Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT

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Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
1/5/2021 version

                                                     Winter
Parks,                                               2021
programs, and
events guide       MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES |
Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
1/5/2021 version

         WELCOME!                                            TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                             COVID-19 Health & Safety         3
Welcome to the City of Montpelier Community Ser-
vices Department Winter 2021 Program Guide.                   Parks and Facilities Guide      4-5
In this time of COVID-19, the Community Services           Frequently Asked Questions         6-7
Department is hard at work trying to provide oppor-
tunities to keep you and yours busy this winter while
simultaneously supporting the health and safety of
                                                                    Important Resources       8
our community. You’ll see that our Winter offerings
are fewer than normal, but they include some of our        Staff List & Announcements         8
most popular and include our new after-school child
care program!                                              Community Services Events          9

In addition to navigating how we can safely provide             Capital Kids Afterschool
                                                                                         10 –11
services/opportunities to our community, the de-                               Childcare
partment is also juggling some changes in staffing. At
the time of writing, we recently hired a new Rec Pro-              Community Offerings 12-13
gram Coordinator, Nick Marinelli, while two long-
time Recreation Maintenance Staff recently retired:           MSAC Instructors’ Private
                                                                                              14
Carl Nunn and Rick LaChapelle. They will be missed                              Classes
and may come back to help later in the season!
                                                                   MSAC Winter Class
                                                                                              15
Community Services Office Manager, Norma Mau-                               Guidelines
rice, has returned from medical leave, and along
with having Sarah Lipton on the team as the Tempo-
                                                                          Fall Adult Classes 16-20
rary FEAST Program Manager, we have been thrilled
to bring on our new AmeriCorps member, Andrew
                                                                          Drop-in Activities 20-21
Gribbin, who is doing Aging in Place Coordination
                                                                            Instructor Bios 22-23
with FEAST and our Village Initiative!
                                                            FEAST Senior Meals Program 24-25
We ask and thank you for your patience and under-
standing, as our normal operating procedures might
still take longer than usual, and COVID-19 protocols
have changed some of the ways we serve you.
Please know that we are working hard to bring you
the best service we can in accordance with the VT
Dept. of Health! We look forward to Winter with you
as the year changes and wish our entire community
a safe and healthy season.
~ The Community Services Team

                                      MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 2
Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
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           COVID –19 HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES

State of Vermont & Department of Health Guidance          Participants Attending Senior Centers (selections
Staff and Volunteer VOSHA trainings                       from state guidance)
All City employees, VISTA and Americorps members          It is recommended that Senior Centers prioritize par-
and volunteers undergo a State of Vermont Depart-         ticipation for people who are at lower risk, are able to
ment of Labor COVID-19 training. For more info, click     wear a mask or face covering while at the center and
here: https://labor.vermont.gov/document/                 are able to understand and follow distancing and
protecting-safety-and-health-workers-vosha                hand hygiene protocol. Participants are encouraged
                                                          to talk to their healthcare provider to assess their in-
State of Vermont and Governor’s Guidance for Sen- dividual risk and to determine if they should attend
ior Centers in Planning for Re-opening                    the center.
We are required to exclude participants, volunteers       Anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or awaiting test-
and staff from our site if they are showing symptoms results should self-isolate until: 1. It’s been 3 full days
of COVID-19, have been in contact with someone            of no fever without the use of fever-reducing medica-
with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, have been tested       tion, and 2. Other symptoms have improved, and 3.
and are awaiting results, or are at high risk due to un- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first ap-
derlying health conditions. We must undertake care- peared.
ful health screenings for each person that enters 58
                                                          If symptoms begin while at the Senior Center, the
Barre Street, including doing temperature checks and
                                                          participant must be sent home as soon as possible.
asking health questions. Activities require strict physi-
                                                          People with a temperature greater than 100.4 F must
cal distancing, rooms have maximum person counts,
                                                          be sent home until they have had no fever for 72
face coverings are required, and frequent sanitation is
                                                          hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
completed in the building. All participants, staff, and
volunteers are encouraged to wash hands regularly         Participants who arrive from out-of-state must follow
and use provided hand sanitizer. For full information, state guidelines for leisure travel prior to attendance.
click here: https://dail.vermont.gov/sites/dail/files/
documents/Senior_Center_Re-                               Everyone registering for classes with MSAC
Opening_Plan_Guidance.pdf                                 this Winter must sign the following:

