Volume 2019 Issue 5 Published monthly by White River Council on Aging 262 N Main St., White River Jct., VT 05001-7027 (802) 295-9068 www.bugbeecenter.org February 2019 Hop on the Bus! Ever wanted to ride Advance Transit but you weren t sure where the bus stops are? Want to get somewhere but you d need to transfer from one bus line to another? Not sure if you d make it back from shopping without missing the last bus? Vital Communities offers a FREE Travel Training program to help you figure out how to get around the Upper Valley using the Advance Transit bus system. During the Travel Training program, you will: Get comfortable riding the bus. Learn about bus routes and popular places you can go. Understand how to read bus schedules. Find your bus using the real-time system. Get practice planning a trip. Learn how to locate bus stops. Transfer from one bus route to another. Paige Heverly, Energy and Transportation Project Coordinator from Vital Communities, will give a presentation about the Travel Training program at Bugbee Senior Center on Thursday, February 21st right after lunch. On Tuesday, March 19, there will be a Travel Training session at Bugbee Senior Center, starting at 9:30, which will include an actual bus ride. We will return to the Center in time for lunch. Sign up at the Center. Bazaar: Final Update While at times it may have seemed like the never-ending bazaar, keeping items available for a few weeks after Christmas paid off. We exceeded last year s income, making this the most successful Bazaar ever! Thank you to everyone who supported the Center - as a volunteer, as a donor and as a customer. Year Day 1 Interim Final 2013 $3,044.15 $2,065.90 $ 5,110.05 2014 $2,193.15 $2,194.50 $ 4,387.65 2015 $6,191.75 $2,008.35 $ 8,200.10 2016 $6,217.60 $1,463.51 $7,681.11 2017 $6,614.40 $2,259.10 $8,873.50 2018 $6,469.30 $2,434.80 $8,904.10 Are You Prepared For the Next Emergency? Do you have an emergency kit? Do you know where to call for assistance or resources? The time to prepare for the next blizzard, ice storm, hurricane, flood or other emergency situation is now, not when the crisis is happening. Richard Cogliano, Regional Emergency Program Coordinator for the Engagement Section of VT Emergency Management, will give a presentation at Bugbee Senior Center on Thursday, February 28th at 12:30. He will focus on these topics and tie in some of the report findings from the Resilient Seniors project report that was created last fall.
Director s Corner Well it is February and we are past the holiday season and in the dog days of winter, especially given the cold snap we just had for the first time in quite a while. And, as I write this it is raining. Go figure! Our recent Holiday Bazaar raised funds needed to run our center and our programs. At this writing we raised just over $8904, our best year ever (by $30 and some change). Another bit of good news is that our Annual Appeal has brought in about $15,000. This is under the amount which we received last year at this time, but still is a big help in support of our operations. Many thanks again to all who helped make these two important fundraisers successful this year. And we are starting to think of those warm weather activities, including night openings and trips. We are currently working on both and are setting up another trip to York Maine, and others, so if you have an idea, speak now or forever hold your peace!! Or at least until next year. We have been getting phone calls about tax preparation assistance this year. As you know from prior newsletters, AARP will not be doing taxes at Bugbee again this year. We have included information about how to schedule your appointment elsewhere in this edition. As happened last year they will be done at Hartford Town Hall so follow the directions we have included as we cannot schedule you for an appointment. Also, SEVCA is doing them again at St. Paul s Church again, so you have some options. On a final note. The weather we have experienced of late has been a challenge for all of us. Please consider this a gentle reminder that we cannot expect meal delivery drivers or our own van driver to try to navigate un-sanded or unplowed driveways and roads. I routinely tell drivers or our staff to tell them that if they see conditions that cause them concern to not take a chance on it and to use their best judgement. Many thanks to you all for your understanding in this regard. Len Brown Help Needed: Home-Delivered Meal Drivers We need drivers for our meal routes in Quechee and White River Jct. Meals are picked up at the Center around 10:45 AM, Monday through Friday. The number of meals/stops varies by route and day. Before going solo on a route, new drivers go out once or twice with an experienced driver. All drivers must pass a criminal background check. Bread Pick-Up We need drivers who would be willing to pick up day old bread on a substitute basis. The driver picks up empty boxes at the Center at approximately 9:00 AM, then picks up bread at the Miracle Mile Price Chopper on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Wait Staff: There is no order taking or carrying of heavy trays. Wait staff arrive around 11:30 AM to distribute water pitchers, bread baskets, butter and other condiments to the tables, and pour coffee, tea or milk before serving salads and the main course. Meals are plated in the kitchen and carried to the tables by wait staff. Wait staff clear the dishes between courses and after the meal, then wipe off the tables. Lunch is usually over no later than 12:45. Most wait staff volunteers serve one or two days a week, depending on their desire and availability. If you are interested in volunteering or in finding out more about volunteering, call Regina at (802) 295-9068, Mon-Thurs between 8 am and 3 pm, or stop in at the Center.
