The Newsletter of the Fairfield Senior CenterVolume 24, Number 1 January, 2014

fairfieldsenior timesservices and support for fairfield’s older adults

Lifelong Learners Winter Session Set

Noted Soprano to Sing at Center

Senate Committee Launches Senior Fraud Hotline Starting the middle of this month, you

can come out of the cold and treat yourself to a series of four stimulating Lifelong Learners courses. Check out these offerings:

Course 1419—The Cold War: a His-torical Perspective Arthur N. Gottlieb, Thursdays

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a scam or fraud aimed at seniors, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging has set up a new toll-free hotline to help.

The hotline was established to make it easier for senior citizens to report sus-pected fraud and receive assistance. It will be staffed by a team of commit-tee investigators weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. The investi-gators, who have experience with in-vestment scams, identity theft, bogus sweepstakes and lottery schemes, Medicare and Social Security fraud, and a variety of other senior exploi-tation issues, will directly examine complaints and, if appropriate, refer them to the proper authorities.

Anyone with information about sus-pected fraud can call the toll-free fraud hotline at 1.855.303.9470, or contact the committee through its website: www.aging.senate.gov/fraud-hotline

As chairman and ranking member of the committee, Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have made consumer protection and fraud prevention a primary focus of the committee’s work. This year the panel has held hearings examining Jamaican lottery scams, tax-related

Continues on Page 2 Continues on Page 2 Continues on Page 6

Course 1416—Writer’s Club Dr. Mona Garcia, Tuesdays January 14, 21, 28, February 4 10:00 a.m. to NoonJoin us for a four-part presentation on four writers who helped shape history in America and England: Mercy Otis Warren, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mary Chestnut and Elizabeth Gaskell.

Course 1417—The Great American Songbook Rolls On Dr. Joe Utterback, Tuesdays January 14, 21, 28, February 4 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.Dr. Joe continues his popular series with songs and stories about musical greats like Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Fats Waller and others.

Course 1418—Vivaldi In Venice Dr. Heather Hamilton, Thursdays January 23, 30, February 6 and 13 10:00 a.m. to NoonHeather, a popular speaker and highly skilled musician, will discuss the mu-sic, life and arts of Venice from 1650 to 1750.

We are very pleased to announce the forthcoming appearance of singing star Ruth Harcovitz, Ms. Connecticut 2013, in her program, A Musical Val-entine, featuring music in many styles dear to the hearts of senior citizens. The concert will take place at the center on Thursday, February 13th at 12:30 p.m.

Known for her programs on numer-ous themes for community organiza-tions, Ms. Harcovitz is a graduate of the New England Conservatory, with graduate study at the Vienna Acad-emy of Music. She has sung with the Santa Fe Opera, Artists Internationale and Opera New England. She has also performed and recorded with the Bos-

Ms. Ruth Harcovitz

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AT THE MOVIESIN January

Every Friday at 12:15

Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay — Beecham House, a home for retired English musicians, is soon to play host to a new resident. Word is, it’s a star. And Regi-nald Paget, Wilfred Bond and Cecily Robson are in for quite a shock when the new arrival turns out to be none other than their former singing partner, Jean Horton (Smith). A thoroughly stellar cast and superb direction by Dustin Hoff-man. “One of the best movies you’ll ever see about old age.” 98 minutes.

January 17th — The Great Gatsby (2013)

January 10th — Quartet (2013)

Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan — This is the fourth film incarnation of Fitzgerald’s great American novel, set in the early 1920s, about an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of the mysterious, party-giving million-aire, Jay Gatsby, is inspired. The film is visually stunning, although some crit-ics said it lacked real substance. “A visual treat.” 142 minutes.

January 24th — Barrymore (2012) Christopher Plummer, John Plumpis — Set in 1942, acclaimed American actor John Barrymore (Plummer), a member of one of Hollywood’s most well-known theatrical dynasties, tells his story. No longer a leading box office star, the film finds a boozy Barrymore reckoning with the ravages of his life of excess. “In the hands of an actor of such caliber as Plummer, it is riveting stuff. And often hilarious, risqué, even coarse on occasion.” 83 minutes.

Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy — Uptight FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Bullock) and foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins (McCarthy) couldn’t be more incompatible. But when they join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies. From Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids. “Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are flat-out funny and fun to watch.” 116 minutes.

identity theft, Social Security fraud and payday loans impact on seniors.

“If you’re contacted about an offer that sounds too good to be true, then it probably is,” Nelson said. “This new hotline will give seniors a resource to turn to for assistance if they think they’ve been victimized or have ques-tions about fraudulent activities.”

“Ensuring that seniors are as equipped as possible to avoid becoming victims of fraud and other scams is among our committee’s top priorities,” said Col-lins. “This new hotline offered by the Senate Special Committee on Aging will help to identify and put a stop to the cruel scams that hurt seniors and their families.”

The hotline’s unveiling also coin-cides with the committee’s launch of an enhanced senior-friendly website. The site’s new features include large print, simple navigation and an un-cluttered layout that enables seniors to find information more easily and conveniently. Online visitors can also increase text size, change colors or view a text-only version of the site. To view the new website, visit: www.aging.senate.gov

Senior Fraud From Page 1

January 31st — The Heat (2012) ½Winter Courses From Page 1

January 16, 23, 30, February 6 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.This fascinating series will explore the origins and progression of the Cold War, as well as its legacy and implications for the future.

So, no matter what your interests, whether music, literature or history, we’ve got you covered. Past regis-trants will get a brochure in the mail. Others can pick up brochures at the senior center’s front desk. Register early because these classes are among our most popular activities. Tuition is $20 plus a $10 registration fee valid from September through June each year. Call the center at 203.256.3166 for more information.

Editor’s Note: This is a film adaptation of Plummer’s celebrated one-man stage show. His performance is a master class in great acting.

The Fairfield Seniors and…

Travel arranged by Tours of Distinction, East Windsor, CT

Westchester Broadway Theatre

March 27, 2014 Thursday

Enjoy a great lunch and a fantastic musical at the Westchester Broadway The-ater. When: Thursday, March 27th, 2014. Cost: $105 per person all inclusive. Departs the center: 9:30 a.m. Returns: 5:30 p.m. Choose from an extensive menu and enjoy Ragtime, a musical that intertwines the stories of three fami-lies as they confront the timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in turn of the century America. Please call the office at 203.256.3166 for reservations.

Page 3January, 2014

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

2 3

Butternut Squash Soup Cranberry Juice

Unsalted Crackers Orange Chicken with

Orange Ginger SauceOnions and Peppers Fried Rice

Coleslaw Spinach

W.W. Hamburger Bun Oatmeal Bread

Banana Tapioca Pudding

6 7 8 9 10

Apricot Glazed Grilled Pineapple Juice Grape Juice LS Vegetable Beef Soup

Chicken Breast Swedish Meatballs O'Brien Potatoes Unsalted Crackers

Mushroom Gravy Oriental Vegetables Parmesan

Cauliflower Egg Noodles Lemon Sauce

Buttered Beets Salad, Italian Harvest Rice, Veggies

Wheat Bread Rye Bread Dressing, Garlic Bread Pumpernickel Bread

Fresh Apple Birthday Cake Pineapple Chunks Sherbet Apricots

13 14 15 16 17

Open Faced Turkey Orange Juice LS Tomato Lentil Soup Veal Cutlet with Apple Juice

