December 2011

Special points of interest:

Takoma Park Silver Foxes

City of Takoma Park Seniors Recreation Program for Active Adults Age 55 plus

Holiday Celebration cover page. Safety Seriescover page. Gentle Water Movement New Classpage 2 Prostate Cancer Lecture page 2. Birthday Partypage 2.

Holiday Potluck Celebration

The Silver Foxes will celebrate the holiday season with their third annual Holiday Party! Please bring an entre or side dish, hot or cold, homemade or store bought for everyone to enjoy. The Recreation Department will supply the drinks, desserts, plates, cups, utensils, festive holiday decorations and party games. Join your friends for good eats and holiday cheer. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer to help with room set-up and clean-up, please call Paula Lisowski at (301) 891-7280. Lets party!

Holiday Potluck Celebration

Friday, December 9 11:301:30 PM Azalea Room
Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave.
For more information, and questions about transportation, please call 301-891-7280.

Inside this issue:

News and Events General Information Fitness/Health Art/Education December Trips Trip Review December Calendar
Paula Lisowski Seniors Program Manager Takoma Park Recreation 7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 paulal@takomagov.org Phone: (301) 891-7280
2, 3

4, 5 5

Seniors Safety
Officer Carla Magnaye, of the Takoma Park Police Department will present a safety program for Takoma Park seniors.
TOPIC Internet Safety Frauds & Cons Phone Scams

6 7 8

Each of the one hour safety presentations will cover a specific topic that is of importance to seniors, with ample time for questions.
DATE Wednesday, December 7 Monday, December 12 Wednesday, December 14

For more information, please call Officer Carla Magnaye at 301-8917121 or call Paula Lisowski, Seniors Program, at 301-891-7280.
ROOM Lilac Room Lilac Room Lilac Room

TIME 12:00 Noon 11:30 AM 12:00 Noon

"Winter is the time for comfortit is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell

New Class!

Takoma Park Silver Foxes

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Gentle Water Movement for Seniorsbegins December 6.

Piney Branch Pool (7510 Maple Ave., inside Piney Branch School) is open. For more information about hours and classes, check out the pool website: www.acsgw.org/ pool.htm You may contact the pool at (301) 891-8017. You may also call Joyce Seamens, Director of Pool Operation, Adventist Community Services at (301) 565-0190.

Gentle Water Movement, lead by Anne LeVeque, is a shallowwater class using flotation belts, aqua-barbells and water noodles. The use of water resistance will increase flexibility and strength. Tuesdays, (beginning December 6, 2011) Contact the Pool for more 4 PM (45 minute class) information and registration. Piney Branch Pool, 7510 Maple Avenue $8 per person, per class. Please ask about senior scholarships!

Prostate Cancer Lecture

Washington Adventist Hospital intern, Dimitri Tsipanitis, will present a lecture about what prostate cancer is, and how you can protect yourself or someone you love from it. Monday, December 5 11:00 AM Lilac Room, Takoma Park Community Center No cost. Drop-in. No registration required.

Welcome to Our Birthday Party

Friday, December 16, 2011
(October, November, and December Birthdays)

12:30 PM
Free

Senior Room,
Takoma Park Community Center 7500 Maple Avenue

Open Art Studio is Back!

Welcome back Alice Simsto lead a new Open Art Studio class on Monday, December 12. Expand your art skills or learn new techniques. Be creative in a relaxed atmosphere. The studio class is free, however, a registration form is required to participate in this class.
See page 5 for details.

For more information, please call 301-891-7280. Open to all adults age 55 and older.

