Trends & Traditions January 2015 Madison Senior Center Revocable Living Trust - The A7O9nLNrEu PROBATE AVOIDANCE Culinary Club Have you heard that you should avoid probate? Do Come on a culinary adventure to you want to learn how? Come hear Attorney Joan explore cuisines from around the world Reed Wilson speak about probate avoidance, rea- and make new friends! Go somewhere new every month, on sons to avoid probate and reasons you may not your own . Prices vary, stop in for a copy of the menu. This want to avoid it, living trusts, and other important month enjoy the taste of authentic dishes of New Orleans at estate planning matters. Creative Cooking in Westbrook. rd Monday, Jan. 12 th at 12:45 please call to register Friday, Jan. 23 Depart MSC at 11:45 Bus fee $2 Easy Group Meditation Cultivate greater self-awareness, acceptance and a quiet, sta- AARP INCOME TAXE$ ble mind. Learn to be comfortable with silence, our meander- Get Free Help with Your Tax Return ing minds and physical states. With practice, deeper levels of awareness reveal themselves, time slows and we are more AARP Certified Tax-Aide counselors provide free income able to manage life from a stable “middle point” rather than tax preparation assistance for low-and-middle-income tax- react to experiences and thoughts encountered each day. Op- payers of all ages, with special attention to those 60 & older. portunities to re-connect with our basic natures, to be re- Taxpayers MUST bring copies of their 2013 tax return. minded we are safe and perfect as we are. Develop tools to Taxes will be prepared by appointment only. create a more mindful state. Sessions begin with a reading Please call (203)245-5627 for an appointment. from literature, poetry, current event to create separation from the day and set the intentions for the practice. Medita- tions run from 5 to 40 minutes. Instructor: Bob McCandlish Meditational Themes : Week 1 : Resistance Week 2 : Out- Baking with Rosemarie side Expectations Week 3: Patience is a Virtue Week 4 : Calling all bakers, no matter your skill Silence & Stillness Week 5: The Power of Allowing level or baking interest. This month Week 6: Self Acceptance and Love Week 7 : Following learn how to bake apple strudel, a thing Your Bliss Week 8: The Shift from ‘I think” to “I know” of beauty. Sweet apples encased in flakey dough. Week 9: Openness & New Journeys (9 classes) DELICOUS! Pre-registration is required. Jan. 15 th - Mar. 12 th 9 -10am $42R|$52 NR Monday, Jan. 26 th at 12:45 Fee: $2 Sculpture – - Blueberry Pancake Day & Game Day Ex:lore the CreativitJ With in Celebrate National Blueberry Pancake Day Learn sculpture techniques and have fun creating your own at the Madison Senior Center with Kristen pieces. Learn carving, modeling, how forms develop in 3-D, how to produce light and shade and how to make reliefs. In- & Pat as your chef’s for the day! Enjoy, of structor Robert Trupin has been sculpting for over 20 years and course, Blueberry Pancakes as well as plain pancakes, studied under world famous sculptor Stanley Bleifeld and mas- bacon, hash browns, muffins, orange juice and coffee or ter teacher Peter Rubino. All student levels are welcomed, indi- tea. Join us for breakfast for lunch then fun games! vidual instruction provided. All supplies are included in fee. th Wednesday, January 28 at 11:30 Fee: $5 Thurs. Jan. 8 th -Feb. 5 th (5 Classes) 1:30-3:30pm Fee: R$90 NR$100 Learn Italian and Travel to Italy Monica Georgeo, a 15-year -Yale, Italian language instructor will present her 5-month class to learn Italian and then guide you on a tour of Italy. The dates of the class are January 14 th through May 20 th 10:30 to 11:45. FEE: $520 2 General Information/A Note from the Director Happy New Year! In 2015, the Madison Senior Services Department along with the seniors of Madison will pay it forward by performing monthly acts of kindness. To kick off our year, we will co-sponsor a coat drive with the Excel Club from Polson Middle School to benefit local families. If you have a new or slightly used coat, other warm clothing and toiletries, you would like to donate, please drop them off at the Senior Center during the months of January and February. Keep checking the MADISON SENIOR CENTER newsletters for additional monthly acts of kindness. 