Sandwich with Roast Beef Unsalted Crackers Brown Gravy Baked Chicken Breast

Turkey Gravy Beef Gravy Crab Cakes with Winter Squash Chicken Gravy

Stuffing Baked Potato White Sauce Cauliflower Mashed Potato

Peas Green and Gold Beans Carrots

Cranberry Sauce Noodles, Spinach

Potato Bread 12 Grain Bread Rye Bread Oatmeal Bread

Mixed Fruit Cup Rice Pudding Tropical Fruit Cocktail Fresh Apple Ice Cream Cup

20 21 22 23 24

Pea Soup Pineapple Juice Orange Juice Roast Pork

Unsalted Crackers LS Sliced Ham Spaghetti with Meatballs Apples and Sauerkraut

Baked Codfish Mustard Glaze Spaghetti Sauce Oven Brown Potatoes

Steak Fries Parmesan Cheese Carrot Coins

Spinach with Stewed Green Beans Romaine Salad

Tomato Italian Dressing

Pumpernickel Bread Dinner Roll Italian Bread Rye Bread

Fresh Orange Lemon Pudding Citrus Selections

27 28 29 30 31

Italian Beef Open Italian Wedding Soup Lasagna Orange Juice

Faced Sandwich Unsalted Crackers Marinara Sauce Turkey Pot Pie with

Sauerkraut Peas Turkey, Peas,Sliced Potatoes Broccoli Brown Rice Celery and Carrots

Buttered Beets Geneva Blend Veggies Diced Potatoes

Garden Salad, French

Potato Bread Rye Bread 100% Whole Wheat Italian Bread Dressing, BiscuitFresh Apple Pineapple Chunks Banana Tropical Fruit Cup Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Philly Cheesesteak

Pork Stir Fry Au Jus

Unbreaded Veal

Herbed Couscous White Fish Filet

Ziti with Sauce

Multigrain Bread

Buttered and Parslied

Multigrain Bread

Buttered Orzo

Oatmeal Crème Pie

Knockwurst

Pierogies with

Beef Au Jus Chicken Bruschetta

January Menu

High Fiber Cereals Help Keep Blood Pressure in CheckHaving a bowl of breakfast cereal, especially whole-grain, high-fiber cereals like oatmeal, oat squares, bran flakes or shredded wheat, can reduce your chance of developing high blood pressure, Harvard University researchers recently found. Plus, the more servings of cereal you eat a week, the greater the benefits. Add to that the recent research on blueberries (very good for you), and you could double your health rewards by topping your cereal with berries.

Please make reservations three days in advance: call 203.256.3118 between 10:00 and 11:15 a.m. A $2.00 donation is suggested. 1% or

skim milk is provided. Margarine is served with all meals. Menu is subject to change.

*High in sugar content. **High Salt Content. +High fat.

― Helen Keller

Center Closed Martin Luther King

Day

Senior Community CafeOpen Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Lunch service begins at 11:45 a.m.

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”

Page 4 January, 2014

January, 2014

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1 2 312:15 No Movie Today

6 9:30 Blood Pressure Screening12:00 Singer Gary Kahn

79:00 AARP Driving Class9:30 Silver Belles Shop Consignment Day10:00 Computer Course

8 910:00 Computer Course3:45 School Nurses Mtg.

10 12:15 Movie: Quartet

13 1410:00 Writer’s Club10:00 Computer Course11:30 FairfieldWomen’s Basketball Team1:00 American Songbook1:00 Diabetes Support Group

1512:00 Jeanne Harrison, Storyteller 1:00 Genealogy

16 10:00 Computer Course1:00 Cold War

1712:15 Movie: The Great Gatsby

20 2110:00 Writer’s Club10:00 Computer Course1:00 American Songbook

2210:15 FSCA Mtg.

