The Hilltown Senior Citizens met for our Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Berne Reformed Church, which kindly hosted the most delicious dinner. We have much to be grateful for. Thank you!
We also were delighted to have our tables decorated by the 4-H members and enjoyed their performance of singing and those who displayed their talents on the trombone and flutes! We were blessed!
Then we began our short meeting, which was followed by door-prize giveaways. Then we passed out cards and had members write their names on the card along with what they want for Christmas (only using the initials of item). Then we placed the cards in a bag and we all drew a name.
It will be so much fun to see what items appear under the Christmas tree next month at the Christmas Party. Let’s not forget to give thanks for all we have and remember it is more blessed to give than to receive!
Location:
Eric McCandless will be instructing the second portion of Tai Chi beginning Tuesday Nov. 6 at 10:30 a.m. at the meal site. It is open to people sixty years of age and older. Classes will begin promptly so please be on time to register and sign in.
We are currently participating in a wellness program every Monday following lunch.
The Wednesday shopping bus is scheduled for Nov. 7. Please call 518-437-5161 two business days in advance to request a ride. The bus stops at WalMart and Colonie Center.
No bingo is scheduled for November.
We received new tables and chairs from the town of Berne. The tables are round and can seat ten people. New dishes, refrigerator, and stove go along with the tables and chairs, the interior look different. Thanks to of Berne, we like it!
Menu
— Monday, Nov. 5: mac & cheese, BLT chicken bow tie salad, baked fish;
— Tuesday, Nov. 6: roast pork, chicken curry salad, baked fish; and
— Friday, Nov. 9: lasagna roll up, baked fish.
Please call 518-937-5963 twenty-four hours in advance to order a meal. All meals are served with milk, a vegetable, and dessert.
The suggested donation is $3. There are no take outs as all meals must be eaten at the meal site.
Also, if Berne-Knox-Westerlo school is closed due to weather, we are also closed.
Location:
The Hilltown Senior Citizens met at the Senior Center on Oct. 13 and what a joy it was to walk in and see all new round tables and chairs. We each found our new spot to sit and found it quite enjoyable.
We all missed our girl Sharon Humes from Helderberg Ambulance who takes our blood pressure readings but she was out in Syracuse with others paying tribute to our own Gerry Cross who was honored with the New York State EMT of the Year Award.
We were read our reports from the last meeting. It was reported that the Canada-Niagara Trip was enjoyed by all.
October events were announced along with birthday and anniversary greetings sung by all. We sound pretty good too!
I gave a Halloween Quiz and was surprised on how well we seniors did — yes, we are smart!
Book Club is still going strong with gatherings at different restaurants to discuss what we have read.
Our November meeting and Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the Berne Reformed Church on Nov. 10 with a short meeting to start at 11 a.m. Ihope you all made your reservations!
I just found out we are starting a list of those who wish to go to MGM Casino in Massachusetts on Nov. 14. Call Shirley or myself to be put on the list.
When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.
On Saturday, Sept. 8, the Hilltown Seniors gathered for another meeting where we all enjoyed the fall decorations the kitchen committee had displayed on the tables. The weather indeed felt like fall!
We read our reports, talked about our upcoming trip to Canada and Niagara Falls and talked about the day trip in October where we will be leaf-peeping and stopping for lunch and visiting the world’s largest kaleidoscope, in the Catskills. It sounds like a great day trip.
Jon Wood gave us an update on his Mom, Lois, who had tripped and fallen into a trash bin (the story was just too funny) and who is now in a neck brace and recovering. We “miss you. Lois! Healing will take some time but, God willing, that will go by quickly.
Let us not forget the Senior Meal Site is up and running on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Call Karen Stark for your reservation and some of us will gladly serve you with a happy smile. Watch for the days when we have a friendly game of bingo after lunch.
Closing thought: You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. Be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way.
Location:
The Hilltown Seniors met at the Community Senior Center and were pleased to have a guest speaker from Clear Captions who spoke about free phones for seniors with hearing problems. We all had lots of questions for Debbie Grant and she was very informative and several people signed up.
Also, you all know about seniors doing their favorite thing — eating — as she graced our counter with cookies — yum!
We were asked to say a prayer for Donnie and Linda McDermott who recently lost their son in a tragic motorcycle accident — so sad!
Madeline Bradt gave us an update on the meal-site program and the activities that they have planned. Stop and have lunch on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays — and play a game of bingo!
We celebrated birthdays this month and were pleased to have one member named Marie Dibble whose birthday was on the day of our meeting. With joyous voices, we serenaded her! Anniversary greetings were also sung to Charlotte and Frank Fuss, Bob and Rosemary Porter, and Mary and Steve Conklin.
I submitted our crafts we seniors made to The Altamont Fair so make sure you all stop at the Arts and Crafts Building to see what beautiful things we submitted.
Our trip leader updated us on our Canada trip and at our next meeting will hand out luggage tags and itinerary. Wednesday is our day trip to Lake George — see you there!
We once again had suggestions regarding memorial monies. We will have a select committee make a decision and I will relay their choice.
Our meeting was followed by lunch, which was delicious, and we thank the kitchen committee!
A balanced diet means a cupcake in each hand.
Location:
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy is scheduled to be at the Hilltowns Community Center on Saturday, Aug 18, at 10 a.m. The community is invited to participate.
Tai chi is held every Monday at 10:45 a.m. for people aged 60 and over. Remember to sign in for Tai chi; and call your lunch order in the day before.
