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December 2005
Director’s Message
By Joy Hartmann
Wrapping up 2005
The passage of time is always astonishing to me, especially in retrospect. Where does the time go? Here we are contemplating New Year’s resolutions … again.
It has been another productive year at our Center. We have institutionalized the Chef Salad on Tuesdays and switched to more nutritious breakfast fare in the Café’ Center. I wish to thank you for your co-operation with each of these changes. Our Chef Salad Pilot Program was indeed successful. There are three other centers currently serving salads based on how well they were received here.
We are asked to evaluate meals at a rate of at least twenty per month. The objective is to improve the quality of our meals. Steve Bown or Bob Adair may request that you will out a meal evaluation to help with this project or offer to fill one out yourself if you especially like or dislike a meal. Your opinions count.
Our 2006 focus will be on programs to enhance Vital Aging. John Warnke has some real surprises in store in this area. Stay turned… read all about it here. Stay well and keep fit… it’s going to be an exciting New Year. Happy Holidays…warm wishes from your Sandy Senior Community Center Staff.
New and Old Programs on the Horizon.
Beginning in January, the Center will be offering “Reminiscing Together.” This class will be held on the first (Jan. 3) and third (Jan. 17) Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. Dr. Jack Nielson, Jr., a clinical psychologist, realized the importance of helping people by reaching back to move forward. The program is designed to be practical in its application and focuses on sharing memories. He will be using a significant amount of visuals and encourages the group to share memories of their life experiences, using the senses to stimulate and strengthen memory.
The music appreciation class, which is held on the second Tuesday of every month, will explore many types of music. Carol Smart will rekindle your love for music and explore some new sounds. Nietzsche said “Without music, life would be a mistake.” Participation will be in group activities which are designed to bring people together in a lively discussion. Recordings and the piano will be used to enhance the class which will begin on Tues., Jan. 10 in Room 206 at 2 p.m.
Simplify Fit for Life, a class sponsored by the American Heart Association, will begin on Thurs., Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. This ten week class offers practical instruction and support to help create healthier habits. The instructors are health professionals, including nurses, dieticians and health educators.
On Tues., Jan. 24 at 2:30 p.m. Miranda Nielsen has scheduled a Heritage Makers creative writing workshop. This once a month class will focus on specific topics and will give students the opportunities to write their life stories.
Al Alexander will again offer beginning/ advanced guitar classes, beginning the first Monday in February at 9:00 a.m. Al concluded a successful beginning guitar class in November and hopes that individuals who received guitars for Christmas are eager to learn, and those who know how to play want additional music skills, and will join him next year.
Then in March, you will want to join our afternoon belly dancing class. Lyn Dinehart, who recently moved from Arizona, will be the instructor. This is a great opportunity to develop those abdomenial muscles and trim the waist line.
Music Demonstrates Enhanced Health Benefits Art participation is good for your health. Clinical studies and surveys bear out the idea that music and other art forms can help people deal with disease, aging, and, in general, keep people healthier and happier.
The connection between health and choral singing in particular seems stronger than ever. In a study conducted at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., the intervention group reported an average of 30 fewer visits to the doctor as well as fewer eyesight problems, less incidence of depression, less need for medication and fewer falls and other injuries.
Given their advanced ages, it was expected that the intervention and control groups would show some overall decline in general health measures. What was not expected was the degree to which arts involvement would improve their health.
The Sandy Glee Club invites seniors to join them for better health. They meet at 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. every Wednesday. Director Kaye Van Stone provides individuals with music that demands and displays energy. No experience necessary, no requirement other than being 60 or older, only a desire to want to sing and improve your health.
Shirley Robinson, a member of the group, indicates that she feels better in her daily life because of her involvement in the Glee Club. Participating seniors find that their everyday voice quality is better, that the tone of their speaking voice does not seem to age as much and theyreport easier breathing and better posture as well.
Participants especially love the challenge of performing. The chorus has appeared at the Sandy Amphitheater in addition to other public performances in the Salt Lake Valley.
Another music-health connection that individual are invited to participate in at the Center is the harmonica band that meets every Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. Marie Brijs, coordinator, says that playing the harmonica is good respiratory therapy. Players increase their lung capacity by their deep breathing.
Clay sculpturing and throwing pottery are other avenues for health improvement. JoAnn Hathaway, who teaches the clay sculpturing class on Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings, says that soft clay is excellent for hand strengthening. Another program that develops upper arm muscles is a Friday afternoon class where patrons build containers on the pottery wheel.