  Please read and sign the following Release of Liability & COVID-19 Cooperation
  Statement
  I assume all risks and hazards incidental to participation in activities at MSAC and MSAC-sponsored activities off-site,
  including transportation to and from activity, and I hereby waive, release, absolve, indemnify, and agree to hold harmless
  the City of Montpelier, the Montpelier Senior Activity Center, their officers, agents, officials, employees, volun-
  teers, organizers, partners, sponsors, supervisors and participants for any claim arising out of an injury to myself or expo-
  sure to virus including COVID-19. I understand symptoms of COVID-19 as currently outlined by the VT Department of
  Health, and if attending activities in-person, I agree to cooperate with COVID-19 health screening and self-isolation proto-
  cols of MSAC (see Program Guide), current quarantine requirements of the VT Dept. of Health and other Covid-19 safety
  guidelines that are currently in effect and/or may arise through the years of 2020-2021 in VT. If I have been in the MSAC
  facility or participated in any in-person MSAC activity, I agree to notify MSAC staff if I test positive for Covid-19 or am ex-
  posed to someone who has, and to support MSAC’s contact tracing requirements.

   Signature__________________________________________                                    Date_________________

                                              MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 3
Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
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                                       PARKS & FACILITIES

City of Montpelier Community Services Department           the concrete pad under the shelter. The “Old Shelter”
Administrative Offices                                     does not have an accessible route, but can be ac-
at the Montpelier Senior Activity Center                   cessed by vehicle upon request. None of the outhous-
58 Barre Street                                            es are accessible.
Office open Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm
Parks: 802-223-7335                                      North Branch River Park
Recreation: 802-225-8699                                 East side of Elm Street (Route 12)
Senior Activity Center: 802-223-2518                     North Branch River Park extends along almost three-
                                                         quarters of a mile of the North Branch River, with im-
The office will be closed December 24—January 1 for portant wetlands and a rich diversity of wildlife.
holidays this season. The office will also be closed on North Branch River Park does not have any accessible
Jan. 18 for MLK Day and Feb. 15 for President’s Day. routes. You cannot drive into the park, but can access
No activities will take place in the 58 Barre Street fa- it via Cummings Street, the Elm Street Recreation Ar-
cility those days.                                       ea, North Branch Nature Center, or Gould Hill Rd.

Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC)                   Mill Pond Park
58 Barre Street, 802-223-2518                              East side of Elm Street (Route 12) at junction with
Though access is limited during COVID-19 pandemic          Summer Street
months, our facility includes program/meeting              Several hundred feet of river frontage, boat launch,
rooms, meals site, resource library, computer lab,         wooden benches, river-view stone steps. Fruit trees
kitchen. MSAC is a fully accessible facility; there are    and berry bushes are available for the public’s enjoy-
accessible parking spots, automatic doors and ramps        ment. Mill Pond Park has on-road parking (no accessi-
leading into both the side and front entrances, an ele-    ble spots designated), and has a small accessible
vator, and accessible bathrooms on each floor.             pathway. The path to the boat launch is not accessi-
                                                           ble.
Montpelier Recreational Center
55 Barre Street
                                                           Blanchard Park
The Gymnasium, game room with poll table and
                                                           Wilder Street
meeting spaces. Closed until further notice. Please
                                                           A short, steep hike yields a beautiful view of down-
check website for details.
                                                           town Montpelier. Blanchard Park has multiple bench-
                                                           es and a small playground made of natural materials,
Hubbard Park
                                                           including a giant hollow log and a climbing wall. This
Parkway Street
                                                           park is not accessible.
Montpelier’s crown jewel. Hubbard Park has ample
parking (although no designated handicapped spac-          Peace Park
es), two shelters, a stage, four outhouses, a ballfield,   Along the Siboinebi Path, west of Montpelier High
a natural playground, and a 54 foot stone observation      School
tower. The Tower can be accessed by car upon re-           Peace Park is a wonderfully peaceful spot to read a
quest, but is generally available only to those hiking     book, have a picnic, or simply watch the Winooski
on rustic trails. The “New Shelter” has an accessible      River. Surrounded by fruit trees and berry bushes
route, though currently has a non-compliant lip onto       that are available to the public, the park has multiple

