Helderberg Senior Services offers a lunch program for seniors. Everyone aged 60 and older is welcome. A choice of meals is offered three days each week — Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays — at the Town of Berne Community & Senior Services Center at 1360 Helderberg Trail in Berne.
You can choose from two or three lunch options. Simply call Karen Stark 24 hours in advance at 518-937-5963 to reserve your lunch choice. Upcoming menus:
— Friday, July 26 – Choice A: Roast pork loin with gravy, seasoned oven-roasted sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, rye bread, and cinnamon applesauce. Choice B: Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich; chickpea salad; and cheese stick. Choice C: Baked fish, seasoned oven-roasted sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, rye bread, and cinnamon applesauce;
— Monday, July 29 – Choice A: Chicken divan with broccoli, carrots, and penne pasta; whole-wheat bread; and tropical fruit salad. Choice B: Baked fish with broccoli, carrots, and penne pasta; whole-wheat bread; and tropical fruit salad;
— Tuesday, July 30 – Choice A: Lasagna roll-ups with sauce, dinner salad, whole-wheat dinner roll, and peaches and cream. Choice B: Seafood salad on a whole-wheat hot-dog bun with lettuce and tomato, and broccoli salad. Choice C: Baked fish, dinner salad, whole-wheat dinner roll, and peaches and cream; and
— Friday, Aug. 2 – Choice A: Beef stroganoff, braised red cabbage, egg noodles, whole-wheat bread, applesauce, and a brownie. Choice B: BLT bow-tie pasta salad with chicken. Choice C: Baked fish, sweet potatoes, whole-wheat bread, applesauce, and a brownie.
Meals are served at noon and doors open at 11 a.m. A $3 donation is suggested, but it is not mandatory. No one is ever refused a meal for lack of a donation.
So come on over and join us for a tasty, nutritious lunch and stay for crafts and activities if you wish to participate. It’s healthy and fun to socialize with your peers!
Some of the activities you can partake in include painting classes, Mexican Train, card games, and puzzles. Bingo is played every third Friday of the month and prizes are given to the winners.
Recently, some participants were taught how to make hats from a loom, and many hats were donated to Kenneth’s Army, whose mission is to help children in need. Hat-making is ongoing, so come and learn how easy and fun it is to make these beautiful, useful creations.
County services
Individuals of any age can receive assistance each Tuesday at the center from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Eileen Bosworth from Albany County can assist with programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) and other county programs.
Mike Green from the Albany County Veterans is available to assist veterans with obtaining hearing aids or eyeglasses and with general veteran services.
Celebrate ACCESS
Plan on coming to the Berne Senior & Community Center on Monday, July 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. as we celebrate the second anniversary of the ACCESS Hilltowns. ACCESS stands for Albany County Center for Essential Supportive Services in the Hilltowns. Eileen Bosworth will be hosting a community resource fair, featuring speakers, food, and cake.
Information on many useful programs will be available. You can receive information about HEAP, SNAP, transportation, health-insurance counseling, Medicare/Medicaid, legal services, home repairs and modifications, mental-health services, Alzheimer’s disease, long-term services and support, and veterans’ services.
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On a beautiful Saturday morning, over 70 members met for the Hilltown Seniors’ monthly meeting at the Hilltown Community Senior Access Center.
We opened our meeting where we read our reports from last month, talked about our upcoming barbecue, and heard our travel report update on trips. We’re going to the Mac-Haydn Theatre on Thursday, July 25, departing from the Senior Center in Berne at 10 a.m. and from Westerlo at 10:15 a.m. to see a “Ragtime” production with lunch to follow. Then we have our five-day trip to Cape Cod in August. It’s always good to travel and enjoy the many wonders around us.
Charlotte Fuss and Karen Stark updated us on a new Albany County program that lets seniors dine for free at 10 restaurants. Check this out on the website for the Albany County Department of Aging, under Dine & Go.
Also, we’re celebrating the second anniversary of our ACCESS (Albany County Center for Essential Supportive Services) Hilltowns office on July 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. when a Resource Fair will be held with information on many different topics available.
Altamont Fair forms are available to submit your entries.
Our book club is meeting to discuss our books and always welcome new members.
We celebrated many birthdays and one anniversary with song and then I noted these July events: National French Fry Day, Dog Days of Summer, and Barbershop Music Appreciation where our own barbershop quartet was chosen at random and given lyrics to sing and wow is all I can say — they stepped up to the plate and pleasantly surprised us all with great-sounding voices.