To paint is to enrich a person's life with beauty. It can help add self-confidence when one experiences success. The achievement of fulfilling something that has lasting value is rewarding within itself. Whether an amateur or an accomplished artist, it is exciting to work with people and see so many different talents develop. David Oldham indicates that is why he enjoys teaching the Monday art class. The class begins at 9:30 a.m. and goes until noon.
There is another oil painting class taught by Vern Black on Tuesday morning that provides opportunities for self-expression and creativity. Experiencing the ever changing moods of landscape in nature with diversity of the subjects, the season and the presence of beauty enhances self-awareness, builds the level of self-confidence and improves mental health by learning value, color, perspective and form.
Sandy Journal editor, Linda Petersen, has this to say about the activities the Center offers. "Boy, I wish I were a Sandy senior! I have a long way to go, but I sure hope the senior center where I live has as many exciting programs when I retire," she said.
St. Nicolaas Day introduces the Christmas season at the Center. Marie Brijs, the Center’s entertainment coordinator, will tell about St. Nicolaas Day in Europe on Mon., Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. In the Netherlands for centuries, the evening of December 5th has been a day on which the entire population is at home celebrating.
It is tradition, on this day, for children to put a shoe or wooden shoe close to the chimney before they go to bed, listing the gifts they would like. On the eve of Dec. 5th St. Nicolaas, also known as Sinterklass, rides his horse through the streets at night with Black Peter, his helper, collecting the notes. Perhaps, he even leaves a gift.
Marie has scheduled some great entertainment for December.
On Fri., Dec. 02 the musical group, Higher Grounds, will be entertaining at 11a.m.
On Tues., Dec. 6, the Larkin Social Club will meet at 3 p.m. for a musical program.
On Thurs., Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. you’ll want to attend Meet the World in Room 101. The presenters are from Holland and Belgium and will tell about their culture and customs.
On Fri., Dec. 9, the Heralders of Utah will be performing in the Centre Café at 11 a.m.
On Mon., Dec. 12, the Center will be entertained by the Harmonica Band at 11 a.m.
On Thurs., Dec. 15, Singers Unlimited will be here at 11 a.m.
The entertainment for the Christmas Dinner, scheduled for Fri., Dec. 16, will be the Harmony High Jinks Quartet. They will be performing at 11 a.m. You will want to make arrangements to purchase your dinner ticket before Fri., Dec. 9. Steve Bown must turn in the dinner count by 12 noon on that day.
Arts and Crafts Faire Thank You Social. All volunteers who were involved in the Arts and Crafts Faire in November are invited to attend the ice cream social on Wed., Dec. 7, at 2:00 p.m. in the Centre Café.
Terri Kolkebeck, the volunteer coordinator for “Oh, What a Team” Luncheons has scheduled the following volunteer recognitions for 2006. The Center will continue the same format that we used earlier this year.
On Wed., Jan. 11 the Center will be honoring all class and computer instructors.
On Wed., Feb. 8 we will recognize those volunteers who are involved in the kitchen, dining room, pantry, Meals on Wheels, food bank, and the lunch bunch coordinator.
Fund raising volunteers and those who coordinate games, health, excursions, Hispania, activities, reception desk, manicures, and staff assistances will be honored on Wed., Mar 8.
The Center’s entertainers, dance committee, and dance instructors and will be honored on Wed., Apr. 19.
The Center will conclude the luncheons on Wed., May 10 with the advisory council members. All these luncheons will be held at 2:30 p.m.
Because of the large numbers of individuals who volunteer at the Center, we may have overlooked you. If this happens, please let Diana Butcher know, so that we can include you in our recognition program. You are valuable and we appreciate the time that you give the Center; therefore, we want to give you the proper recognition that you deserve.
Computer Registration. Registration for computer class will be held on Tues., Jan. 3 at 9 a.m. Check the bulletin board by the sign-up table for exact classes and dates offered. See Kay Adair if you have questions.
Recreation Opportunities. Billiards is played five days a week at the Center. On Mondays and Fridays at 11:00 a.m. it’s open play Pinochle, 12:30 p.m. is the Pinochle tournament. On Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. play Bridge for the sheer pleasure of the game.
Other Activities. Activities scheduled for December include the Nature Walkers who will be walking on a paved trail along the Jordan River on Tuesday morning Dec. 6. The Sandy Book Club which will be reviewing "The Kite Runner" and "In the Land of Second Chances" by George Schaffner with Helen Rollins at 2 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 5 and Mon., Dec. 19. Meeting with Rickey Kolbay on Mon., Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. is the creative writing class. Bruce Young will be doing a long term care insurance seminar on Wed., Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
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