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Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
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benches and picnic tables. This               skates, hockey, baseball or oth-           cel a party due to bad weather. $20
park is accessible via the Siboinebi          er activities permitted.                   per hour. Contact the Recreation
Path.                                        Sitting or leaning on nets caus-           office for more information at 225-
                                              es damage to the nets and net              8699.
Other Parks                                   straps and is strictly prohibited.
Check out Montpelier’s other com-            No food or beverages, other                Montpelier Senior Activity Center
munity and neighborhood parks at              than water or sport drinks, are            Looking for space to hold a private
 https://www.montpelier-                      permitted on the courts.                   meeting, class, rehearsal, party, or
vt.org/235/Parks.                            Sneakers or tennis shoes only              other event? Though currently se-
                                              may be worn on the courts.                 verely limited due to COVID-19,
Elm Street Recreational Area                 Smoking is prohibited.                     MSAC has five different rooms
1 Poolside Drive                             Glass containers are prohibited.           available to rent. Amenities include
Skateboard park, picnic area, out-           Trash is to be placed in the               new audio-visual equipment, full-
door-lighted basketball court, ten-           provided containers.                       service onsite catering available,
nis courts, athletic fields.                 Pets are not permitted on the courts.      free Wi-Fi, and bulk rental dis-
                                             Excessive noise, racquet throwing,         counts. The building is ADA accessi-
Montpelier Pool                               and profanity are strictly forbidden.      ble, LEED Platinum certified, air-
Closed for the season—opens                  When others are waiting to                 conditioned, bright, and comforta-
again summer 2021                             play, all play is restricted to one        ble. Room rates range from $20 to
                                              hour singles and doubles.                  $50 per hour with a two-hour mini-
Dog River Recreational Area                  No private instructions or clas-           mum; some fees apply. For more
Soccer field, picnic tables, and grills       ses are allowed without written            info, contact the office at 223-2518
by the river.                                 permission from MRD.                       or msac@montpelier-vt.org. To
                                             All tennis court rules, regulations, and   request a reservation, fill out the
Tennis Courts                                 courtesies shall be observed.              form at: http://www.montpelier-
There are four lighted tennis courts         Users under the age of 14 must be          vt.org/FormCenter/Community-
located at the Elm Street Recrea-             accompanied by an adult after 6pm.         Services-11/Facility-Reservation-
tion Field and four at the Montpel-                                                      Request-58.
ier High School.
                                                 Indoor Facilities
Court Rules                                          for rent                                  Outdoor Facilities
 Montpelier Public Schools and                                                                    for rent
   Montpelier Recreation Depart-
   ment’s programs take prece-         Montpelier Recreational Center                    Picnic Area on Elm Street
   dence over all other play.          Rentals are currently suspended,                  If you are planning an outing, com-
 In case of lightning, users must     but please keep the gym in mind                   pany picnic, or just a group get-
   vacate outdoor courts for at        for the future! Looking for a place               together, this area can be reserved
   least 30 minutes after the last     to have a birthday party? The
   thunder/lightning is heard/                                                           by the day. The picnic area has 4
                                       Montpelier Recreational Center is                 grills and 4 picnic tables, horseshoe
   seen.                               the perfect place to celebrate.
 Courts are to be used for tennis                                                       pits, volleyball court and an open
                                       There is plenty of room for games                 area for other games, as well as
   & Pickleball only. No bicycles,     and activities and no need to can-
   skates, skateboards, in-line                                                          access to the pool. To reserve, call

