Fit & Fun for FREE?
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People Plus Non-Profit Organization P. O. Box 766 U. S. Postage PAID Brunswick, ME Portland, ME 04101 04011-0766 Permit No. 454 35 Union St. / PO Box 766, Brunswick, ME 04011 729-0757 www.peopleplusmaine.org January 2019 Volume 19, No. 1 People Plus supports an engaged, healthy, and independent life for older adults, while joining others to build community for all ages Grants, fund advances open new year The People Plus Center greets the new year with news of two grants, and with both its annual campaigns making, “good strides!” The Alfred M. Senter Fund has awarded $4,000, The Maine Community Foundation granted $5,000, and both annual funds have exceeded at least 50% of their target amounts. The Senter Fund money will be used to purchase audio-visual equipment – a new pull-down screen for the main hall and Senator Angus King visited People Plus Dec. 17, and drew a near capacity crowd in spite projection gear – that will benefit proj- of the weather. He chatted with the group, offered comments on his new book “A Senator’s ects for both the People Plus Center and Eye,” and finally, (inset) shared a light moment with Center Director Stacy Frizzle. the Brunswick Area Teen Center, and the Frank’s Field Trips balance of the grant will purchase food at the Teen Center. “This will make lots of things work better, more efficiently,” Fit & Fun ICE is nice! Executive Director Stacy Frizzle predicted. Step back in time for an “up close and per- The $5,000 award from The Maine sonal” look at Maine’s days as a center for Community Foundation will benefit for FREE? harvesting river ice. Our van leaves the Coastal expansion of the Center’s Volunteer If you made a New Year's resolution to “pick Landing lot at 10 am on Monday, Jan. 14, for a Transportation Network (VTN). Since up the pace” of your personal fitness, why run up the Kennebec River to Dresden, where coordinator Lynne Smith took over the not come to People Plus and start something we meet Eleanor Everson, who “almost remem- program a year ago, it has expanded bers” those glorious days, THEN we drive to new at no cost? Try any one (or more) of our to include more than 480 riders and 75 Craig Collins’ pond for a sample ice cutting, offerings during January for Free!” Executive volunteer drivers. VTN provides free with a late lunch on your own at Sarah’s Cafe transportation for homebound elders, con- Transportation Director Stacy Frizzle explains, “this is more in Wiscasset. The first dozen folks who reg- about getting new folks into new experiences,” necting them with vital services, medical ister AFTER January 1 get to go. Cost is $15. appointments and more. Network Needs she said, “we're confident if they try it, they'll This trip is a little more weather-dependent, On December 18, office manager Betsy like it!” The Center routinely offers more than so be sure to list your contact info when you Drivers! a dozen fitness classes each week, varying register. This trip is made possible through White reported that the People Plus annual from Table Tennis (free all the time!) to Tai the generous sponsorship of Scott Lemieux at campaign had collected $25,647, including In the last year, People Plus has coordi- Chi. All of our instructor led courses are avail- Brunswick’s Ameriprise Financial Services, $957 donated by members as they renewed nated over 25,000 miles of FREE rides able to members for a cost of only $5 a session. and by our wonderful friends at the Coastal their dues. The Teen Center total stands at for home-bound residents of Brunswick, “The goal is to get folks engaged,” Frizzle Landing Retirement Community. $10,275 on the same date. Topsham and Harpswell. But we can’t explained, “This offer is for new attendees to do it alone - we need your help with the try classes/clubs and see if they like it. We're driving! We ask that you become a driver confident they will. There is no better invest- Lunch & Learn: “Where to Turn?” today! It is a rewarding and selfless gift ment than the one we all make in our own Mon, Jan 28, 12 pm. Join Nancy Herk, Executive Director of Brunswick Area Respite Care, to help your neighbors in need. Thank personal health. What a way to start the new to learn about the supportive services provided to our local community, including caring for you!! And thanks go to our generous year!” loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. For 30 years, Brunswick Area Respite sponsors, Rusty Lantern Market, Suzan This offer is free and open to the public. Call Care has been helping to care for your loved one while