Message from the Executive DirectorHello Everyone,

The movie Bridge of Spies was recently on televi-sion and as much as I love the whole movie, there is one line that I keep coming back to when I reflect on all that it has to offer. The line is spoken by Rudolph Abel, a captured Soviet spy. Twice in the movie, when asked by his attorney, James Donovan whether he was worried, Abel replied “Would it help?”

It must be a trained mind that would reply this way. We all worry and we all have fears but, do we also think about whether the worry and fear will make any difference? In fact, it would be almost impossible not to worry or have fear if we didn’t counter balance these instinctual reactions with thoughtful rationalization. Abel had every reason to worry but he was in control and in balance.

This month’s newsletter has a wonderful article on how to deal with the fear of aging. What may give the article, and its suggestions, more weight is knowing that just by reading it, you are balancing

your natural emotions with logical, reasonable thoughts and actions. In other words, practice and training will help us with our worry and fears.

White Birch Center of Active Living can also help. Many of the suggestions in the article can be found here. Staying active and socializing are two of the suggestions and we have those covered. Best of all, we have a number of people here who are living examples how anyone would want to age. If you have a fear of aging, come to White Birch, it would help.

Sincerely,

Marc McMurphy

Executive Director

James O’RourkePresident jorourke@olonh.com

Louise Cyr Vice President

Cathy Clement-Dias Secretary

Ryan TowleTreasurer

Members:Stephen BurrittPhil EmmaCarol GoodenoughLindsay Pierce

Rev. Rebecca ManciniCarolyn McKeanJessica Michie-PrietoDavid Woolpert

Emeritus Members:Jon EvansLucia R. Evans

Jolene Schillinger/EriksonCarol Gaidos

Marc McMurphy Executive Director

Beth Ann Paul Director of Active Living

WHITE BIRCH CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Volume 1 Issue 9 March 2017

White Birch Centerfor Active Living

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During the Christmas season, the White Birch KnitWits donated hundreds of items to 8 local organizations. The productivity and generosity of this group is endless as they have spent the first few months of the year making hats to donate to the Henniker Rescue Squad and chemo caps to be donated to the Childhood Cancer Lifeline. In late January, the bus stopped at Hope on Haven Hill to deliver a dozen boxes and bags of baby items

donated by New Life Thrift Store or hand made by White Birch Active Living participants. This was our second visit to HHH and we were once again touched by the gratitude of both staff and clients. HHH provides a safe, nurturing home for preg-nant women with Substance Use Disorder, along with their children and empowers them to be successful in recovery!

Spotlight on YOU!

Rod was born in the White Mountain National Forest in the Wild River area and he graduated from high school in Berlin NH in 1952. Rod was married for 62 years – his wife passed away in July of 2014. However, he is blessed with 7 children (1 deceased), 12 grand-

children, and 10 great children and most of them live in New Hampshire.During his working days, Rod started out as an oil delivery man and then moved into management of two different oil companies – one was a Texaco distributorship and the other was Cray oil. Rod finished his working days as an insurance auditor for Equifax Co of Atlanta Georgia.Rod is proud of the fact that he was paralyzed

from the waist down but through lots of hard work and exercise over the course of two years he can now walk again. He is also proud that he gradu-ated with his original class of 1952.Rod currently lives at Rush Square in Henniker. In the 12 years prior to moving to Rush Square, he was a part-time NH resident splitting his time between Sandy Beach Campground in Con-toocook for the summer months and Leesburg and Largo Florida in winter.Rod enjoys all kinds of music and played a saxo-phone in high school - he has also dabbled with the banjo and harmonica. He is also a big fan of the Pats, Red Sox, Bruins, and Monarchs.Among Rod’s favorites…Daniels Restaurant in Henniker with its beautiful river view, pizza, summer time and spending time outdoors camp-ing and tenting especially in the White Mountains.Rod likes all the activities at White Birch and he is thankful for living, meeting new people, and enjoying life.

Rodney Richardson

Active Living – Active Giving

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March 2017

Woody French and Beth Ann holding several of the hats donated to Henniker Fire and Rescue.

