Potato Wedges Green Beans Banana Whole Grain Bread

All meals subject to change. All meals contain 1% milk Meals are ordered according to projected number; over that number, backup meals will be available. Suggested minimum donation for persons 60+ is $2.00 People under age 60 must pay $4.50.

Saturday Mid Day meals served at St. Anthonys Sunday Mid Day meals served at St. Anthonys & St. Patricks Senior Centers. Tuesday & Thursday Evening Meals served at St. Anthonys Senior Center

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES December 2013

3 9:00 Quilting 10:30 Nutrition Support Group* 11:30 GRC Support Group 1:00 Bingo 3:00 Red Hat Meeting 10 9:00 Quilting 11:30 GRC Support Group 1:00 Bingo 12 10:30 Pulaski School Chorus* 10:45 Bible Study 1:00 Caregiver Holiday Tea* 1:00 Bingo 13 1:00 Bingo 5:00 Holiday Dinner Dance* 11 9:30 Strength Building 10:00 Diabetes Prevention Class 10:00 Council Meeting 10:00 Volunteer Orientation* 10:30 Wii Bowling 11:00 Members Meeting 12:00 Lafayette Court Meeting 1:00 In-Place Walking* 5:30 p.m. Volunteer Orientation* 18 9:30 Strength Building 10:00 Diabetes Prevention Class 10:30 Wii Bowling 11:00 Birthday Party 1:00 In-Place Walking* 25 WSC CLOSED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WSC CLOSED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY 19 Old Country Buffet & Holiday Light Tour* 10:45 Bible Study 1:00 Bingo 1:30 Sunday Breakfast Mission Mens Choir* 26 10:45 Bible Study 1:00 Bingo

2 9:30 Strength Building 10:30 Wii Bowling

Mon
4 8:30 Tanger Outlets-Rehoboth* 9:30 Strength Building 10:00 Diabetes Prevention Class 10:30 Wii Bowling 1:00 In-Place Walking* 5 9:45 Diabetes Screening* 10:45 Bible Study 11:00 Get on the Bus* 1:00 Bingo

Tue

Wed

Thu

6 10:00 St. Marys Bazaar* 1:00 Bingo

Fri

9 9:00 Commodity Food Delivery 9:30 Strength Building 10:30 Wii Bowling 1:30 Line Dancing

3 24 31 WSC CLOSED NEW YEAR HOLIDAY Jan. 1 2014 WSC CLOSED HAPPY NEW YEAR!

16 9:30 Strength Building 10:30 Wii Bowling

17 9:00 Quilting 11:30 GRC Support Group 1:00 Bingo 4:00 Board Meeting

20 10:30 Soul Line Dancing (TBD) 1:00 Bingo

23 9:30 Strength Building 10:30 Wii Bowling

27 10:30 Soul Line Dancing (TBD) 1:00 Bingo

30 9:30 Strength Building 10:30 Wii Bowling

Daily: Word Puzzles, Cards, Dominos and Games; Exercise and Computer Rooms open. Pool table located in Exercise Room.

* See more information about presentations, trips and activities on the following pages.

ACTIVITIES N G L E

WSC: Experts at Living Well Gretchen Broadwater, Activities Coordinator (651-3424) MEMBERSHIP DUES

ACTIVITIES & PRESENTATIONS

3 Nutrition Support Group, 10:30. Fran Taccone Starting in 2014, memberships will be renewed on from City Fare will share information on good, a quarterly basis, as follows: If your current renewal date is in January, healthy nutrition. February or March, your annual membership 4,11,18 Diabetes Prevention Class dues must be submitted no later than March 5 Get on the Bus, 11:00. WSC will welcome 31st. Board members to deliver meals and then have lunch at the Center. If your current renewal date is in April, May 12 Diabetes Screening, 9:45, with Delaware or June, your annual membership dues must Pharmacy Society be submitted no later than June 30th. Pulaski School Chorus, 10:30 If your current renewal date is in July, August Caregiver Holiday Tea, 1:00. Holiday or September, your annual membership dues gathering for caregivers to learn how to deal must be submitted no later than September with caregiver stress at the holidays, facilitated 30th. by Delaware Hospice. If your current renewal date is in October, 13 Members Christmas Dinner Dance - see flyer* November or December, your annual 18 Birthday Party membership dues must be submitted no later 19 Sunday Breakfast Mission Mens Choir, 1:30 than December 31st. TRIPS 4 Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth. Bus will leave WSC at 8:30 and return at 5:00. Lunch and dinner on your own. Cost is $11.00 for transportation 6 St. Marys Bazaar, 10:00. Cost is $1.00 for transportation 19 Old Country Buffet & Holiday Light Tour. Buffet cost is on your own. Transportation cost is $5.00. SNEAK PEEK Dues notices will be mailed at the beginning of each quarter. Prompt payments are appreciated! THANK YOU TO Pauline Alexander, Loretta Hall, Irmina Hudson, Laura Jones -- for kitchen and dining room items. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Sign up and payment for trips and events must be done by the designated deadline. Signing up for a trip indicates your interest and your space is saved only when the fee is paid. If a minimum number of attendees is not met by the deadline the trip/event will be cancelled and payment will be returned. A late fee will be imposed on those not meeting the deadline date providing the trip/event has a sufficient number. Please bring only small bills to pay trip fees. Current WSC members are placed first on the Centers 16 passenger bus for day trips. Nonmembers may attend if there are unpaid seats after the trips deadline date. Please make suggestions for activities!

