Building Update
Great news! Our newly renovated and expanded building is almost ready for us to return! April is a big month with much to be done, and we will need time to move, set-up, and train on our new equipment and systems (kitchen equipment, phones, hearing loop for hearing aids, and more).
Here’s the schedule for our return to in-person programs and meals:
- April 1 – 18: Off-site programs and meals continue. Meals on Wheels and Take-out lunches (pick-up at 11:30am) will be distributed from Woodstock Inn Country Club. Bone Builders and Yoga move to the Woodstock Recreation Center Little Theater the week of April 7. The last Masonic Lodge lunch is on April 16. Please see the calendar for full details.
- April 21 – 24: Staff training on kitchen equipment, set-up, and meal prep. Frozen Meals on Wheels will be delivered. No take-out or Masonic lunches.
- April 25 – May 2: Hot Meals on Wheels made and distributed from The Thompson kitchen. No in-person lunches this week as staff and volunteers adjust to the new kitchen. No take-out. A free lunch with the Barnard Silver Lake Progressive Club at Barnard Town Hall will be held on April 30.
- April 25 – May 2: Moving in furniture, setting up program spaces, and training on new systems.
- May 1: Volunteer wait staff training at The Thompson, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (lunch included).
- May 5: In-person lunches and programs resume at The Thompson!
We can’t wait to welcome you back! Please make sure to check the weekly e-newsletters and May newsletter mailing for any changes or updates.
Special Events & Programs in Order by Date
Please pre-register for all programs. In the event that scheduling changes need to be made, we can let you know. Call 802-457-3277 or email programs@thompsonseniorcenter.org.
Lunch Meet-up at the Masonic Lodge
Every Monday and Wednesday at Noon. Last one will be April 16th
Our good friends at the Masonic Lodge have opened up their building to us for in-person dining, and we’ll be bringing take-out meals to enjoy together every Monday and Wednesday. If you would like to attend a meet-up lunch at the Masonic Lodge, please register in advance for a meal by calling or emailing Cory at cvang@thompsonseniorcenter.org or (802) 457-3277 ext 2. Take-out lunches for those registered will be delivered to the Masonic Lodge.
SLN Virtual Program
Federal One: Saving the Arts in the Great Depression/ FDR Presidential Library and Museum
Tuesday, April 22, 2:00 pm
One of the lesser known aspects of the WPA- the Federal One Project, helped to ensure that the American creative spirit continued on in writing, visual arts, dance, and performance during the dark days of the Great Depression. Join us as we learn about examples of the New Deal murals, writings, performances, and why the arts were so important to the WPA and the country.
Register in advance by calling 802-457-3277 to receive your Zoom link.
Community Lunch Meet-up at Barnard Town Hall
Wednesday, April 30, 12:00 pm
Please join the Barnard Silver Lake Progressive Club and The Thompson for a special, free community lunch at the Barnard Town Hall on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Lunch will be served at Noon.
Menu:
Sepp’s Soup (turkey soup)
Pineapple and cottage cheese salad
Brownies
Coffee, Tea
Please sign-up by Monday, April 28, 2025, by calling the Thompson 802-457-3277 ext 2.
Art with Finnie at ArtisTree
Pressed Flower Glass Votives – A May Day Craft
Thursday, May 1, 1:30 pm
Celebrate the beauty of spring and the tradition of May Day by creating your own pressed flower glass votive! In this relaxing workshop, you’ll design a delicate candle holder using real pressed flowers—perfect for bringing a little light and nature into your home or gifting to someone special.
Register in advance by calling 802-457-3277.
SLN Virtual Program
“Life on the Edge”: Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday, May 6, 2:00 pm
The alpine zone of Rocky Mountain National Park boasts a diverse biodiversity, including a variety of hardy plants like alpine wildflowers, low-growing shrubs, and lichen, alongside animals like bighorn sheep, mountain goats, ptarmigan birds, and small mammals adapted to the harsh, high-elevation environment with its extreme temperature fluctuations and thin air; this unique ecosystem is often referred to as alpine tundra, with a noticeable patchiness in vegetation due to the challenging conditions. Join us for this program, “Life on the Edge, where we will learn about biodiversity in the alpine and what threatens it and the research that is done to study and to mitigate those threats.