29 Bradley Road, Madison, CT 06443 PHONE: (203)245-5627 With the New Year upon us, I hope you make it a point to stop by the Senior Center and participate in one of our many offerings. If you don’t FAX: (203) 318-0670 see something you are interested in, let us know what we can add to en- WEBSITE: www.madisonct.org/seniors tice you to participate. We are up for anything and will attempt to run just HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:30-4:00pm about any program, so don’t be shy. Stop by and talk with Kristen, our SR. COMMUNITY CAFÉ Program Coordinator. (203) 245-5686 We will have a new exhibit in our art gallery beginning on January 14 th . For lunch reservations call before noon Madison artist, Linda Beagle, will be showcasing her art work from Janu- the day before and leave a message. ary 14 th through February 27 th . Please stop by and enjoy Linda’s work. DIAL-A-RIDE (203)245-5627 Operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Austin Hall Fridays only. 48 hour notice required. MUNICIPAL AGENT FOR THE with Ellen ELDERLY (203)245-5687 ITALIAN FOR FUN Olson If you are someone who can sew, Enjoy the journey learning Italian cut or iron or wants to learn how to phrases and expressions, including the quilt and contribute your time, join SENIOR COMMISSION weather , travel, shopping and food! us for “Quilts of Joy.” Volunteer Chair: ............................... Maureen Lopes This four week-course is interactive your time to help create beautiful Vice-Chair .................. Dr. Gerard Kerins with hand-outs of the quilts. The Quilts are being donated Members .......................... Mitchell Cohan program. Instructor: to New Horizons Women’s Shelter .......................................... Patricia Melady Elaine Jackson in Middletown. Please bring scissors, pin cushions (rotary cutter and board if ............................................. Sheri Puricelli th Monday’s Feb. 9 - you have one) and an excitement for ............................................ Wendy Oberg March 16 th ............................................ Marcy Sanders quilting! Please call to register. In- 10:30-11:30 ............................................. Craig Bernard structor: Ellen Olson FREE R$29|NR$39 Meets Tuesdays from 1:15-3:30 ............................................ Susan Woodall The Senior Commission meets on the second Thursday of the month at the Senior Center. “SAFETY CHECK LIST” The next meeting will be Are you concerned for your safety in the event of a Hurricane or other January 15 th , 2014 at 5:30pm weather event, or do you have someone you would worry about in the after- math of an emergency weather event? The “safety check list” will be utilized LIAISON TO BOARD OF in the case of an emergency. In the days following an emergency weather SELECTMEN ....... Diane Stadterman event, a representative from Madison Senior Services will contact those on the list. To add your name to the list, call (203) 245-5627. SENIOR CENTER STAFF Sr. Services Manager ............ Austin Hall Always plan and be prepared for at least 3 days Municipal Agent .......... Heather Castrilli following a weather emergency. Program Coord ..... Kristen Caramanica Secretary: ........................... Ellie Gillespie BILLIARDS Bus Driver: ........................ Michael Rand Next tournament will start Bus Driver: ....................... Helen Sneider In February! Bus Driver: .......................... Tina Macero Please give us a call if you are interested ! Café Manager ...................... Jodie Shevlin 3 Messages from the Municipal Agent Keep your peepers open for paperwork in the mail. In December and January, Social Security and Medicare will mail you important papers. One of these papers, is your social security benefit letter, notifying you of your new monthly benefit amount. Another is your social security 1099 which you need to file income taxes. This statement notifies you of the total amount of social security received in the previous year. Please be sure to hold on to theses documents, you will need them during the up coming year. CONNECTICUT ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Early Application Intake!!! Begins Monday, September 1 st , 2014. Energy Assistance helps to offset heating expenses during the winter. All fuel sources welcome to apply. An applicant must meet income & asset guide- lines. Income and assets are counted for all members living in the household who are benefitting from the heat. Asset limit for homeowners is $10,000 & for renters is $7,000. Proof of all income, rent, & utility expenses, & bank statements for the month prior to the application date are required. Monthly Income Guidelines: Single: $2709 Couple: $3543 REMINDER: SENIOR & DISABLED TAX RELIEF PROGRAM Monday, February 2 nd through Friday, May 15 th , 2015. The Town of Madison and State of CT offer tax relief for elderly and/or totally disabled residents that own and occupy their property as a primary residence. There are income, age, and residency requirements in order to be eligible and qualify for the program. Please stop into the Senior Center for a complete list of guidelines. 2014 income taxes must be filed prior to appointment. *Specific income guidelines not available at time of printing TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM Monday, February 2 nd through Friday, May 15 th , 2014 Eligible participants can defer payment of the real estate taxes for as long as they meet the qualifications of the program. Deferral of taxes cannot exceed $6,000 in any one tax year.