                                            MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 5
Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
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                      FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

the Recreation office at 225-8699.                                          notify you in these instances and
                                     Most programs require advance          discuss available options.
Elm Street Pavilion                  registration, as instructors prepare
On Elm Street near the pool. $20     based on pre-registration counts.      Do you provide scholarships?
per hour. Contact the office at 225-                                        The Montpelier Recreation
8699 for more information.           Montpelier Recreation Depart-          Department offers scholarships for
                                     ment youth sports (none orga-          youth sports. Please inquire for
Hubbard Park Shelters                nized during COVID-19 pandemic         more information.
Are you looking for the perfect      as of 8/24, but updates will be
place to host your cookout, picnic, posted to our website) so that we       The Montpelier Senior Activity Cen-
or outdoor event? The Old Shelter, can balance the coaching staff,          ter offers financial aid for member-
New Shelter, and Tuning Forks        number of teams, and order uni-        ships to residents of Montpelier
Stage in Hubbard Park may be re- forms. Registration submitted two          and our Supporting Towns, and for
served for use in four-hour blocks. weeks after the start date will not     trips and classes for members from
Both shelters come equipped with be accepted. It is now necessary to        any town.
grills, picnic tables, and running   have background checks for all
water. Groups over 50 should fill    coaches, umpires, and any adults       How much does it cost?
out a group permission form at       assisting in the sport.                For most Montpelier Senior Activity
least 6 weeks ahead of time to give                                         Center programs designed for age
the Parks Commission enough time     For Montpelier Senior Activity Cen-    50+, you must be a dues-paying
to review the request. Call 223-     ter (MSAC) programs, registrations     member of the Center to take part,
7335 for more info or fill out our   of residents from all towns will be    but there are many exceptions.
form at www.montpelier-vt.org/       processed beginning on Monday,         Membership is open to anyone 50
parks.                               Dec. 7. For classes that have lotter-   or older from any town and runs
                                     ies due to registration numbers ex-    July 1—June 30. All past members
How do I register?                   ceeding available spaces, residents    paid up through June 30, 2020,
Registration forms are available in of Montpelier and Supporting            have had their membership dues
our office at 58 Barre Street and on Towns will be given a majority of      waived until Spring 2021.
our websites at:                     spaces. Pre-registration is required
www.montpelier-vt.org/cs             for all MSAC classes.                 Membership has increased to $25
www.montpelierrec.org and                                                  for Montpelier residents, $40 for
www.montpelier-vt.org/msac           We   accept  credit card payments     residents of supporting towns
                                     for all transactions. This service is (Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier,
Online Registration                  offered at no additional fee for      Middlesex, Moretown, Worcester),
Online registration is available for your  convenience.   Please  consider or $60 for all others, as announced
most programs at www.montpelier paying with cash or check or mak- in January 2020.
-vt.org/csregister. Please note that ing an additional contribution to
you must already have an account cover the card processing fees.           Am I a resident?
in our system in order to register                                         If you pay property taxes in
online. If you do not have an ac-    When activities with limited enroll- Montpelier, whether on a primary
count, or can’t remember your ac- ment become full, you may be sub- or secondary residence, you qualify
count password, please call us at    ject to a registration lottery and/or for the resident rate.
223-2518.                            placed on a waiting list . We will
                                      MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 6
Parks, programs, and events guide - Winter 2021 - Montpelier, VT
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           FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONTINUED...