2310:00 Vivaldi in Venice10:00 Computer Course1:00 Cold War

2412:15 Movie: Barrymore

27 28 10:00 Writer’s Club 1:00 Bunco1:00 American Songbook

2912:00 Jeanne Harrison, Storyteller

3010:00 Vivaldi in Venice10:00 Celebrate Me1:00 Cold War

3112:15 Movie: The Heat

Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Wednesday Every Thursday Every Friday

Calendar of Events

9:00 Woodcarving9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Table Pool9:10 Coed Exercise9:30 Bocce10:00 Senior Exercise11:00 Flex & Stretch1:00 Open Bridge1:00 Dance Aerobics2:15 Pickleball

9:00 Pacers-Walking Group

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Woodcarving9:00 Table Pool9:00 Dance Aerobics9:30 Yoga10:00 Senior Exercise10:00 Open Painting11:00 Flex & Stretch1:00 Model Airplane

Club1:00 Chess Club1:00 Mah-Jongg

9:00 Pacers-Walking Group

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Woodcarving9:00 Table Pool9:10 Coed Exercise9:30 Open Crafts10:00 Senior Exercise11:00 Flex & Stretch12:30 Open Bridge1:00 Tai Chi

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Quilters9:00 Table Pool9:00 Basic Zumba10:00 Music & Movement11:00 Flex & Stretch12:15 Movies1:00 Scrabble1:00 Pickleball

9:00 Pacers-Walking Group

9:00 Table Tennis9:00 Table Pool9:00 Basic Zumba9:30 Sewing Bee10:00 Senior Exercise10:00 Open Computer

Lab/Help11:00 Flex & Stretch12:30 Bingo1:00 Open Bridge1:00 Tai Chi

Snow Closings. The Senior Center is closedwhenevertheFairfieldschoolsystemisclosed. In the event of delayed openings, our buses may run late.

Center Closed Martin Luther King

Day

Matter of Balance classes are designed to reduce fear of falling and in-crease activity levels among older adults. The eight-week Tuesday sessions start on February 4th and run to March 25th, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Classes are lim-itedto12people.Calltheofficeat203.256.3166tosignup.

Center Closed New Year’s Day

Page 5January, 2014

The Fairfield Senior Times is published monthly by the Fairfield

Senior Center,100 Mona TerraceFairfield, CT 06824

Hours: Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

DirectorTeresa Giegengack, 203.256.3169

Program CoordinatorMargaret Andrews, 203.254.5102

Town HallHuman Services Commission

Senior Times StaffEditor: Ron Atwater

fsteditor@hotmail.com

Editorial Assistant: M.A. Atwater

© 2014. All rights reserved.Printed in USA by Liturgical

Publications Inc., Hartford, CT

Information: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 203.256.3166.Transportation: M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 203.256.3168.Lunch (three days notice required): M-F, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 203.256.3118 after 10:00 a.m.Coffee Shop: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Gift Shop: M-F, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Social Worker: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 203.256.3170.Blood Pressure Screening: 203.256.3166Notary Public: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 203.256.3166.

Senior Center Services

Legal counseling; long term care; medigap and Medicare counseling. Services Below by Appointment Only. Call 203.256.3166

Visit the Senior Times online at www.fairfieldct.org/senior.htm

Reminders & Other Stuff Crooner to Perform at Center. Singer/Crooner Gary Kahn will de-light everyone during the noon lunch hour on Monday, January 6th. Gary sounds like a cross between Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. He sings at many senior centers and his ex-tensive repertoire includes many of the “oldies” we love so much.

How to Honor a Life’s Legacy through Journaling. On Thursday, January 30th at 10 a.m., Bernadette Plescia, R.N., will help you create a personal journal, designed to cap-ture your unique memories and life story. This very special program, called Celebrate Me Home, is free of charge. At the conclusion, you‘ll receive a hard bound journal in which to record your own story.

A free tax preparation service avail-able to low and medium income se-niors will start on Monday, February 3rd and will be offered every Monday and Wednesday thereafter, starting at 9:00 a.m., through April 9th. Phone the center at 203.256.3166 to schedule an appointment. Trained representatives will help prepare your taxes. Note that this program is not intended for those whose tax returns are complex.

Please bring copies of your 2012 tax return to the tax preparation sessions. In addition, bring all W-2 and 1099 forms, as well as all reports of income received, such as social security, sale of securities and redemption of mu-tual funds. If you sold securities or redeemed mutual funds, bring records of dates of acquisition and costs; these are required to calculate the amount of gain or loss. If you itemize deduc-tions, bring records for all deductible expenses. Also bring your checkbook if you want to arrange for direct de-posit of any refund(s) due (which we encourage) and your spouse if you’re married.