January Membership Council Trip to Harrington

FYI

AARP Tax Assistance Volunteers will be here Mondays, February 3 through April 17, to help seniors with taxes. Defensive Driving Courses for 2014 will be: January 13 March 10 May 12 September 8 November 10 Details for both will be in January Happenings.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 12/2 12/3 12/4 12/5 12/6 12/9 12/10 12/12 12/13 12/14 12/17 12/19 12/20 12/21 12/22 12/23 12/24 12/28 12/29 12/31 William Laws Bernard Stoner Martha Ballard, Pamela Folks Inez Molock Konnie Brown, Henry Edwards, Sara Shockley Margaret Custis Kathryn Brown, Carnover Harris, Irmina Hudson, Murtadee Muhammad, Ronald Skillens, Sarah Wesley Sue Getman, Irving Hill Hazel Livingston Dorothy Brown Floyd Thomas Terry Jackson Carolyn Jones, Roger Williams Marie Langston, Lorraine Santos Kathleen Andersen, Diana Mathis Thelma Brown, Nellie Parson Marvis Clark, Shonie Craighead Barbara Allen Roberta Porter Gloria Park

LUNCH REMINDER Lunch reservations for all members and staff must be given to the front desk by 1:00 the day prior. We cannot assume that you will be here for lunch on any given day. Lunch cost for those under the age of 60 is $4.50 and $2.00 for those 60 and older, in accordance with City Fare guidelines. NOTE ABOUT CARES AND CONCERNS To notify Wilmington Senior Center of members who are ill or hospitalized, please contact Irmina Hudson at 655-2528. NOTES: ACTIVITIES COORDINATORS HOURS Please pay for trips during the following hours only: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00-noon and 1:00-2:00 VOLUNTEER INFORMATION If you are interested in volunteering with us at Wilmington Senior Center, you must complete a volunteer application and register for the orientation. The December Orientation will be on the 11th at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Please contact the WSC at 651-3400 or inquire at the reception desk.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY INVITATION If your birthday is this month, please join us at the monthly birthday celebration on December 18 at 11:15 a.m.-2:00. Lunch is free for members who are celebrating their birthdays this month. Please call to make a reservation at 651-3400 by Wednesday, December 11 so we can be sure to have enough meals. You must call because you wont be automatically included in our lunch count. -------------------------------------------------------------------WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS... Hester Brown Lynette DeVaughn Delores Hinson Charles McNeil Raymond Naas Mildred Redmond

Dear Wilmington Senior Center Friends, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many cards and kind words you shared with me following my fathers untimely passing. He was a wonderful man whose life touched many because of his faith, generosity, humor and love. I will miss him terribly, but I know he is at peace in life eternal. Blessings and gratitude to all of you. Love, Sue Getman

HOLIDAY FINANCES The holiday season is approaching quickly. For many people, this means racking up debt or not being able to make ends meet because of the high cost of gift giving. Here are some tips so you can avoid going into holiday debt. Give a family treasure or heirloom as a gift. Enclose in the package a personal note that explains the items history or special meaning for the recipient. If you have a group of friends or a large family that exchanges gifts, suggest drawing names and provide a spending limit. Give a homemade gift such as a poem, a crocheted or knit item, a drawing, woodwork or a baked good. Give the gift of time such as two nights of babysitting or teaching someone how to make your favorite recipe. Try shopping at flea markets or thrift shops. Buy an inexpensive frame for fun photos of yourself and the recipient. If this year is particularly hard, be honest with those who you exchange gifts. They may be just as strapped as you. You can agree to not exchange gifts this year, cut the cost of the gift, or just spend time together. You don't have to break the bank to exchange gifts. Spend within your budget and have a wonderful holiday.

Would you like a free economic checkup? See Kathleen or contact her at 651-3401.