Amy and Peggy are all smiles at Hope

on Haven Hill

Day Trips in MarchLaconia Antique Center – Lunch at the Holy Grail of the LakesOn Thursday March 9th, we will visit the Laconia Antique Center, which was recently featured on NH Chronicle. Below is a description of the store: The Laconia Antique Center is located in a former Newberry’s Department Store built in the 1950’s. Entering this beautiful store is like going back in time as you browse the wide aisles searching for special items. You will find bookcases stocked full of vintage books in our comfortable reading area. We offer a wide variety of furniture, lamps, art, maps, prints, glassware, dishware, china, depression glass, stoneware, copper, primitives, estate jewelry, coins, currency, radios, lanterns, bottles, movie posters, advertising, railroad memorabilia, World War II memorabilia, nautical items, ephemera plus many one of a kind items, like a Victorian era embalming table!After visiting the antique center, we will have lunch at the Holy Grail of the Lakes, also recently featured on NH Chronicle and a sister restaurant to the Holy Grail in Epping. Like the restaurant in

Epping, the Holy Grail of the Lakes is a renovated church made into an Irish Pub and Restaurant with the original stained glass and other features!! There are 31 Specialty Beers on tap & endless meal choices!Cost for the trip is $5 and lunch and shopping on your own. Pick up at Rush Square at 8:45 AM, Henniker community parking lot at 8:50 AM, and Weare Legion at 9:10 AM. If you would like to sign up you can stop by White Birch, call 428-3077, or email bethannp@whitebirchcc.org

Nashua ShoppingOn Thursday March 23rd, we are off for a fun-filled shopping day. We will start at the Christmas Tree Plaza where there is also an LL Bean Outlet, Kohl’s, and Michaels. We will have lunch at Uno’s Pizzeria and Grill, and finish the day with a stop at Trader Joe’s.

Cost for the trip is $8 and lunch and shopping are on your own. Pick up at Rush Square at 8:30 AM, Henniker community parking lot at 8:35 AM and Weare Legion at 9:00 AM.

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Being older and wiser has its perks. Take advan-tage of the changes to make your senior years your best yet.The renowned English poet and playwright Robert Browning once wrote: “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.Yet few people today share his sentiment. Modern society emphasizes youth in the movies, on television, and in advertising and as a result many people have a fear of aging, says Eudene Harry, MD, medical director for the integrative and holistic Oasis Wellness Rejuvenation Center, in Orlando, Fla.But you can’t stop aging. It’s going to happen, whether we want it to or not, Dr. Harry says. But rather than having a fear of aging, you can make the most of it. Embrace the changes that come with growing older, protect senior health, and you’ll enjoy your longevity.Here are ways to enjoy this time of life and main-tain senior health throughout:

Stay active“Exercise is one of the best anti-aging tools we have,” Harry says. “If I had to give just one piece of advice, it would be to get up and move.” Exer-cise goes way beyond weight loss and weight maintenance. It also helps maintain balance and flexibility, which reduces your chances of falling. It’s also a great stress reliever and improves memory, Harry says.A recent study by the National Institutes of Health found that even low levels of physical activity can add as many as 4.5 years to your life. The research-ers based their findings on data from more than 650,000 adults, mostly age 40 and over.

Have an attitude of acceptance“If you’re 55 or 60, you can’t expect to look and be able to do what you did when you were 25,” Harry says. “But that’s not bad or good — it’s just differ-ent.” Revel in the experiences you’ve gathered along the way and make the best of the changes that are happening to you, your partner, and those around you. It’s all about perspective: Researchers at Yale University found that seniors who saw themselves as “spry” rather than “decrepit” were able to recover better from health setbacks.

Baby yourself This is especially true if you’re the caregiver of an aging partner. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you’re not going to be valuable to that person anymore,” Harry says. Caregivers can be under a lot of stress, which puts them at increased risk for more illnesses themselves, she adds.

Value your purpose in lifeKnow why you wake up in the morning, says Archelle Georgiou, MD, a senior health consultant in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. “Don’t retire — rewire,” she says. “Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy.”

Socialize with family and friendsMaintain relationships with people who support your attempt to live a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Geor-giou advises. “This is a time in your life when you can socialize without having family and work obligations that get in the way.”

10 Ways to Banish Your Fear of AgingBy Beth W. Orenstein - Everyday Health

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March 2017

Senior LuncheonIt’s the month when everyone wants to be Irish. On Monday March 13th, we will have our annual Saint Patrick’s Day lunch of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, and carrots along with soda bread and dessert.

A big thanks goes out to Marlene Kriester, Claudia Roberts, and Carol Klardie for sponsoring the luncheon this month.