AARP Tax-Aide StartsMonday, February 3rd

Senior Center and Fairfield U’s Women’s Basketball Team Join Forces. Fairfield University’s wom-en’s basketball team is inviting se-niors to campus games on Janu-ary 24th at 7:00 p.m. (Fairfield U. vs. Canisius, NY) and February 4th at 7:00 p.m. (Fairfield U. vs. Mon-mouth, NY).

Tickets for our seniors are discount-ed from $6 to $3, but as a part of our intergenerational program, the center is offering 33 free tickets to our members.

To promote this new partnership, the team will be at the center Tues-day, January 14th in the dining room, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Plan on coming to the center for this event, and supporting the team at their home games.

More Storytelling. Jeanne Harri-son, Storyteller, will be returning to the center on January 15th and 29th at noon in the dining room to share your memories of Fairfield.

Page 6 January, 2014

Photo Gallery

About Patient Assistance Programs

Quotable

Patient Assistance Programs can help people who have low income and cannot afford their medications. More than 100 of these programs ex-ist at pharmaceutical companies in the United States.

An organization known as the Partner-ship for Prescription Assistance was created to help consumers through the maze of programs at each pharmaceu-tical company.

Millions of people are already bene-fiting from patient assistant programs —and there are millions more who could be helped. Each patient assis-tance program has its own eligibility criteria. If you complete the step-by-step application process with the Part-nership for Prescription Assistance, you should be able to see if you are eligible for one or more patient assis-tance programs. Patients with ques-tions about the eligibility criteria of a specific program will be transferred directly to the company sponsoring that program. (Note: There are some instances in which Medicaid benefi-ciaries may be eligible for certain pa-

tient assistance programs.)

Start by calling the Partnership for Prescription Assistance toll free at 1.888.477.2669. Have the name of your medication with you when you call. After you answer a few ques-tions, this organization can tell you if you do or do not qualify for patient assistance for your medications.

How does it work? First, you apply to the Partnership for Prescription Assis-tance. If they think you qualify, they will tell you which program to contact to request the forms you need. Some forms can be completed online. Then you take the completed form to your physician’s office, where they will sign it and include either the prescrip-tion or specific prescription informa-tion. Then either your physician or you can send the necessary forms to the organization sponsoring the pro-gram you need. Many physicians will fax the form directly from their office for you.

How do you actually get your medication(s)?

Depending on the program, the pre-scription medicines are either sent to the doctor's office or sent to the pa-tient's home. Some patient assistance programs send patients a pharmacy card in the mail that they can use to get their free or nearly free medicines at their local pharmacy.

“Either cheer up or take off the hat.”

“Every New Year is the direct descen-dant, isn't it, of a long line of proven criminals?” — Ogden Nash

— Phyllis McGinley

— Sinclair Lewis

“Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year, everybody.”

“Winter is not a season, it’s an occu-pation.”

ton Symphony, both in Boston’s Sym-phony Hall and in Carnegie Hall, and has appeared as soloist with choral societies. She has sung leads in mu-sicals, summer stock, dinner theater, and appeared in many musical theater reviews. A favorite of audiences, she is in constant demand throughout the country for her beautiful voice.

Ms. Harcovitz was crowned Ms. Con-necticut in April and recently was a Top Ten Finalist in the Senior Ameri-ca Pageant.

This concert program is sponsored jointly by the Fairfield Senior Citizens Association and the Town of Fair-field. For information or reservations, please call the center at 203.256.3166. Seating is limited.

Soprano From Page 1

The center held a special luncheon for its many volunteers on December 11th. Entertainment was provided by the Coastal Chordsmen, right. Those who give of their time and talent make the center the great place it is. To them we give our profound thanks and best wishes for the new year.