We’re looking forward to next month’s meeting and remember: Some of the best memories are made in flip-flops.
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On Saturday, the Hilltown Seniors met at the senior center for their monthly meeting. We welcomed three new members and hope their journey with us is enjoyable. We were each given a small flag decoration in honor of Flag Day donated by our own Berne Agway, what a pleasant surprise! So some waved their flags as we sang..
You’re a grand ol’ flag! Then this month, we celebrate Father’s Day...remember to spend time with all the dads out there!
We met the first Sunday of June at Western Turnpike Country Club to celebrate our annual Hilltown anniversary dinner. Great turnout and fun time with all the door prizes.
We talked about our upcoming trip to Boston and the places we will visit while there. Other trips are set for July, August, and September. Those that participated in the Memorial Day Parade, thanks so much to the veterans that rode and then our special king and queen in their fancy car...great time! Our book club is in full swing with about 10 members meeting this month for discussion on our favorite books and enjoying the fare set before us. Yes, you can still join our club. Fun times! Lots of good things on our agenda for the upcoming months ahead, so stay tuned!
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Well, it’s that time again — for our monthly meeting and lunch gathering! We began our meeting with approximately 70 in attendance and the reports were read and accepted.
We thanked Helderberg Ambulance for again sending three of its finest to take our blood-pressure readings. We are blessed to have them with us each month!
We were honored to have, from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy who gave us information on the use of Narcan. He explained how to use the nasal spray and where to obtain it and answered all our questions, which were plentiful. We give thanks for the department for allowing us his time.
Then our own Jon Wood spoke on scams, which are plentiful and those annoying phone calls. Thanks, Jon, very informative!
We wished all our moms a Happy Mother’s Day and I gave a reading — “The Mom Test.” Next month, we will celebrate Father’s Day — can’t wait!!
We will be participating in the Berne Memorial Parade with veterans riding and then a King and Queen in their snazzy car!
Our travel gal updated us on all that is lined up through September — we are so excited! We have two seats left for Mac-Haydn Theatre and still have room on our Boston trip.
Last but not least, we are going to be celebrating another anniversary by going out to dinner and it sounds like a wonderful meal and wonderful time! Be sure to call Connie Skinner if you haven’t signed up to go. We are so thankful to spend another year together.
Till next time — At what point does it stop being “good for the garden?”
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Our Hilltown Seniors met for our monthly meeting at the Berne Senior Community Access Center and the meeting was well attended.
Once again, I was unable to attend but my friend Madeline Bradt ran the meeting and by all accounts did a fabulous job! The secretary’s minutes were approved as read as were the treasurer’s minutes.
Our travel gal gave us a summary of all the trips lined up for 2019 — looks like we will be on the road and I personally can’t wait!
We leave this Thursday for Vermont where we will be visiting the Country Store and stopping for some views of Norman Rockwell’s famous magazine covers on display — then ,of course, lunch. The bus leaves Berne at 8:45 a.m.
We had Frank Fuss tell us how to exit the building in case of emergency — make sure you have an escape route in your home and have it well planned.
Our guest speaker was from Catholic Charities, based in Schenectady, and she talked about offering support to caregivers, and how caregivers can take care of themselves by asking for help, relaxing by reading a book, listening to music, and just to take a break when needed.
Berne Councilwoman Karen Schimmer spoke on how the town board is working on obtaining a new 10-passenger bus for those of us who have no transportation and have shopping needs.
And then we had a humorous Easter story read.
A reminder that the book club is always looking for new members and we do go out to lunch to discuss the book. I think we mostly eat! See you all next month! Happy Easter!
Easter is the only time of the year when it’s perfectly safe to put all your eggs in one basket!
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Helderberg
Spring is in the air! The Helderberg meal site is beginning spring and summer activities.
Starting on Monday, April 8, we will learn how to weave hats. Most materials will be furnished.
Classes will be every Monday, starting April 8, after lunch, starting at approximately 12:45 p.m. The classes will continue for four weeks.
On April 16, we will begin having classes for Tai Chi. Our instructor is Eric. Tai Chi begins at 10:15 a.m., so please be here earlier in order to complete the paperwork.
Classes are free for persons age 60 or over.