What is the refund policy?                                 Moretown, and Worcester). Those towns subsidize
Both the Montpelier Recreation Department (MRD)            MSAC’s operating budget, and early registration privi-
and the Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC)           leges are a benefit for those members, who also pay
have refund policies.                                      annual dues. During COVID-19, residents of all towns
                                                           may register at the same time, and in the event of
The Montpelier Recreation Department refund poli- class lottery drawings when enrollment exceeds avail-
cy. MRD offers full refund (minus a $5 administrative able spaces, a majority of spaces will be reserved for
fee) for withdrawal from a program if requested be- Montpelier and Supporting Town residents.
fore registration deadline. If the department makes a
change to a program that prohibits a participant from Why do MSAC members from supporting towns still
participating, a full refund will be given. After the reg- pay higher class fees than Montpelier residents?
istration deadline, a 50% refund will be given for         MSAC members from Supporting Towns (Berlin, Cal-
withdrawal, up until the day after the first class.        ais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Moretown, and
There are no refunds after that date. All requests for Worcester) pay higher fees for some classes because
refunds must be made in writing by filling out a           the amount that those towns contribute to the MSAC
refund request form available online or from the           operating budget is still far less, per person served,
office.                                                    than the amount that is contributed by the City of
                                                           Montpelier (Montpelier tax-payers). However, mem-
The Montpelier Senior Activity Center usually allows bers from Supporting Towns do enjoy the benefits of
any class participant to drop a class up to two weeks lower dues and more spaces in limited size classes,
after the first session for a full refund, no explanation compared to members from Non-Supporting Towns,
necessary. This is suspended during COVID-19. Ex-          and in many cases, their class fees are the same as
ceptions are made only for health or family emergen- Montpelier members. For more information which
cy-related drops, in which case pro-rated refunds are we updated in Fall on the MSAC website about the
available.                                                 situation with Supporting Towns, Class Fees, and
                                                           Membership Dues, please see this page and scroll
Can I sign-up after the registration deadline?             down: https://www.montpelier-vt.org/1142/MSAC-
Late sign-ups are allowed at the instructor’s discre-      and-surrounding-communities.
tion, if there is room. Once a class has started, partici-
pants will need to pay the walk-in fee per class or will What if a program is postponed or cancelled?
need to pay in full for the class.                         If the minimum enrollment for a program is not
                                                           reached, the program will be cancelled and partici-
Is there a late fee?                                       pants will be contacted and offered the option of
The Montpelier Community Services Department has credit or a refund.
a $10/per class late fee for any registrations after Jan.
1.                                                         Classes may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
                                                           When Montpelier Roxbury Public schools close for
Why do some people get delayed two weeks in be- weather, all classes held at school facilities will be
ing able to register for adult classes, even classes       cancelled and MOST Montpelier Senior Activity Cen-
open to the public?                                        ter programs, regardless of location, are cancelled
Prior to COVID-19, classes run by the Montpelier Sen- unless otherwise announced, though it’s different for
ior Activity Center have given registration priorities to online classes which are likely to run, with decisions
MSAC members from Montpelier and Supporting                made by instructors. The office remains open.
Towns (Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex,         Please call the office for information at 225-8699 or
                                       MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 7
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                                                          ANNOUNCEMENTS

                                              Reasonable Accommodations
                                              We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations. Please
                                              contact our office at 225-8699.

                   STAFF                      Montpelier Senior Activity Important Winter Class Infor-
    Arne McMullen, CPRP, Rec. Director,       mation and Dates
    amcmullen@montpelier-vt.org                Class Registration: Monday 12/7 – Monday, 12/21

    Janna Clar, Director, Senior Activity      Lottery drawing for classes in which enrollment exceeds

    Center, jclar@montpelier-vt.org              available spaces: Monday, December 21
    Alec Ellsworth Parks Director,             Notifications to registrants in classes and on waiting lists:

    aellsworth@montpelier-vt.org                 Tuesday, December 22.
    Becca Jordan, Communications and           Community Services office closed for holidays: 12/24-

    Development Coordinator,                     1/1/21, 1/18, 2/15
    bjordan@montpelier-vt.org                  Payments: Payments must be made at time of registra-

    Jaqueline “Jac” Huettenmoser, Parks          tion. A $10 per class late fee will be applied after Jan. 1.
    Supervisor, jhuettenmoser@montpelier-      Classes Start: Week of Monday, January 4 (late fees apply)

    vt.org
                                              Spring Class Proposals for adult and youth programs at MSAC
    Nick Marinelli, Rec. Program
                                              are due in the Community Services Department office by Janu-
    Coordinator, nmarinelli@montpelier-
                                              ary 11, 2021. Request a proposal form from Harry or by email-
    vt.org
                                              ing msac@montpelier-vt.org.
    Cara Barbero, Parks Crew Leader
    Adam McCullough, City Arborist                         Important & Helpful Resources
    Sarah Lipton, FEAST Program Manager,
    feast@montpelier-vt.org                                Green Mountain Transit: 223-7287
    Norma Maurice, Office Manager,                         http://ridegmt.com/
    nmaurice@montpelier-vt.org
    Harry Divack, Administrative Assistant,                Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119
                                                           www.cvcoa.org
    hdivack@montpelier-vt.org
    Andrew Gribbin, Aging in Place                         The Vermont Center for Independent Living
    Americorps, msac-                                      (VCIL) helpline: 1-800-639-1522
    americorps@montpelier-vt.org
                                                           Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1)

