Lifelong Learning

Apple/Mac Users Group

Thursday, January 23, 2020 | 1:00-3:00pm

Apple/Mac classes are held for both new and experienced Apple product users. Clay Sisk coordinates meetings; contact him via email to receive weekly program announcements. In the first hour, some Mac basics and utilities for new users are covered, and then other topics as detailed on their email announcement. In the second hour, iPad and iPhone basics and accessories are covered. If you want to be on the Apple/Mac email list, send a message to Clay Sisk at siskva@mac.com This mailing has many valuable links for Apple/Mac users. Free for Senior Center members.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Contact: Clay Sisk

Fee: free

Le Cercle Français

Thursday, January 23, 2020 | 2:00-3:00pm

LE CERCLE FRANCAIS Welcome to our friendly, informal, Francophone “Cercle” every 2nd and 4th Thursday..

Members only.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Writing for Pleasure

Friday, January 24, 2020 | 12:00-2:00pm

What you have to say matters ... Why not say it in writing? Come discover and share your best style! All genres and experience levels welcome. Weekly "Writing for Pleasure" meetings are members only, but monthly coffeehouses are open to all.  As always, free and open to the communities. Coffee provided. Munchies to share welcomed.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Contact: Sandra Garrett sandrag992@gmail.com

Fee: free

Writing for Healing and Growth

Monday, January 27, 2020 | 10:00-12:00pm

Anyone who has ever kept a journal, written stories about his or her life, or just let the pencil do the talking knows that writing is indeed a powerful instrument for fulfillment, growth, and healing. Writing that comes from the heart and mind gives expression to that which is uniquely us. Experience the adventure of writing in this weekly workshop. The emphasis is on—but is not limited to—the writing of memoirs. This is not a critique group; it is designed to provide the support that people need to tell their stories. Strict rules of privacy and confidentiality will be observed. Leonard Tuchyner facilitates. Members only, limited availability, $15 per month. 

PLEASE CONTACT LANI HOZA at (434) 974-7756 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS GROUP.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Staying Healthy with Spectrum Physical Therapy

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 10:00-11:00am

This program will not meet in December.

Tuesday, January 28, 10:00 – 11:00 AM

How Not to Fall in the Winter.  Erin Chapman, DPT, will lead participants through some balance exercises to help prevent winter falls that could become spring nightmares.  She will also provide other tips for staying safe in the wintry months.  Free and open to the community.

Tuesday, February 25, 9:30 – 11:30 AM

Join professionals from SPECTRUM Physical Therapy for a free screening for Center members. If you are interested, please sign up in advance at The Center’s Welcome Desk for a 15-minute session to discuss your concerns and get screened for pain or dysfunction.  Therapists will then advise participants regarding various treatment options that might include physical therapy, follow-up with a physician, or imaging.  Open to members.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Medicare Consulting - Tuesdays

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 10:00-12:00pm

Are you ready for Medicare? Do you need help navigating the system? Do you have lots of questions? Do you know when and where to sign up? Phyllis Payne, licensed insurance agent, will answer your questions. Phyllis Payne will assist with health insurance claims and long term planning care and to answer questions about medical insurance. Call Phyllis at 434.960.5833 to schedule an appointment.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Let's Talk About Your Feet

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 12:00-1:00pm

For Your Aging Feet and Plantar Fasciitis. Dr. Amanda Lutter is a board certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon in private practice. Join her as she discusses a variety of foot conditions affecting patients 50+ years old. These include bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses, neuromas, ingrown nails, fungal nails, Athlete's foot and causes of heel pain, in particular, plantar fasciitis. Dr. Lutter will be available following the presentation for individual Q&A. Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Beginning Spanish

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 1:00-2:00pm

Meets November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 10, 17, January 14, 21, 28, February 11, 18, 25

In this year long course we use Conversational Spanish in 7 Days by Shirley Baldwin and Sarah Boas since it focuses on the most common, everyday situations you’ll encounter in Spanish-speaking countries.  Everything is explained in clear, concise English so if you have to miss a class, you can easily keep up with what we are doing in class.  We meet three times a month, and cover about a lesson a month:  during September-December we work with learning the present tense of regular verbs, in January we learn how to use object pronouns, and then in February add irregular verbs, in March stem-changing verbs, and in April reflexive verbs as we talk about daily activities.  In May we turn to a past tense, the present perfect, and then in June look forward, to the future tense.  Finally in July and August we end our year’s study of Spanish by working with the two simple past tenses.

If you are looking for a basic course in Spanish, and can commit to spending at least two to three hours a week (ideally 20-30 minutes a day!) studying Spanish, then this is the course for you!  But if you just want to learn a few phrases for travel, this course is more than you really want.  