CAREGIVERS CORNER Reduce and Manage Caregiver Stress During the Holidays Some tips to prepare for and lessen your stress over the holiday season. As a caregiver, you know firsthand that there are never enough hours in the day, even during the slowest times of the year. How will you manage to get everything done over the next few months? Here are some tips to lessen the stress of the always-hectic holiday season: Prioritize The first step: Think about your familys traditions, then look at your calendar. What are your obligations? Whats a priority? What are you happy to let fall by the wayside? If its important for you to bake platters of cookies, this might be the year to leave some of the decorations in the closet, or to plan a cookie exchange - especially if you have a big project at work or your kids have a lot of activities. Calendars and Countdowns Once youve figured out what you are - and are not - doing, get out your calendar and plot when youd like to do it as well as if theres a grace period. Remember: It isnt too soon to start shopping or making menus. Check your cupboards for seasonal ingredients or equipment you might need to replenish. Do you need candles for the menorah or Advent wreath? How about paper goods for parties? Attire Time As you pack up summer clothes and get out winter gear, ask everyone in the family to try on their party clothes (and shoes) to make sure they still fit and see if they need repairs. If your kids have holiday performances, check with band or choir directors to see about required attire so youre not in search of dress shoes two hours before show time. Streamline Shopping How many are on your holiday gift list? If youve watched your list grow from just siblings to include your siblings spouses, their kids, and now your nieces and nephews partners, you may well be over the thrill of finding the perfect present for everyone. Get rid of gift guilt and streamline the shopping lists by drawing names: Make it generational (cousins buy for cousins, siblings and in-laws buy for each other), or by family (put your and your siblings names in the hat and each nuclear family buys for the family it draws). When your shopping list is shorter, you may rediscover the joy in finding the just-right gift. Stay Home Whats your time worth? If you avoid buying online so you can get in-store deals, you may end up spending more money when you factor in the time you spend driving to and from the mall (and looking for a parking space!) and fighting the crowds once you get there - not to mention the incidental costs of gas, refreshments, or those items that end up in your basket as you wander through the store. Many online retailers offer free shipping or promotions for shipping upgrades; most also offer special discounts to those on their email lists or who follow them on Facebook.
Reprinted from Visiting Nurse Service of New York (www.vnsny.org)

New Castle County Caregiver Support Groups Newark Senior Center - 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Easter Seals - 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Support for Caregivers... is available from our Caregiver Resource Center call 651-3420 for more information. Grandparent Support Group meets on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Funding for the Caregiver Resource Center comes from the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities as a result of the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Title III-E of the Older Americans Act.
7

Wilmington Senior Center invites Caregivers to a

Holiday Gathering For Caregivers

Coffee Cookies Cheer Thursday, December 12th 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a conversation about dealing with caregiver stress at the holidays facilitated by Delaware Hospice. Please let us know if you can come by contacting Beth Ray at 651-3460 or info@wilmingtonseniorcenter.org.

HEALTH & COMMUNITY INFORMATION

FREE MEDIATION SERVICES Delaware Elder Mediation Services, Inc. (DEMSI) is When power outages occur after severe weather such offering free mediation services to the elderly or as hurricanes or tornadoes, using alternative sources of power can cause carbon monoxide (CO) to build up disabled. DEMSI mediators can meet clients at home, assisted living facilities or Wilmington Senior Center. in your home and poison your family. CO is a colorless, odorless gas created by burning fuel when If you have a conflict that needs help to be resolved, using portable generators, gas ranges, burning wood contact them at 302-287-9149. or by running your car. UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE STUDY While hundreds of people die in the U.S. each year Do you play bingo, cards or slot machines? Do you from accidental CO poisoning, this tragedy can be visit casinos? Researchers at the University of prevented. If you dont have a battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector in your home, install one Delaware are conducting interviews about the role of gambling activities in seniors daily lives. They invite as soon as possible and check it every six months. you to share your experiences in a 60-120-minute You should also follow these safety tips: audio-taped dialogue with them. You will receive a Do not run your car inside a garage that is $15.00 gift card for participating in the study and your attached to your home, even if the garage door is identity and responses will remain confidential. To open to the outside; learn more about participating, please contact Tammy Have your heating system, water heater and other at (302) 831-2291 or tammya@udel.edu. gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician each year; and ATTENTION MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES Never heat your house with a gas oven. Open Enrollment period for Parts C & D will take Since you cant see or smell carbon monoxide, it is important to recognize the most common symptoms of CO poisoning, which may include lightheadedness, confusion, headaches, vertigo, and flue-like effects; larger exposures can lead to significant toxicity of the central nervous system and heart, and even death. If you think you are experiencing CO poisoning, you should get fresh air and seek medical attention immediately!
FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH

DO YOU SMELL SOMETHING?

place until December 7. You can do the following: Change from Original Medicare to a private Medicare Advantage plan. Change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. Join, drop, or switch Part D drug plans. Switch MA Plans. Questions? contact ElderInfo at 302-674-7364 or 800-336-9500 COLLECTING SPECIAL ITEMS Recycled eyeglasses and hearing aids for the Lions Club and soda can tabs for Ronald McDonald House. Please leave them with Gretchen. Thank you. Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.
- Alphonse Karr

If you or someone you know needs food, please visit Shiloh Baptist Church at 215 W. 23rd Street on the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m. For more information please contact Shiloh Baptist Church at 655-5315.