The fresh veggie truck comes Tuesdays at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Any senior citizen can participate.
Bingo lunch is scheduled for Aug. 24.
We are in need of volunteer drivers for senior center lunches on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday. Call Karen at 518-937-5963 to volunteer.
Menu
— Monday, Aug. 20: Main choices are baked fish, tuna salad sandwich, and chicken;
— Tuesday, Aug. 21: Macaroni and cheese, chicken salad, and fish;
— Friday, Aug. 24: Meatloaf and mushroom gravy, ham and swiss cheese sandwich, baked fish.
Please call your lunch order in the day before. The number is 518-937-5963.
All meals are to be eaten at the meal site. No take-outs are available.
A $3 donation is suggested for each meal.
Location:
Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy and some of his staff will be at our meal site, at 1360 Helderberg Trail in Berne, on Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m.
Come meet and greet Mr. McCoy. It is an excellent opportunity to voice your concerns and needs and to give kudos for what we have.
Tai chi started on Monday, July 23. Instructor Cindi has about 20 students. Anyone 60 years and older can participate.
Call 518-937-5963 the day before if you wish to stay for lunch.
We’re planning bingo for Aug. 10 and the 24 Game after lunch.
Attorney Kim Bode will be here on Aug. 13 to see people by appointment. Call 518-861-8960 to sign up for a time to see her.
Reservations are needed for lunch 24 hours in advance by calling 518-937-5963.
The Hilltown Senior Citizens met on Saturday, July 14, with 67 in attendance — what a great turnout! We started out with our Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and sang one verse of “America the Beautiful.”
So blessed to have Helderberg Ambulance member Sharon Humes take our blood pressure.
Reports were given and membership reported. We had three new members sign up on Saturday!
We had Manager Nola Dalgallo from John Boyd Thacher State Park come and give us information on the park and what is new and I’m thinking we need to go there and have a picnic in the near future.
Member Karen Stark gave us information on having tai chi here and then on the July 20 we will be serving lunch, with bingo to follow. I hope to see you all there — call Karen at 518-937-9563 for a lunch reservation and then bingo!
We now have a veggie truck that will be stopping on Tuesdays around lunch time, so come and eat or just show up for your free veggies!
Some of us seniors are submitting entries to the craft building at the Altamont Fair. These entries are great, so make sure you visit the fair and stop over to the craft building and view these great exhibits!
We discussed how great our trip was to McHayden Theater last Thursday when we saw “Mama Mia.” We had a great buffet lunch that we so enjoyed. What a great day it was!
I reminded everyone of the upcoming Red Cross Blood Drive at the Berne Reformed Church on July 24 from 1 to 6 p.m. The need is critical, so please take time out of your day to donate.
Here’s a closing thought: It doesn't matter what’s been written in your story so far, it’s how you fill up the rest of the pages that counts.
Location:
The Helderberg Seniors are having a TaiChi class starting July 23 at 11 a.m. This class will run for eight consecutive weeks.
It is sponsored by the Department of Aging and is free for persons 60 years of age and older. Please come a few minutes early the first day to register and sign in.
The Access Food Pantry veggie truck came Tuesday and left us some veggies. We each got a bag to take home and enjoy.
Farmers’ Market vouchers may be available by calling 518-861-8960.
Eileen bosworth from the Department of Aging is here every Tuesday along with Mike Greene from county veterans affairs. No appointment is needed and hours are from 12:15 to 2 p.m. no age requirement to see Eileen and Mike.
Attorney Lisa Bode is here the second Monday of each month. To see her, you must be 60 years of age and make an appointment by calling 518-861-8960.
Bingo Friday is scheduled for July 20, immediately following lunch.
Menu
The menu for next week is:
— Monday, July 16: Baked fish or lasagna roll-ups with Italian vegetable, pudding, and bread, or a ham salad sandwich with carrot raisin salad;
— Tuesday, July 17: Baked fish or chicken with garlic potatoes, California veggies, and juice and cake or soft chicken taco with Mexican coleslaw; and
— Friday, July 20: Baked fish or peach-glazed chicken with mashed sweet potato, sauteed squash, and peaches and brownie.
All meals are served with 1- percent milk.
Our building isn’t air-conditioned but we have one good fan; just the kitchen is hotter than usual.
Remember to call 518-937-5963 a day in advance to reserve a meal, or for questions.
Location:
Hot weather is here! Get out of your kitchen and join us for lunch. The meals are served promptly at noon and there is generally a choice of a hot or cold meal with milk and dessert.
We invite you to make lunch reservations for July 10 as we expect the Veggie Mobile Truck with locally grown produce. This truck travels around Albany County, delivering affordable produce. They accept the farmers’ market vouchers, cash, checks, and food stamps.
Farmers’ market vouchers will be available at the Berne Community Center on Monday, July 9 between 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A limited number of Vouchers are received and available on a first-come, first-served basis. No telephone requests will be accepted.
Menu
The menus for July 2, 3, and 6 are as follows:
— Monday, July 2: American goulash or baked fish with chef’s salad, oranges and bread;
— Tuesday, July 3: Hot dog or baked fish with baked beans, coleslaw, watermelon, ice cream cup, and birthday cake; and
— Friday, July 6: BLT pasta salad with chicken, cucumber radish salad, pineapple juice, and a cookie.
Please call 518-937-5963 a day in advance to reserve a meal.