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Intermediate Spanish

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 2:10-3:10pm

Intermediate Spanish  (Tuesdays at 2:10 pm)

Meets November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 10, 17, January 14, 21, 28, Febraury 11, 18, 25

In this year long course we use McGraw Hill’s Spanish Conversation by Jean Yates in the series of “Practice Makes Perfect”.  The text serves as a guide for expanding your conversational fluency through the use of realistic everyday dialogues.  The exercises in the text will be complemented by handouts that include personal questions which make use of the expressions presented in each lesson.  During September and October we shall be reviewing the two key simple past tenses, the preterit and imperfect, which were introduced at the end of the Beginning Spanish course.  In this course the student’s knowledge of the basic structure of the language will be expanded to include complex sentences with dependent noun, adjective, and adverbial clauses which often require the use of the subjunctive mood. 

We shall be meeting three times a month and cover about a lesson a month:  the first week working with the exercises in the text, the second week with the personal questions on the handouts, and the third week, completing the final exercise in the text which usually entails writing a short paragraph using as many of the expressions presented in the lesson as possible.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Advanced Spanish

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 3:20-4:20pm

Advanced Spanish  (Tuesdays at 3:20 pm)

Meets November 12, 19, December 3, 17, January 14, 28, February 11, 25

This is an informal course for students who are fairly fluent in Spanish, designed to give them the opportunity to keep up their Spanish skills.  It meets twice a month in a tertulia like format.  The materials we use will vary.  At present we are using McGraw Hill’s Spanish Reading and Comprehension by Myrna Bell Rochester and Deana Smalley in the series of “Practice Makes Perfect”.  It provides short readings for us to discuss, followed by exercises, and includes some brief grammar review.  There is no fee for the course.

Location: The Center

Charlottesville International Folk Dance

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 | 6:00-8:00pm

Beginning dances are taught by experienced teachers. Community dances from Eastern Europe are primarily the focus. Please join us for these communal village dances and enjoy the friendship of a small group. For information, please call Susan Roberts at (434)409-0264 or go to the web site: seniorcenter.org/calendar/events/54/ or charlottesvilleinternationalfolkdance.com/.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Everything You Want to Know about Marijuana (But Are Afraid to Ask)

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | 10:30-11:30am

Dr. James Avery is a triple-Board Certified physician and Visiting Assistant Professor at the UVA School of Medicine.  He will be at The Center to discuss his recently published book about marijuana and to answer any questions you may have about it and related products like CBD.  Come learn what you always wanted to know.

Free and open to the public.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Socrates Cafe™

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | 3:00-5:00pm

Meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month

Socrates Café is a group of people who are interested in discussing topics which arouse philosophical ideas and thoughts among the members of the group. Any source if fair game, from education to politics, religion to cultural attitudes; lively discussion takes place no mattter what the discussion. Chris Phillips, author and co-founder of The Society for Philosophical Inquiry, developed the idea of Socrates Café™ to do as Socrates did, bring philosophy to the every day individual: “It's a dialogue where people discover their unique philosophical perspectives and worldviews as they lock hearts and minds with other people.” Join our gatherings at which participants propose and choose the questions and take turns facilitating the discussions. To learn more about the concept, visit www.philosopher.org. 

Members only.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Investors Forum - First Friday

Friday, February 7, 2020 | 10:00-11:30am

Investors meet twice a month to discuss the stock and bond markets, and investment strategies.  After general discussion, we usually focus on a specific topic.  No money is collected or invested by this group.  Investors of all levels are welcome.  

A related Health of the Market website is updated every Saturday.

A list of favorite investment websites can be found here.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Contact: Bruce Saunders at (434) 245-0605 or saundershsd@earthlink.net for more information or to join the e-mail notification list.

Fee: free

All Things Digital

Monday, February 10, 2020 | 1:00-2:30pm

Monday, December 9, 1:00 – 2:30 PM

Cryptocurrency.  Have you heard of Bitcoin?  It’s just one of numerous forms of cryptocurrency (or digital currency) that people use to exchange for goods and services. Derrick Gerstmann and RJ Jones of FlossTech will describe what cryptocurrency is, highlight the risks and rewards that accompany its use, and outline the pros and cons of using and/or investing in this concept.  Free and open to the community.

Monday, January 13, 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Post-holiday Gadget Review.  Did you get or give some new technology this holiday season?  Join Derrick Gerstman and RJ Jones of FlossTech to learn about the top tech gifts that took this holiday season by storm.  Free and open to the community.

Monday, February 10, 1:00 – 2:30 PM

All Things Google.  Come learn how the many benefits of Google can help to simplify your life.  Derrick Gerstmann and RJ Jones will present.  Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Star Light, Star Bright

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 10:00-11:00am

Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Join Larry Saunders, President of the Charlottesville Astronomical Society, as he shares details about upcoming spectacles to see in the night sky, including a planetary clustering of Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter (and the Moon!) in March and a preview of the Lyrids meteor shower in April. Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Money & You With Jorgen Vik

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 10:00-11:30am

Tuesday, December 10, 10:00 -11:30 am

How to Invest for Income Jorgen Vik will discuss various basic concepts and investment opportunities for income including stocks, bonds, annuities, and savings accounts. Free and open to the community.