Register in advance by contacting Cory at cvang@thompsonseniorcenter.org or 802-457-3277 ext. 2.
Walking Group
Mondays, beginning May 12, 9:00 to 10:00 am
Join Carla Kamel, Community Care Coordinator, for an invigorating walk to enjoy the fresh air, socialization, and improve overall wellbeing. Our starting point will be the East End Park for the best parking location to walk in the village.
Please Note: Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.
Please ensure that The Thompson has your email address or phone number for notification on walking route changes or inclement weather days. Register in advance by contacting Carla at carla@thompsonseniorcenter.org.
Painted Vase Class
Tuesday, May 13, 1:30pm
April showers bring May flowers! If you join us, for the painted vase class, you will be ready for those beautiful bouquets! All supplies provided. Choice of glass vases for $15 or bring your own vase for $10. All levels welcome! Please call the Thompson to sign up in advance.
SLN Virtual Program
How inventions during WW1 Changed America:
Army Women’s Museum
Tuesday, May 13, 2:00 pm
Join the U.S. Army Women’s Museum for an exploration of six modern and everyday items that will unlock the history and legacies of the “Great War.” While seemingly unrelated at first, these familiar objects have a direct connection to events that took place over 100 years ago. A doughboy, a Salvation Army Doughnut Lassie, an Army Nurse, and Woodrow Wilson all come to life for students as they experience the sacrifices of men and women in World War I and the impact their service has on our lives today.
-Register in advance by contacting Cory at cvang@thompsonseniorcenter.org or 802-457-3277 ext. 2.
Six-Week Writer’s Workshop
with Local Author Robin Fisher
Tuesday, May 20 – June 24, 1:00-3:00 pm
The Magic of Storytelling: The magic of good storytelling isn’t magic at all. It’s about digging deep and staying authentic. It’s hard work and it’s thrilling.
In this six-week course you will learn the basics of compelling storytelling: knowing how to communicate and listen on the deepest levels; character development, crafting cinematic scenes with mood, detail, description and dialogue. Ultimately, you will learn to trust your “voice” which sounds confusing but is simply letting your words and thoughts spill out onto the page in the way you think and speak. Please register in advance.
Robin Gaby Fisher is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author who has written 12 non fiction books. Her latest book, Unmasked, with Paul Holes, debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list. She retired as Director of the Journalism Program at Rutgers University, Newark campus, last year. She resides full-time in Woodstock with her husband, Loren, co-owner of the Focus Fine Art Photography gallery, and their Bernese Mountain Dog, appropriately named Pudge.
SLN Virtual Program
Bering Land Bridge, Alaska
Tuesday, May 20, 2:00 pm
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve protects a small remnant of a once giant landmass that connected Asia to North America during the last ice age. In the preserve you can find rolling tundra, lakes, lava fields, winding rivers, hot springs, and miles of coastline. Arctic animals, plants, and people live harmoniously on this land as they have for time immemorial.
Register in advance by contacting 802-457-3277 ext 2 or cvang@thompsonseniorcenter.org.
Community Connections
Deanna Jones, Thompson Executive Director, and Carla Kamel, Community Care Coordinator
Wednesday, May 21, 1:00 pm
This month, Deanna and Carla are teaming up for Community Connections to talk about the exciting developments at The Thompson, as well as the challenges we’re all facing in today’s world. They’ll address some of the common questions we’ve been hearing and share a wide range of helpful resources available through our community. Topics will include new technology and support services at The Thompson, Social Security concerns, and essential resources for food, fuel, and health. We look forward to connecting with you!
Older Americans Lunch & Birthday Bash
Thursday, May 22, 12:00 pm
This year, join us in honoring older adults’ contributions at our annual luncheon on Thursday, May 22nd as we celebrate Older Americans Month and our Birthday Bash to celebrate December through May birthdays. Please sign up in advance by calling 802-457-3277. Suggested donation is $7.