Weather Info:
Please listen to your radio or television for possible school closings or delays. If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to weather conditions, all senior program activities will be canceled. For information, call our weather hotline: (301) 891-7101 ext. 5605

Heres how to find the newsletter online: Go to: www.takomaparkmd.gov/recreation Silver Foxes On-line. Click on this symbol:

December 2011 Events in Takoma Park

Saturday, December 3 - Takoma Park Alternative Gift Fairwww.AGGW.org Sunday, December 4 - Old Takoma Annual Pajama-Ramawww.MainStreetTakoma.org Friday, December 9 - Seniors Potluck Holiday Celebrationwww.takomaparkmd.gov/recreation/seniors Saturday, December 10 - Holiday Art Salewww.TakomaParkMD.gov Sat./Sun., December 10-11 - Old Takoma Businesses Holiday Open Housewww.MainStreetTakoma.org Thursday, December 15 - Winter Solstice Celebrationwww.TakomaPark.Info/library

Takoma Park Silver Foxes

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A great beginning! Senior services meeting Thursday, October 6, 2011.

Mr. Wolfgang Mergner brought together seniors, service providers, and concerned citizens to form a group devoted to addressing the needs of Takoma Park seniors, and finding ways to provide services to meet those needs. Please join us for the next meeting. Photos by Paula Lisowski

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 6:30 PM in the Azalea Room, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue.
Light refreshments will be served.

New Dimension Singers gave us a great performance on 10/18/11.

Fifty seniors filled the Auditorium in the Takoma Park Community Center for an energetic singing performance. This free special event was enhanced by delightful props, dialogue, costumes and choreography. Photos by Paula Lisowski

Takoma Park Silver Foxes

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All programs take place at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, unless otherwise noted. Advance registration is required for trips and classes. No registration is required for drop-in activities. Transportation is provided for trips and special events. Space is limited and requires advance registration. For more information please call Paula Lisowski at (301) 891-7280 or e-mail at paulal@takomagov.org

Fitness and Health Bone Builders Exercise Table Tennis

Mondays and Thursdays, Ongoing* 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays Tuesdays and Fridays, Ongoing* 10:30 -11:30 a.m. ongoing 11:30 1:00 p.m. (Fall hours)
*Please call (301) 891-7280 to check for new registration availability in Saturdays, ongoing 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. either session. The classes may be full due to their popularity, however (No Wednesdays) a waiting list is available. Bone Builders consists of three parts: balance exercises, weight training and discussion concerning diet, safety and exercise. This program, in partnership with Montgomery County, uses trained RSVP volunteers supervised by a certified trainer. Registration is required. Dance Studio. No cost. Come play this fun, energetic game. A great way to improve eye-hand coordination: helps keep the body healthy and the mind sharp. Drop-in. Game room.** No cost.

Please note: No Bone Builders classes 12/26, 12/27, 12/30. No class on 1/2/12.

Gentle Yoga
Alternate Fridays, December 2, 16
Fall Session: September 9December 16.

12:001:00 p.m.
Luncheon and meeting of the Tuesday/Friday session of the Bone Builders class, Tuesday, September 20. As you can see, this is a very sociable, happy group of dedicated participants.

Line Dance Exercise

Wednesdays, Ongoing (No class 12/28) 11:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. Fridays, Ongoing (No class 12/23, 12/30) 6:307:30 p.m.
Barbara Brown instructs this line dancing class and demonstrates how exercise can be fun with music. No experience necessary so come and enjoy the activity. Registration is required. Dance Studio. No cost.

Carol Mermey, RYT, will introduce you to the ways yoga can help you increase flexibility, strength, and balance, using a series of seated and standing poses. Learn breathing and relaxation techniques. Beginners and experienced students welcome, work at your own level. You must bring a yoga mat to every class. Registration is required. Dance Studio. No cost.

**The Game Room is available for seniors to play pool, table tennis, basketball arcade and other active games.
Fall hours: Monday - Friday, 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. (No Wednesdays), and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.