you Wilson & Daniel McLaughlin Family, the Center at 729-0757 if you have questions relax and get a break from the daily demands of caregiving. United Way of Mid Coast Maine and or want to sign up. See page 9 for a full list of Free, open to the public. Bring lunch! Spectrum Generations, who help keep classes, clubs and activities, and page 5 for our the program growing! January schedule. Musical Gala planning starts The 17th edition of the Center’s annual new and different,” suggested Center Director Spectrum Generations team Music in April Gala opens at the Brunswick Stacy Frizzle, “Expect it always to get better!” Recreation Center, Last season’s event raised adds new staff at the Center Brunswick Landing, more that $50,000 for the on April 4, 2019. Over People Plus Center and the The Spectrum Generations team at People Handel has lived the years, this event Save the Date! Brunswick Area Teen Center. Plus is back at full strength with the addition and worked most of has evolved into one of If you want to register as an of two new staff members. Stephanie Petkers her life in Lincoln the Brunswick area’s event sponsor, or purchase started as the Spectrum Generations Nutrition County. A graduate premier social events, tickets for what is certain to Coordinator, and Andrea Handel was named of Colby College, complete with live music, April 4, 2019 be sold out soon, please call the new Aging & Disability Resource she received her an exceptional buffet, and 5:00-9:00 pm the Center at 729-0757, and Specialist. LSW license in 1986. huge live and silent auc- Brunswick Recreation Center ask for Jill Ellis. A resident of She is a founding tions. “Expect something Harpswell, Petkers member of the River is already overseeing Company, a non- the local Meals on profit theater group Where Should I Live? Wheels, Animeals, in Damariscotta Your Aging Parent/Aging Self Series! and USDA bulk food that just celebrated it's 20th anniversary. programs based at More recently, she worked as the Executive Thu, Jan 10, 12 noon. People Plus & Mid Coast-Parkview Health Health continue the Center. This past Director of the ElderCare Network of Lincoln their series focusing on resources to help with aging. Hear all about local housing summer, Stephanie County, and developed seven small residen- options with Carrie Pelletier, R.N., Program Manager of Marketing & Admissions, had her first experi- tial care homes for older adults in the area. Mid Coast Senior Health Center. Free, open to the public. Bring your lunch, we’ll ence in food service, Beginning in mid-December as our Aging provide dessert. Call to register. working as a chef in a local restaurant. She and Disability Resource counselor, she has Dealing with the challenges presented as we age can be both tricky and frustrating. If is a former Executive Director of the Greater an office at People Plus on most Tuesdays and we are lucky enough to still have parents by the time we hit our 50s, then helping them Freeport Chamber of Commerce, and brings Thursdays between 8 am and 4:30 pm. She navigate the journey of aging can be an additional challenge. Where will they live? How extensive experience in community outreach, can be reached by phone each workday by do you have the talk about giving up the car keys? What are the and volunteer and program coordination to the calling direct: 207-607-4405, or by e-mail at: legal issues that arise? We find these questions are just the tip Spectrum team. [email protected]. of the iceberg when it comes to dealing with aging parents. Page 2 People Plus News January 2019 January 2019 People Plus News Page 3 The Resolution Candlemas by Rose Marie Mayer People Plus News by P.K. Allen “One bite of the Apple” To be in the exact middle of the seasons on The monthly newspaper of People Plus, I should make a resolution So it’s a new year! Where did 2018 go? There are many, many ways to do that this amazing day, is to be in the middle of a serving residents of the Brunswick- To start this brand new year. It flew by and I suppose the older we get, here at the Center. For the whole month From the quiet stillness filled with the lush and ever Topsham-Harpswell area. Editorial Should I promise to eat less food, that’ll just keep on happening... of January you can try out all of the exer- intensifying power of the winter sun. submissions and advertising queries Or perhaps to drink less beer? should be e-mailed to: There are moments of the last year that cise classes as many times as you’d like Executive I was held by the miraculous beauty of the [email protected] I’m glad to see behind me, including the for FREE.