Tuesday, January 14, 10:00am-11:30am

The Year and Decade Ahead - Jorgen Vik, Partner with SKV Group, LLC, will discuss what may lie ahead for the coming year and decade as it relates to your investment and finances. Free and open to the community.

Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 -11:30 am

Retirement Account Rules - Jorgen Vik, Partner with SKV Group, LLC, will discuss various rules concerning retirement accounts. What is taxed? When is it taxed? How will it pass to your heirs? Free and open to the community.

* Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and SKV Group, LLC are not legal or tax advisors. You should consult with your attorney, accountant and/or estate planner before taking any action.

Jorgen Vik, CFP®, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and partner of the SKV Group, LLC, a Charlottesville based wealth management company. Jorgen has worked in the financial services industry since 2001. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. SKV Group is a separate entity from WFAFN.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Senior Statesmen of Virginia*

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 | 1:30-3:30pm

*Please note that Senior Statesmen of Virginia programs are independent of Center programming.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Contact: www.seniorstatesmen.org

Love Your Heart

Thursday, February 13, 2020 | 10:30-11:30am

February is National Heart Month.  Aimee Carter of the American Heart Association will review some simple tips for creating a heart healthy culture for yourself, your family, and your community.  Learn how to add wellness into your daily life through smart food choices, exercise, and general awareness.  Ms. Carter will also demonstrate and help you practice hands-only CPR to aid others in a cardiac emergency. Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Religion, Science and Spirituality

Friday, February 14, 2020 | 10:00-11:30am

Friday, January 10, 10:00-11:30 am

Do animals have souls? There is a lot of evidence that animals are aware of another reality. Some species watch over their dead for a day before moving on. Others perform rituals that have no apparent utilitarian purpose. And many pet owners, when their pets die, are convinced they have gone to a “pet heaven.”  Free and open to the community. 

Friday, February 14, 10:00-11:30 am

Is God All Powerful & All Loving? If so, how do we explain the Nazi Holocaust, and how Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Pot Pol, Kim II Sung, Castro, and other Communist leaders killed 100 million of their own people, many of whom met horrible deaths? The victims had no option to exercise their God given free will.  How does this change our perception of God?  Or does it?  Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Elder Law with Doris Gelbman

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 | 10:00-11:30am

Tuesday, January 21, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Aging in Place – Part I - Staying in Your Home

What are the practical, health and financial considerations that you need to consider in order to stay in your home as you grow older? What resources need to be researched and planned for? Will you need to move or modify your home? What community resources are available to help you stay home and independent longer? What sort of additional costs should one plan for?  May also discuss some alternative ideas such as “Co-housing” or “Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC)” if time allows. Free and open to the community.

Tuesday, February 18, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Aging in Place – Part II - Independent and “Continuing Care Retirement Communities” (CCRC)

These communities are springing up all over and many are advertised like luxury, country club living for the rest of your life. Is that the reality? The offerings and contracts for such communities can be dizzying. And they vary from community to community. This might be a great option for you and --- it might not. Don’t sign on the bottom line without coming to this presentation to get the real scoop on all the fine print! Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Medicare Special Plans - What's Right for You?

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 | 10:00-11:30am

Medicare can be so confusing! If you are just signing up for Medicare, or if you already belong but aren’t sure you have registered for everything that you need, this is the session for you.  If you have Medicare A & B and Full Medicaid (CCC+) then you may be eligible for additional benefits and this is the session for you, too. Come find out what you need to do to take full advantage of the Medicare benefits available, and have some fun at the same time.  Hosted by presenter Sharon Accardo.  Free and open to the community.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Investors Forum - Third Friday

Friday, February 21, 2020 | 10:00-11:30am

Investors meet twice a month to discuss the stock and bond markets, and investment strategies.  After general discussion, we usually focus on a specific topic.  No money is collected or invested by this group.  Investors of all levels are welcome.  

A related Health of the Market website is updated every Saturday.

A list of favorite investment websites can be found here.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Contact: Bruce Saunders at (434) 245-0605 or saundershsd@earthlink.net for more information or to join the e-mail notification list.

Fee: free

Long Term Care Insurance Q&A

Friday, February 21, 2020 | 11:00-12:00pm

Tracy Meade will guide you through any questions you have about long term care insurance. If you have inquiries about an existing policy, you are welcome to bring the policy with you. Please note that space is very limited; there are only 2 appointments available each month. Please register at the Welcome Desk. (434) 974-7756.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Fee: free

Central Virginia Dowsers

Sunday, March 8, 2020 | 1:15-3:00pm

Dowsing is an ancient art of searching for information with or without the assistance of a tool such as a forked stick or pendulum. Surveyors, archaeologists, health practitioners, business men and women and more use this art for information and to solve problems. The Central Virginia Dowsers invite you to learn about the art of dowsing and how it can be used in almost every aspect of life.  Beginners and experienced welcome! For more information, contact Roxanne Louise at 434-263-4337. 

Members only.

Location: The Center

Fee: free