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Fitness and Health continued, Art and Educational Computer Classes

Wednesday, December 7 (last day of the class). 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. (Session II 10/26/11-12/7/11).
Learn to use the internet, a word processing program, and email. You need a Takoma Park Library card* to access the computers, and take this course. Instructors: Phil Shapiro, Jim Mueller and Jane Hawkanson. Registration is required. Six weeks. Computer Center. Class Fee: $10 Payable to the City of Takoma Park. *Library card fees: Free/Takoma Park residents, $37/ Montgomery County residents, and $60 non-Mont. Co. residents.

Brain Games
Tuesday, December 6
(Usually, we will meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month. Call 301-891-7280 to check if there is a change in the day or time.)

11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, and brain games may help keep Alzheimers away! Enjoy a variety of cognitive puzzle challenges and games. Have fun while doing something good for your mind. Come and play. Drop in. Senior Room. No cost.

Needlework Get-together
Mondays, Ongoing 11:30 a.m.1:00 p.m.
Are you bored sitting and knitting alone? Join us for fun, conversation and support with your needlework projects. Bring your projects with you. This is not an instructional class. Drop-in. Senior Room. No cost.

Open Art Studio

Monday, December 12 11:00 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Expand your art skills or learn new techniques. Be creative in a relaxed atmosphere. Registration is required. Art Studio. No cost.

Join us for Holiday Bingo.

Bingo
Thursday, December 22 12:002:00 p.m.
Come and try your luck. Win a prize. Drop-in. Senior Room. No cost. Transportation provided for Victory Tower, Franklin Apts. and Maple View Apts. only. Call (301) 891-7280, 3 days in advance for pick-up.

Blood Pressure Screening

Thursday, December 22 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Adventist Healthcare will be doing a monthly blood
pressure screening. Drop-in. Senior Room. No cost. After your screening, please stay for some games of bingo...lots of fun for everyone.

Takoma Park Silver Foxes

Walking/Stairs Guide: One Shoe: Two Shoes: Three Shoes: Limited walking/no stairs. Walking/Standing/may be stairs. Active walking/may be stairs.

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Driving Distance Guide: One steering wheel: 1 hour or less. Two steering wheels: 2 hours or less.

November 2011 Trips

How to register for trips:

This symbol means the site is wheelchair accessible:

1. To begin the registration process, please call 301-891-7280 to include your name on a pre-registration list.
Note: This list will hold the participants place in line for 3 days to one week, depending on when the trip is scheduled in the month. Registration for the current months trip (s) will usually begin on the first business day of the month. To insure proper processing, it is best to speak directly with a Recreation Department staff person, and not leave a recorded message.

2. A Takoma Park Recreation Department registration form is required for each trip.
Note: This form must be received by the end of the pre-registration period, or the participant will be removed from the list, and the space will become available.

3. Please register in-person, or mail the registration form to: Takoma Park Recreation Department, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912.
Note: We have a fair first come-first serve system for all participants. Trips are popular and fill up fast, so register early. If you have any questions, please call Paula Lisowski, Seniors Program Manager at 301-891-7280. You may also call the general Recreation information line at 301-891-7290.

Trip # 1: Annual Gingerbread House Show, and the Darnalls Chance House Museum, Upper Marlboro, Maryland Join us for a sweet treat to view an amazing display of edible gingerbread houses. Sorry, no nibbling allowed! You will have an opportunity to vote on your favorite houses for the Viewers Choice Awards. After you visit this special event, please wander through the historic museum house, dedicated to the interpretation and study of the history and culture of 18th century Prince Georges County, Maryland, with an emphasis on the lives of women. Darnalls Chance was built between 1741-1742 by James Wardrop, who amassed a fortune as a merchant and entrepreneur in Upper Marlborough, Maryland. Bring spending money to purchase lunch at a local restaurant. Warning: there are stairs to the basement exhibit/gift shop and the second floor exhibit. However, the main floor and bathroom are wheelchair accessible.
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011 Time: 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. Meet at Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. Bus pick up at Franklin Apartments, Mapleview Apartments, and Victory Tower only. Registration is required. Registration begins on 12/1/11 at 8:30 a.m. Call (301) 891-7280 to pre-register, then fill out form by 12/7/11 (registration ends) or earlier. Fee: $1 per person.
Darnalls Chance