Coin Collection Evaluation and Appraisal with Ron Ringenberg
Tuesday, May 27, 1:00 pm
Do you have old coins or a coin collection that you don’t know what to do with? Do you have a relative who wonders how to dispose of their coin collection? Bring your questions to the upcoming presentation: Coin Collection Evaluation and Appraisal, by Ron Ringenberg at the Thompson Senior Center – May 27th at 1 PM. Ron has enjoyed years of coin collecting and appraising. He’ll discuss managing coin collections as part of an estate, maximizing the possible value of coin collection inheritance and how to begin these processes. Register in advance by calling 802-457-3277 ext. 2.
SLN Virtual Program
POP! Goes the West! Whitney Art Museum
Tuesday, May 27, 2:00 pm
We are fortunate to catch this new art exhibition from the Whitney at Buffalo Bill Center of the West! Explore the compelling intersections between popular culture and the American West. Surround yourself with the iconic work of Andy Warhol and other artists who combine the styles and attitudes of the Pop Art movement with western subject matter. POP! features eye-catching artwork with bright colors and bold designs. Artists depict a West that is both familiar and unexpected, filled with Indians and cowgirls, wildlife and highways, horses and pickup trucks, cell phones and tourists, along with lariats, guns, geysers, and more!
Register in advance by contacting cvang@thompsonseniorcenter.org or 802-457-3277 ext. 2.
Storytelling Workshop with Rev. Derek van Gulden
Wednesday, May 28, 1:00 pm
Do you enjoy storytelling and or listening to a good story? We all do! Please join us Wednesday, May 28th at 1pm to listen to Storyteller Derek van Gulden tell stories and give some pointers on creating enthralling and enjoyable stories. Please call The Thompson to sign up in advance.
Tablet Program
We’re excited to announce the opportunity to share free tablets and training with first time tech users! This will be for people that do not already have a tablet and are interested in understanding the benefits of owning one and using technology for the first time.
We will have three classes that will focus on setting a tablet up and using it for emails, photos, telehealth, and finally more advanced tasks like paying bills online, managing calendars and more.
Participants will receive the tablet for free thanks to a grant from the Maine Council of Aging and the Hannafords CHEF grant. Cory will schedule classes directly with those who are signed up. Contact him with any questions. 802-457-3277.
Ongoing Programs in Order by Date
Advance Directive Assistance by Appointment
Would your loved ones know your wishes about medical care if you were unable to speak for yourself? An Advance Directive spells out your wishes and appoints someone to represent you if you are not able. A trained and caring volunteer will take the time to explain this simple process. Call Shari at 802-457-3277.
Benefits Assistance
Call Shari for an appointment. 9:30am –12:30 pm by appointment
As temperatures start to drop, there are programs available to help you stretch your budget. You might be eligible for:
- Seasonal Fuel Assistance to help pay heating and energy bills
- 3SquaresVT monthly benefits to pay for groceries (if you’re eligible for one, you’re eligible for the other!)
- Free weatherization services to improve your home’s energy efficiency (you’re eligible if you get fuel assistance!)
- Crisis Fuel Assistance if you’ve hit your monthly heating budget
Individual assistance is available by appointment with Senior Solutions Benefits Counselor, Liz Carey. Call Shari for your appointment.
Caregiver Support Group
In-person, 2nd Tuesday of each month at 12:00 pm
Virtual participation still available upon request
Support and education can make a critical difference for family members and caregivers of patients with memory loss or disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Please join our confidential monthly support group on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, and share ideas, concerns, and constructive feedback with others facing similar challenges.
Reflexology will pause during May and June
Enjoy Reflexology to Relax, Rejuvenate, & Reboot Your Body
Please call Shari to schedule a morning appointment. $35 for 30 minute hand or foot treatment or $65 for 60 minutes.
Please wear loose fitting clothing and arrive a few minutes early to complete a health & disclaimer form.
Bridge
Wednesdays, 1:00 pm
Learn the game or improve your skills in a low intensity, friendly setting. Everyone welcome! Coached by Bill Boardman, bridge teacher for decades.
Foot Clinic
Call for schedule and to make your appointment. Towels are supplied
Beverly Sinclair has been a practicing registered nurse for 22 years with extensive experience as a staff nurse and in nurse management. She has been providing local foot care service for older Vermonters for the past 6 years.