February 2019 Meals Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Please be seated by 11:50 to allow our wait staff to serve beverages (coffee/tea/milk) before the salad course is served. Suggested Donation for Seniors (60+): $5 Fee for Under 60: $6 1 Carrot Raisin Slaw Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Peas & Onions Jell-O 4 American Chop Suey Wax & Green Beans Fruit Cocktail 5 Cole Slaw BBQ Chicken Seasoned Tater Tots Corn Corn Bread Peach Cobbler 6 Green Salad Roast Pork w/gravy Mashed Potato Beets Applesauce 7 Cottage Cheese w/ Chives Shepherd s Pie Carrots Pear & Blueberry Crisp 8 Crunchy Romaine Salad Shrimp Scampi on Linguini Ice Cream Fortune Cookie 11 Pickled Beets Macaroni & Cheese Stewed Tomatoes Green Beans Chocolate Pudding 12 Italian Meatloaf California Vegetables Peach Crisp 13 Corn & Bean Salad Chicken Pie w/ Peas & Carrots Brownie a la Mode 14 Dilled Cucumbers Baked Ham w/ Pineapple Sauce Scalloped Potatoes Chocolate Cake w/ Vanilla Frosting 15 C & S Pizza Cantaloupe 18 Bugbee Senior Center Closed 19 Ambrosia Salad Turkey w/gravy Cranberry Sauce Peas & Carrots Rolls Baked Apples 20 Caesar Salad Baked Haddock Roasted Potatoes Fresh Spinach Spice Cake 21 Shake & Bake Pork Chop Stuffing Applesauce Brussels Sprouts Baked Pears 22 3-Bean Salad Salisbury Steak Corn Bread Vanilla Pudding 25 Green Salad Swedish Meatballs On Noodles Mandarin Oranges 26 Ranch Chicken Brussels Sprouts Jell-O w/fruit 27 Cole Slaw BBQ Ribs Seasoned Potatoes Mixed Vegetables Corn Bread 28 Chicken Parmesan on Linguini Cauliflower w/red Peppers Fruit Salad
February 2019 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday *indicates an activity that requires sign-up. For on-going activities it may not be possible to join mid-session. Call us to find out. 802-295-9068 ** indicates first day of an on-going activity that requires sign-up. This is the day to join. 1 9:30 Tai Chi 1** 10:45 Tai Chi 2** 12:45 Book Club Pulled Pork 4 9:00 warmers 5 8:45 Foot Care* 10:00 Aqua Aerobics* 1:00 Cribbage 1:00 Hand & Foot 6 10:00 Poetry 12:45 Knitting 1:30 Line dancing** 7 9:00 Quilting 1:15 Sr. Fitness** 8 9:30 Tai Chi 1* 10:45 Tai Chi 2* American Chop Suey BBQ Chicken Roast Pork Shepherd s Pie Shrimp Scampi 11 10:00 Health Clinic 1:30 Painting w/becki* 12 10:00 Aqua Aerobics* 12:30 Managing Diabetes 1:00 Cribbage 1:00 Hand & Foot 13 10:30 TOGETHER 12:00 Birthday Day Audrey Lilly, pianist 12:45 Knitting 1:30 Linedancing* 14 8:45 Foot Care* 9:00 Quilting 1:15 Sr. Fitness* 15 9:30 Tai Chi 1* 10:45 Tai Chi 2* Macaroni & Cheese Italian Meatloaf Chicken Pie Baked Ham C & S Pizza Closed 19 10:00 Aqua Aerobics* 1:00 Cribbage 1:00 Hand & Foot 20 8:45 Foot Care* 10:00 Poetry 12:45 Knitting 1:30 Linedancing* 21 9:00 Quilting 12:30 Hop on the Bus! Paige Heverly Vital Communities 1:15 Sr. Fitness* 22 9:30 Tai Chi 1* 10:45 Tai Chi 2* 12:00 Galen Mudgett Turkey w/gravy Baked Haddock Pork Chop Salisbury Steak 25 10:00 Health Clinic 12:45 Foot Care* Swedish Meatballs 26 10:00 Diabetes Workshop** 10:00 Aqua Aerobics** 1:00 Cribbage 1:00 Hand & Foot Ranch Chicken 27 12:45 Knitting 1:30 Linedancing BBQ Ribs 28 9:00 Quilting 12:30 Emergency Preparedness for Seniors Chicken Parmesan