Trip # 2: Festival of Light, Mormon Temple, Kensington, MD Something new this year. By senior request, we will visit the light display at the Mormon Temple in Kensington, Maryland, one of the D.C. areas great community traditions. Join us for the holiday light display featuring 500,000 lights. In addition to the light display, there will be 16 decorated trees, and perhaps a free concert* in the state-of-the art Visitor Center theatre. * Depends on availability of on-site tickets.
Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Time: 5:00 8:30 p.m. Meet at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. Bus pick up at Franklin Apartments, Mapleview Apartments, and Victory Tower only. Registration is required. Registration begins on 12/1/11 at 8:30 a.m. Call (301) 891-7280 to pre-register, and then fill out the form by 12/9/11 (registration ends) or earlier. No cost.

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Holiday Potluck Celebration12/9/11 see front page.

We enjoyed an interesting history presentation on 10/12/11.

Courtney Hobson, Outreach Coordinator for Darnalls Chance Museum, in period costume, gave seniors a presentation on the history of Prince Georges County. We will visit the museum this month. See page 6.

Our trip to the Brewmasters Castle on 10/21/11 was fascinating.

Scott A. Nelson, Museum Director, lead seniors on a wonderful tour through the Brewmasters Castle. Afterwards, seniors enjoyed lunch at the Front Page Restaurant in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C. Photos by Paula Lisowski

For information, please contact: Paula Lisowski, Manager, Seniors Program (301) 891-7280

December 2011
Wed
1

Page 8

Sun

Mon

Tue

Thu
2
Bone Builders 1011 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

Fri
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Gentle Yoga 121 p Evening Line Dance 6:307:30 p

Sat
3 Table Tennis 10:00 a 12:00 p

Mark your calendars The Holiday Potluck Celebration Friday, December 9 See cover page for more info..

4
Center closed on Sundays

5
Bone Builders 1011 a Prostate Cancer Presentation 11 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Needlework Get-together 11:30 a1:00 p

6
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Brain Games 11:30 a12:30 p Water Movement Begins 4 p Contact Pool-see page 2.

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Line Dancing 11 a12 p Computer Class 11:30 a1:30 p Safety Workshop 121 p Senior Services Meeting 6:30 p

8
Bone Builders 1011 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

9
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Holiday Potluck 11:301:30 p Evening Line Dance 6:307:30 p

10
Table Tennis 10:00 a 12:00 p

Trip to Museum 9 a3 p

11
Center closed on Sundays

12
Bone Builders 1011 a Open Art Studio 11 a12:30 p Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Safety Workshop 11:30 a12:30 p Needlework Get-together 11:30 a1:00 p

13
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Trip to see Lights 5 8:30 p

14
Line Dancing 11 a12 p No Computer Class Safety Workshop 121 p

15
Bone Builders 1011 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

16
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Gentle Yoga 121 p Birthday Party 12:30 p Evening Line Dance 6:307:30 p

17
Table Tennis 10:00 a 12:00 p

18
Center closed on Sundays

19
Bone Builders 1011 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Needlework Get-together 11:30 a1:00 p

20
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

21
Line Dancing 11 a12 p No Computer Class

22
Bone Builders 1011 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p Blood Pressure 11:30 a12: 30 p Bingo 122 p

23
Bone Builders 10:3011:30 a

24
Center Closed Holiday

Holiday Center Closed 1/2 Day

No Evening Line Dance

25 Center closed on Sundays

26 Holiday Center Closed

27
No Bone Builders

28
No Line Dancing No Computer Class

29

30
No Bone Builders

Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

Bone Builders 1011 a Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

Table Tennis 11:30 a 1 p

No Evening Line Dance

31 Center Closed Holiday