New Scotland Senior News for Thursday, December 5, 2013

On Oct. 2 and Nov. 6,  the business meetings of the New Scotland Senior Citizens were held at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center in New Salem.  Any senior 62 and older in the town of New Scotland is eligible to join us.  Please spread the word, we have a lot of fun.

We are also trying to help those in need over the holiday season. There are several families in town who could use a gift certificate for groceries, if you are willing we would gladly accept any and all donations at town hall and deliver to those in need.  We also have several families both military and not that have small children.  We have lists of items here at town hall that would help Santa make this a nice holiday season for these families. If you are interested in helping please call Donna Vogel at 439-9020 or me at 439-9038 and we will give you a list of needed items.

Drivers needed

I am looking for drivers who might be able and willing to drive one of the vans to events all within an hour drive from town hall. A lot of these events happen on evenings and weekends as well as on weekdays.  I am also looking for volunteers to help drive seniors to medical appointments, groceries and other assorted places of need, these trips are done in one of the two cars.  Come to town hall and park your own vehicle, then use the town’s vehicle, the town’s insurance and the town’s gas. It is a true volunteer position, if I call and you can’t do it just let me know and I will call someone else, there is no pressure.

Crafters

Senior Outreach is looking for more knitters and crocheters, please contact me at 439-9038.  I know a lot of yarn went out in the past few months and some bags of knitted and crocheted goods are starting to show up in my office getting ready for the cold weather to come, thank you to those who are helping keep our troops warm and our area shelters supplied with hats, scarves and afghans.  

If you are interested in donating your time, left over yarn or need any of the yarn, you are welcome to come to New Scotland town hall and help yourself. I only ask you to donate the majority of the goods produced to someone or some place in need. You are always welcome to bring the items back to New Scotland town hall and they will be distributed to the shelters in this area.  Our troops still need “Warmth for Warrior” hats. The directions for the Warrior hat is in my office as well. Some places where our military is serving are getting very cold.

Business meeting Oct. 2

Our Oct. 2 meeting was called to order by President, Barbara Sullivan. Thirty-nine members were in attendance. We now have 106 paid members including 2 new members, Charles and Colette Csiza. 

We have a member of our group, Kenneth Bailey who went on the Honor Flight to Washington DC on Oct. 19. Another member, Fran Cox’s brother-in-law Robert, attended also. 

Business meeting Nov. 6

Our Nov. 6 meeting was called to order by President Barbara Sullivan. Thirty-eight members attended including 2 new members, Gerry Harbour and Maxine Fendrick. 

Ann Carson reported on the Christmas luncheon on Dec. 18, at noon at Normanside Country Club. The cost is $12 for members and $22 for non-members. There will also be a Chinese auction, 50/50 drawing and The Mike Hurley Trio will entertain us. 

Ken Bailey thanked everybody for mail he received on the Honor Flight. He had 38 pieces of mail presented to him. 

Seniors raised $ 468 on Election Day for Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund. This is a fund used to help town residents to make it through hard times. 

A motion made and passed to send $25 each year to 3 different food pantries in memory of deceased members. 

I told everyone about an organization that makes dresses for young girls who are rescued out of slavery. I am looking for volunteers to help make dresses for girls’ ages infant to 10-12 years.

HEAP

HEAP season is upon us, applications are in town hall, the funds are given out on an income basis and first come first served until the fund runs out. 

Join us

If you are 62 years young and living in the town of New Scotland you are considered a senior and thus entitled to use the senior services. This includes our Yellow Bus, joining the New Scotland Senior Citizens, and attending the meetings held at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center to enjoy the fun and games, food, entertainment, and friendship. 

We would like to invite any and all seniors (60-plus is the age for a club member) in the area to join us. We are a good group of seniors and would love to have new members. 

There are three types of meetings: 

— 1. Business meeting: On the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m., most times with entertainment and refreshments, cards, and games to follow;

— 2. A covered-dish (bring something to pass) or other meal: On the third Wednesday of every month at 12:30 p.m., you should bring your own place serving, plate, knife, fork, and spoon, and games to follow; and 

— 3. Fun and games on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m.

Rides offered

Are you a senior 62 or older and need a ride for a medical, legal, hair, friendly visits, etc. Call 439-9038 to set it up. Rides are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is run on a donation basis; consider what the ride is worth to you and donate if you can.  Our suggested donation is $5 each way for out of town trips and a couple of dollars each way within town. We will go up to 15 miles from New Scotland Town Hall. 

Yellow Bus

In our Yellow Buses we had dozens of trips with hundreds of seniors out having fun in the past few months, we wish more of you in the town would join in getting out and socializing, it is good to make new friends.

Anyone 62 and older can join us on our adventures. Sheets are available at town hall, the Voorheesville Public Library, or online at www.townofnewscotland.com. Click on Departments, then Senior Outreach, and scroll down to the Yellow Bus, then click in either PDF or DOC. If you would like to be added to the e-mail list, call 439-9083. 

Call me to reserve a seat on the bus for you and a friend.

Reminders

The following are helpful reminders:

‑— We have 14 seats, first come, first served.  If possible two buses will be used with a minimum of 6 persons on the bus locally and minumum of 8 people for out of town trips;  

— Every Tuesday and Thursday Osteobuster’s at 10 a.m. This program is free and is at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center;

— Every first and third Wednesday Senior Citizens meeting at the community center, there is a 12:30 p.m. potluck and a 1 p.m. business meeting;

— For all prepaid events your check should be made payable to the specified venue or Town of New Scotland with event name and date in the memo section; and

— If you signed up for a trip and it is no longer listed the reason is the trip is full.  You will be called with time and place of pick-up a day or so before the event.  If you can’t go please call 439-9038 and cancel as soon as you can.

Future trips

Upcoming Yellow Bus trips for seniors are as follows:

— Dec. 9, Schenectady Festival of Trees, the cost is $5; Perecca’s for a late lunch, cost is on seniors, leaving area 12:30 p.m.;

— Dec. 10, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall for Helderberg Madrigai Singers holiday choral program at noon, this program is free; lunch at CiCi’s Pizza;

— Dec. 10, Washington Park holiday lights and craft fair at the Lake House. The cost is $5. Leaving at 6:30 p.m.

— Dec. 11, New Baltimore Church Christmas program information to follow; lunch at noon on a donation basis;

— Dec. 12, Rensselaer Senior Center for Elvis White Christmas with Donnie“Elvis”Romines, the menu to be announced at a later date. The cost is 2.75;

— Dec. 13, Spectrum Theater any movie between 3:15 and 4p.m., dinner at Toole’s in Delmar; 

— Dec. 15, Proctor’s Theater matinee of White Christmas, the musical. The tickets are donated by the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation;

— Dec. 17, Saratoga Casino Club 55 Day with a buffet lunch for $4.95 and chances to win grand prize for the day with Club 55 card. We will depart around 9:30 a.m. and leaving around 3:15 p.m. A suggested bus donation is $5 each way; a $20.00 voucher for anyone arriving with the bus; 

— Dec. 18, Christmas party at the Normanside Country Club for members of the New Scotland Seniors; 

— Dec. 20, bingo at the New Scotland Community Center from noon to 3 p.m. The cost is $2. Hot Dogs available before game, cost is  $1.50; and

— Dec. 20, Washington Park holiday lights and craft fair at Lake House. The cost is $5. We are leaving at 6:30 p.m.

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