February Happenings Feb. 1 9:30 Tai Chi 1 (beginning students)$15 fee/january classes; 10:45 Tai Chi 2 (continuing students) $15 fee/january classes. From now on, Tai Chi classes will be charged by the month. 12:45 Bugbee Book Club. Marieke Sperry from the Quechee/Wilder Libraries will lead a discussion of No Graves As Yet by Anne Perry. New participants always welcome. Feb. 6 10:00 Poetry. This group meets on the 1st, 3rd and (when there is one) 5th Wednesday of each month to read and discuss poetry. No fee. New participants always welcome. 1:30 Linedancing Class with Jamie Orr. New session begins. Sign up required. $28/4 weeks Feb.7 1:15 Senior Fitness with Liz Hatfield. New session begins. Sign up required. $21/3 weeks. (No class on 2/28) Feb. 11 1:30 Painting w/becki. Stop by the Center to see the beautiful Cardinal in Winter painting that Becki will lead you through this month. $25 fee covers all materials and Instruction. Minimum of 8 participants needed for this class to happen. Feb. 12 Managing Diabetes. Come learn about a FREE 6-week workshop that will start on Feb. 26th. (See column to the right.) Feb. 13 10:30 TOGETHER women s support group with Judy Adams. New participants always welcome. 12:00 Birthday Day. Join us for lunch as we celebrate the birthdays of those born in February. Feb. 21 12:30 Hop on the Bus! Paige Heverly, Energy & Transportation Project Coordinator for Vital Communities will discuss how to take advantage of Advance Transit to get around the Upper Valley for free! Feb. 26 Aqua Aerobics at Upper Valley Aquatic Center in WRJ. New session begins. $35/10 weeks. Sign up at Bugbee Senior Center to get this deeply discounted rate. Session ends April 30th. Feb. 28 12:30 Emergency Preparedness for Seniors. Richard Cogliano, Regional Emergency Management Program Coordinator for the Engagement Section of VT Emergency Management, will give a presentation. See Page 1. Ottauquechee 3rd Graders Need Your Help! The 3rd Graders at Ottauquechee School are learning cursive handwriting. They hope to pair up with seniors so they can write to each other during the rest of the school year. They want to learn about you, your life and achievements while also learning to read and write cursive handwriting. They hope you will enjoy learning about them as well. If you would like to participate in this project, please sign up at the Center by Feb. 9th. You can sign up by calling us as well as by coming in. Letters will be collected here and delivered to the students; responses will be dropped off here to be picked up. At the end of the school year, we will have the students come in to have lunch with their pen pals. Free Diabetes Self-Management Workshop Tuesdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Feb. 26; March 5, 12,19, 26; April 2 Sign up required Minimum: 6 participants Gifford Medical Center and the VT Dept. of Health are offering a FREE 6-week diabetes selfmanagement workshop who are interested in learning more about type 2 diabetes. Attendees get the support they need from specially-trained professionals to eat better, exercise, problem solve, manage stress, handle sick days and monitor blood sugar to lower the risk of serious health problems related to diabetes. This workshop is open to caregivers, those with type 2 diabetes and folks interested in learning more about this disease. Megan Sault, from Gifford Medical Center, and Ashleen Buchanan, Program Coordinator from Little Rivers Health Care, will give a presentation about this workshop on Tuesday, February 12th.at 12:30.