In order to plan, please make a reservation no later than Thursday March 9th. To sign

up, you can stop by White Birch, call 428-3077, or email bethannp@whitebirchcc.org.

Mark your calendarsDon’t figure out what to do when you wake up each morning. Instead, Georgiou says, make firm commitments to a regular calendar of activities. “This guarantees you actively pursue your interests and adds structure to your day,” she says.

Do what it takes to feel beautifulThis starts with maintaining a healthy diet, staying physically active, and getting regular medical care. But it also means wearing clothes that make you feel attractive, using cosmetics, and having your hair done. Georgiou says some people may also choose to have cosmetic procedures.

Get your beauty sleepSleeping well is important to your health. You’ll sleep better if your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet. Establish bedtime rituals that help you relax,

and shut off the television and the computer well before bedtime. Adjust your bedtime to fit how tired you feel. In other words, don’t feel defeated if you need to go to bed earlier than you did when you were young.

Be proactive about financesOrganize your portfolio, develop a budget and, if necessary, get professional advice.

Have a planGeorgiou says feeling safe and in control is a basic human need. “If you are living independently, think ahead about who you would call in an emergency, who might be able to help you if you don’t have a spouse or other family member who lives with you or nearby,” she says. Complete an advanced directive and designate a durable health care power of attorney in the event you can’t make decisions about your own health.

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Tuesday Movies in FebruaryFlorence Foster Jenkins Tuesday, March 7th at 1:00 PM

The Quiet ManTuesday, March 14th at 1:00 PM

Rated PG-13(NOTE: Rescheduled due to snow day in February)Despite her horrid singing voice, New York City heiress Florence Foster Jenkins is certain she can become an opera star. Her partner and manager, St Clair Bayfield, does all he can to shield Florence from the truth, but his task may prove impossible.

Rated - NRJohn Wayne hangs up his spurs to star as bachelor ex-boxer Sean Thornton in this endearing classic. Back in his native Ireland, the Duke’s thoughts turn to domestic tranquility after courting the lovely Mary Kate (Maureen O’Hara). But her brother (Victor McLaglen) may need to have some common sense knocked into him – literally – before the deal is done. The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Director (John Ford).

On Thursday March 16th at 11:00 AM, we will continue the TED Talk series at Tucker Free Library.The talk this month is given by Jacqueline No-vogratz and titled “Inspiring a Life of Immersion”. Jacqueline Novogratz founded and leads Acumen, a nonprofit that takes a businesslike approach to improving the lives of the poor. In her book “The Blue Sweater” she tells stories from the philan-thropy, which emphasizes sustainable bottom-up solutions over traditional top-down aid.

We each want to live a life of purpose, but where to start? In this luminous, wide-ranging talk, Jacque-line Novogratz introduces us to people she’s met in her work in “patient capital” — people who have immersed themselves in a cause, a community, a passion for justice. These human stories carry pow-erful moments of inspiration.After the talk, there will be a brief discussion fol-lowed by lunch at the Country Spirit. If you would like to sign up you can stop by White Birch, call 428-3077, or email bethannp@whitebirchcc.org.

TED TALK

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March 2017

The Matchmaker Tuesday, March 21st at 1:00 PM Rated-RA Massachusetts senator sends an overworked aide (Janeane Garofalo) to Ireland to dig up relatives for his re-election campaign. Arriving in the fictional Ballinagra, the fiercely single Marcy finds herself in the center of the town’s annual matchmaking festival. She fends off potential suitors, but sparks fly with a reclusive writer (David O’Hara) who’s making a living at the local pub. Denis Leary co-stars.

Saturday Night Fever at the Palace TheaterThere are still a few tickets available for this fun outing on Saturday April 22nd, that includes a fixed lunch buffet at Puritan Backroom followed by a matinee performance of Saturday Night Fever at the Palace Theater all for $40.00!Burn baby burn, Disco Inferno… Go back to the days of the hustle and come see Tony Manero bust out the moves made famous by John Travolta! Between his electricity and the help of dance partner and love interest Stephanie Mangano they take the big dance competition by storm. Adapted from the hit movie solidifying The Bee Gees as Disco icons with their hits, “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep is Your Love,” “More Than a Woman,” and

“You Should Be Dancing” you’ll need to pull out your leisure suit, and polish your platform shoes as SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER will have you doing the Electric Slide all night long.Before the show, we will have a buffet lunch at the Puritan Backroom that includes salad, chicken wings, meatballs, sandwiches and dessert.Space is limited and payment of $40 is due March 25th. The bus will pick up at Rush Square at 10:30 AM Henniker Community Parking lot at 10:35 AM and the American Legion in Weare at 11:00 AM (bus fare by donation). If you would like to sign up you can stop by White Birch, call 428-3077, or email bethannp@whitebirchcc.org.