If you wish to remain for lunch after Tai Chi or before the hat lessons, please call 518-937-5963 24 hours in advance as meals are prepared elsewhere before being delivered to us. Lunch is served at noon.
Get-well wishes were sent to Dottie Dibble who had the misfortune to fall at home. We miss her and are patiently waiting for her to return home!
We still play bingo once a month and have daily domino games.
Menu
The menu is as follows:
— April 8: American goulash or baked fish;
— April 15: Chicken fricassee or baked fish; and
— April 16: Macaroni and cheese, tuna sandwich, or baked fish.
The building opens approximately 10 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m.
The suggested donation for lunch is $3 and 1-percent milk, vegetable, dessert, and tea or coffee comes with it.
Remember to call 518-937-5963 a day in advance for a meal, information, and to register for a program.
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The Hilltown Seniors all gathered for our monthly meeting and luncheon at the Shell Inn, which hosted our Irish lunch of corned beef, cabbage, and carrots with dinner rolls and dessert. It was delicious; a special shout-out to the staff!
I held a short meeting where we elected officers. Congratulations to those who took office!
Next month, we will again be gathering at the Hilltown Access-Senior Center with Lauren Benoit from Catholic Charities as a guest speaker. She will talk about caregiver support services. We’ll also have lunch and a fun activity will follow!
Make sure to sign up for upcoming trips as they become available.
Till next time: Kindness is like snow; it beautifies everything it covers.
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The Hilltown Seniors met for their monthly meeting on Feb. 3 at the Community/Senior Center. I was on my way back from sunny Florida and was unable to join them but wanted to give a special shout out to Jon Wood for running the meeting. Thanks so much!
They had a guest speaker, Michelle Kavanaugh, who spoke on the transition from a private residence to perhaps an assisted-living facility or a senior-housing complex. All the information was so helpful.
A few trips are on our agenda. We will be going to Chatham’s Mac-Haydn Theater in July and then we will be going to Cape Cod from Aug. 26 to 30. Yes, there are a few seats available if you would like to join us, so contact Shirley Slingerland at 518-797-3467.
Next month we will be dining on corned beef and cabbage at the Shell Inn and I will hold a short meeting. Reservations are now closed.
Life is like a cup of tea; it’s all in how you make it!
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The Hilltown Seniors met on Saturday, Jan. 12, for their monthly meeting. What a joy it was to have 65 members venture out in the cold weather to enjoy each other’s company.
We are so grateful to have Helderberg Ambulance volunteers stop by to take our blood-pressure readings.
We gave our monthly reports and our travel gal gave us a couple of trips that she has line up. We are anxious to get on the road when the weather gets a bit warmer!
Mike Vincent gave us an update on whether we will participate in a recycling project at the Senior Center and also talked about re-addressing a senior-living housing project that we had once shown interest in.
The senior meal site continues under the direction of Karen Stark and many volunteers. What a joy to have this program available to those who come to eat and enjoy the company.
At next month’s senior meeting, we will have Michelle Kavanaugh as our speaker on how to organize senior moves.
I selected a nominating committee to present a slate of officers at our next meeting. If you are a member and are up for the challenge, say ‘yes’ to an officer’s position; you actually would enjoy it as I have!
We all received New Year’s fortune cookies that I had made out of paper. We read a few and had some laughs — which is always good for the soul. A delicious lunch headed up by the kitchen committee was enjoyed by all.
Happy New Year! I don’t call them New Year’s resolutions. I prefer the term “casual promises to myself that I’m under no legal obligation to fulfill.”
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The Hilltown Seniors met on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Senior Hilltown Community Access Center for the annual Christmas meeting and luncheon. Everyone arrived with something for the gift exchange with much anticipation. The gifts were placed under our Hat and Mitten Tree
Every year we donate hats and mittens to those in need and this year we chose Rock Road Chapel. What a great Senior Ministry!
We started off with a short meeting and then had two very good guitarists play Christmas music as we sang along. Then came the gift exchange. We were given a card last month where you wrote your name and what you wanted for Christmas (using only the initials of item). We drew names and had to try to figure out what that person wanted.
It was hilarious when the time came to reveal what you had really asked for. Can’t wait to try this again next year!
Then came the delicious food prepared by our own chef Michelle — thanks so much! Then came the door prizes — well, there was a little of this and a little of that for give-a-ways!
I personally want to thank all the members for attending and look forward to the New Year!