By Pat Harrison, RD 1/2019 Cooking With George Do you perhaps have a George Foreman grill tucked away in a cupboard? Are you interested in healthy eating but want to avoid elaborate meal preparation? Are you dealing with medical concerns and the doctor has encouraged you to follow a special diet? Want some ideas for simple, tasty, healthy meals? It may be time to dig out that George Foreman grill! Why Cook with George? Simple meal preparation Low-fat cooking fat drains off; no need to add fat to fry. Easy clean up unplug, place dripping wet paper towel in grill, close, let the heat & moisture do the work! Wipe off when cool. Quick! Foods cook on both sides at once. Items often cook in 5-8 minutes. Non-stick surface foods cook evenly and are easily removed from grill to serve. Small quantity cooking. No need to eat leftovers all week long. Here are some ideas for what you might cook with George. (loads more online) Boneless pork chops usually cook in 6-8 minutes Boneless chicken breast pound to even ½ thick, cook 4-6 minutes Burgers ¼ lb, ½ thick, cook in 5-8 minutes WHAT S FOR DINNER? Grilled Sandwiches 3 minutes Bacon cook only a couple of slices. Fat drains off, easy clean up. Other Tips: Cook only boneless meats/ poultry to get even cooking and a snug fit on cooking surfaces. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; avoid over or under cooking. Enjoy! Winter Weather Closing Policy During the next few months, there may be days when the weather conditions make it unsafe for our staff, volunteers and participants to be out on the roads. Our policy is that when the Hartford School District schools are closed due to weather or road conditions, the Bugbee Senior Center is also closed. Please watch your TV or listen to the radio for announcements. When the Center is closed, there are no home-delivered meals. Meal recipients will receive an extra frozen meal to be used when the Center is unexpectedly closed. The cost of mailing a letter went up by 5 cents at the end of January. The price of a regular stamp rose from 50 to 55 cents starting January 27th. Prices for flat rate boxes and other services at the post office have also gone up. A postcard will stay at 35 cents and international letters will remain at $1.15. Top 3 Reasons to Celebrate Groundhog s Day 3. It s fun to say Punxatawney. 2. If a rodent can bring an early spring, more power to him! 1. In VT, we come out ahead either way. (Six more weeks of winter is an early spring for us. Moving? Going on vacation? If you will be moving or away long enough to discontinue mail service, please let us know. If the Post Office returns your Bugbee Bulletin to us, we are charged 55. A quick phone call from you will mean a lot to us. And be sure to let us know when you return so we can update our mailing list accordingly. If you would like to keep up with news here at the Center, we ll be happy to send the Bugbee Bulletin to your winter address or, preferably, send it to you via email.
Free Income Tax Preparation Assistance Available From AARP Tax-Aide Program Hartford Municipal Building 171 Bridge St., WRJ VT 05001 Wed & Fri 8:45 am to 4:00 pm Feb. 7-April 13, 2019 By Appointment Only To make an appointment: Online: https://www.nhtaxhelp.org Click on Get Free Tax Help then select Find by Name Scroll down to near the bottom of the list to find White River Jct (VT) (A) Hartford Town Hall (Feb 7 Apr 13) Click on SCHEDULE ONLINE NOW which will take you to the New Hampshire Free Tax Help website. Scroll down to click on WHITE RIVER JUNCTION VT + HARTFORD TOWN HALL Scroll to top of page, select your desired Wed. or Fri. date in the appointment calendar, then select any available appointment time. If there are no available times, select a different date. Fill in the requested information in the Appointment Information block, then click Continue. Review your information. Click on Schedule Your Appointment if everything is correct; Go Back, if anything needs to be changed. By Telephone, during regular business hours: outside NH: (866) 444-4211 in NH, dial 211 Give the 2-1-1 NH staff member your information so they can enter an appointment for you. If you schedule an appointment and then find you no longer need it, please call the scheduling service as soon as possible to cancel so they can offer the appointment time to someone else. WHEN YOU COME FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT, YOU MUST BRING: If married, it is preferable that both spouses be present. Original or photocopies of Social Security cards for taxpayer, spouse and any dependents being claimed. Picture ID for taxpayer and spouse (must be Driver s License, state issued ID card, Passport or other official document) W-2 s from all places worked in 2018 Prior year s tax return, if available Bank routing number and account number for direct deposit If applicable, bring: Copies of any 1099s issued to you or your spouse (including from Social Security) Form 1095A if you purchased health insurance via Vermont Health Connect of healthcare.gov Bank account interest year-end statement If you live in your own property, your town tax bill for 2018/2019 If you rent, your signed Landlord Certificate (LC-142) If you paid land rent to a non-profit mobile home park, the letter stating taxes paid Copies of last year s mortgage interest statements (including any points paid) Real estate taxes paid statement Proof of charitable donations Statement of work-related expenses Vehicle registration fee if based on value Receipt for tax preparation fees paid last year Any other statements of allowable itemized deductions. If you are not sure, bring it! We ll be happy to review it. NOTE: The same telephone number will also give you access to assistance by SEVCA volunteers who offer appointments on Mondays at St. Paul s Church in WRJ and on Thursdays at the Windsor Community Center. SEVCA s services are available to those whose annual household income is $54,000 or below.