Finding Nemo Tuesday, March 28th at 1:00 PM Rated GIn this Oscar-winning animated adventure, plucky fish Marlin and Dory search their underwater world for Marlin’s missing son, Nemo, who’s been scooped up by a scuba diver and dumped in a dentist’s aquarium.

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On Tuesdays from 11:00 AM until noon, there is open art time at White Birch. This is a time to gather with fellow art enthusiasts and share thoughts and ideas on your projects. Our own ‘artist is residence’, Judy Lembree volunteers her time and is happy to offer guidance. New comers are always welcome.Pictured here are two of her latest drawings.

Starting this month there will be chair yoga at White Birch on Monday mornings at 9:00 AM. Tom Sherman will lead this 45-minute class. He guarantees that it will be a fun time for everyone. Cost for class will be by donation. The truth is that yoga can benefit anyone, regard-less of age, inflexibility or even disability. There’s a saying among yoga teachers that “If you can breathe, you can do some form of yoga.”For those who can’t get on the floor to do a tradi-tional mat yoga class, chair yoga offers wonderful health benefits. Here are a few of the many benefits that chair yoga offers to seniors:

Experience RelaxationFew people stop to think about the fact that relaxation is a skill. We tend to assume that we are not relaxed because the circumstances of our lives are too stressful. We may tell ourselves that we will relax after the mortgage is paid or after a family member completes chemotherapy. The truth is that everyone’s life always contains some tension-in-ducing problems. So we must learn how to relax.

Improve FlexibilitySome people assume loss of flexibility is inevitable with aging. This is a misconception. Flexibility actually works on the “use or lose it” model. You can improve your flexibility at any age. People who start taking yoga in their 60s, 70s, 80s or even 90s find that they regain flexibility in their joints, connective tissues and muscles. Those who con-tinue taking yoga over the long term even report that they not only regain lost mobility, but often become more limber than in their younger years.

Reduce or Even Eliminate Insomnia, Arthritis Most chair yoga participants report that after one to three months of regular weekly classes, they sleep better at night. Pain from arthritis, sciatic, chronic back ache and other conditions also tends to decrease or in some cases even disappear with yoga practice.If you would like to sign up, please stop by White Birch, call 428-3077, or email bethannp@whitebirchcc.org.

Art Time

Chair Yoga at White Birch

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March 2017

Learning Institute at New England College – LINECLINEC is a program, open to both retired and younger adults, offering non-credit volunteer peer-led courses to educate entertain and enhance life – for the sheer pleasure of learning.LINEC offers three terms each academic year, each lasting approximately five weeks:

■ Fall (October and November) ■ Spring (April and May) ■ Summer (July)

LINEC Spring Term 2017- PreviewApril 3 – May 12, 2017AM = 10:00 AM – Noon PM = 1:00 – 3:00 PM

■ Mon. AM – How the Earth WorksPM – The Power of Art in Healing

■ Tues. AM – Age-ing to Sage-ing

PM – The Taming of the Shrew: Misogyny or Liberation

■ Wed. AM – Powerball, Problems, Pythagoras – Math

MusingsPM – Living with Alzheimer ’s Disease and Other

Dementias ■ Thurs.

AM – Conquest of the AmericasPM – History of Blues and Jazz

■ Fri.AM – The World of FilmFor more information visit http://www.nec.edu/about/centers-other- locations/learning-institute/LINEC, NEC Box 75 New England College 98 Bridge Street Henniker, NH 03242Or call Fran Philippe, Curriculum Chair, 603.717.9632.

We had a nice crowd at White Birch Center for Active Living as Peggy Herbert shared her adventures visiting Viet Nam.

Armchair Adventure - Viet Nam

WHAT’S INSIDE

Laconia Antique Center page 3

Senior Luncheon page 5

Chair Yoga page 10

Non-ProfitOrganizationUS Postage

PAIDHenniker, NH

03242Permit #7

Return Service Requested

White Birch Center51 Hall Ave, PO Box 2035Henniker, NH 03242

www.whitebirchcc.org

White Birch Centerfor Active Living