PLACE LABEL HERE Vermont Legal Aid Has Programs to Assist Seniors Vermont Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm organized into specialized projects serving clients from six offices located throughout Vermont. They help Vermonters who are poor, elderly, or who have disabilities. They also help anyone who has health care or health insurance problems, They do not handle criminal cases. There is no charge for their services. They are funded through private donations and state and federal grants. To access their services, call 1-800-889-2047. Vermont Legal Aid helps with problems such as: Health Care, including eligibility and coverage issues for Medicaid, Medicare, VHAP, prescription drugs, long term care, home health services, mental health and assistive technology. Individual Rights, including guardianship, the right to make life decisions and the live independently. Financial Exploitation, including exploitation and mismanagement by care givers, guardians and under powers of attorney. Housing, including accessibility, discrimination, evictions, foreclosures, lockouts, mobile home park issues, unsafe housing conditions and subsidized housing issues. Benefits, including SSI, Social Security, Veterans benefits, fuel assistance, food stamps, and unemployment. Discrimination, including housing, benefits and unemployment. Health Care Advocate, a special project within Vermont Legal Aid, offers a Health Care Hotline: 1-800-917-7787 Monday-Friday 8:30 AM 4:30 PM (except holidays) It is a free resource which will answer questions related to health care; tell you which free and low-cost programs you may be eligible for; help you apply for and get low-cost health coverage; find out what your health care plan covers; and provide advice about how to appeal insurance denials, solve billing and claim problems and make complaints. They also work for fair treatment and affordable health services for everyone.
February 2019 Home-Delivered Meals Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday.Reminder: When Hartford schools are closed due to weather, Bugbee Senior Center is also closed; no home-delivered meals. Please arrange to have your driveway and walkway cleared of snow and ice so our meal drivers can safely deliver your meal. 1 Carrot Raisin Slaw Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Peas & Onions Jell-O 4 American Chop Suey Wax & Green Beans Fruit Cocktail 5 Cole Slaw BBQ Chicken Seasoned Tater Tots Corn Corn Bread Peach Cobbler 6 Green Salad Roast Pork w/gravy Mashed Potato Beets 7 Cottage Cheese w/ Chives Shepherd s Pie Carrots Pear & Blueberry Crisp 8 Crunchy Romaine Salad Shrimp Scampi on Linguini Fruit Fortune Cookie 11 Pickled Beets Macaroni & Cheese Stewed Tomatoes Green Beans Chocolate Pudding 12 Italian Meatloaf California Vegetables Peach Crisp 13 Corn & Bean Salad Chicken Pie w/ Peas & Carrots Brownie a la Mode 14 Dilled Cucumbers Baked Ham w/ Pineapple Sauce Scalloped Potatoes Chocolate Cake w/ Vanilla Frosting 15 C & S Pizza Cantaloupe 18 Bugbee Senior Center Closed 19 Ambrosia Salad Turkey w/gravy Peas & Carrots Rolls Baked Apples 20 Caesar Salad Baked Haddock Roasted Potatoes Fresh Spinach Spice Cake 21 Shake & Bake Pork Chop Stuffing Brussels Sprouts Baked Pears 22 3-Bean Salad Salisbury Steak Corn Bread Vanilla Pudding 25 Green Salad Swedish Meatballs On Noodles Mandarin Oranges 26 Ranch Chicken Brussels Sprouts Jell-O w/fruit 27 Cole Slaw BBQ Ribs Seasoned Potatoes Mixed Vegetables Corn Bread 28 Chicken Parmesan on Linguini Cauliflower w/red Peppers Fruit Salad