                                                           Vermont 211: 2-1-1
                                                           (All human services resources and information)

                                                           Washington County Mental Health Services Cri-
                                                           sis Line/Suicide/Emergency/screeners:
                                                           229-0591
                                      MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 8
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                   UPCOMING COMMUNITY SERVICES EVENTS

2 WebTrac Training Sessions with Harry                      Intergenerational Walks, Snowshoe Outings,
Friday Dec. 4 | 10-11 am                                    Etc.
Thursday, Dec. 17 | 10-11 am                                The MSAC, and Parks & Rec. staff are exploring possi-
Just in time to sign up for Winter classes (Jan.-Mar.)      ble outdoor activities of all sorts once State guidelines
starting on Dec. 7! Would you like to try online class      allow for distanced small group gatherings outside
(including adult and youth programs) registration for       again. Please watch for City announcements on the
the first time? Or have you tried and run into prob-        Website, FPF and our Facebook pages, as well as the
lems in the past? Harry Divack, our department’s Ad-        MSAC e-letter each Sunday night.
ministrative Assistant extraordinaire – and an expert
of our system – will be hosting two training sessions.      Montpelier Recreation Egg Hunt
Sharing his screen via Zoom, Harry will show you how        The Rec. Department is looking into different ways to
to log-in, find and select your program(s), register,       offer the Egg Hunt in a COVID-19 safe manner. Please
and process your payment successfully. Please pre-          watch for City announcements on the Website, FPF
register for this online event by calling 223-2518 or       and the Rec Facebook page.
emailing msac@montpelier-vt.org. Recommended:
get a user-id and password in advance (available from       Ice on Fire
the office if you’ve lost yours or need one for the first   Montpelier Parks and AllTogether Now recently met
time).                                                      to brainstorm ways that Ice on Fire could still take
                                                            place in adherence to State and City guidelines re-
“How to Use Zoom”: Two FREE Online Train-                   garding COVID-19. Please watch for City announce-
ings with MSAC                                              ments on the Website, FPF and the Parks Facebook
                                                            page.
Thursday, Jan. 7 | 11 am
Tuesday, Jan. 12 | 2:30 pm
Have you heard about Zoom but felt nervous or re-
sistant to try it out? Have you had a frustrating time
with it, or been using it and want to learn tips to im-
prove your experience? Two of our experienced and
patient online group facilitators will walk you, LIVE,
through the basics. They will cover turning your video
and microphone on and off, changing your views and
user-name, using the Chat function, Zoom etiquette
and more. There will be time to practice and ask
questions. To register for either, call 262-6287 or
email msac-americorps@montpelier-vt.org.

                                        MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 9
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                    CAPITAL KIDS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
We are a Licensed Afterschool Program.                    Enrollments may be cancelled by calling the City’s
                                                          Recreation office at 802-225-8699. You can find us on
The City of Montpelier has opened an afterschool          the web at www.montpelierrec.org
childcare program. This program will run in accord-
ance with the school calendar year and will be open
                                                                              Winter Session
many days when schools are closed during the school
year (for holidays, etc.). Any scheduled closures dur-         Session Code            Session Dates
ing holidays and other scheduled off-days will be an-            #3501 A             Nov. 30 – Dec. 4
nounced in advance. The City aims to have this pro-
gram running 5 days a week, Monday – Friday                      #3501 B                 Dec. 7-11
1:30pm – 5:30pm. This program will be run out of the
                                                                 #3501 C                Dec. 14 -18
Old River Rock School space located at 46 Barre
Street next door to the Senior Center. Fees are ad-              #3501 D                Dec 21-24
justed for full days in several of the weeks offered.
                                                                 #3501 E                Dec. 28-31
The Afterschool Program is for all children who are in
Kindergarten up to 12 years old. The City plans on en-           #3501 F                 Jan. 4-8
suring young children arrive safely from school by
having program staff walk children to the Afterschool            #3501 G                Jan. 11-15
Program directly from Union Elementary School.
                                                                 #3501 H                Jan. 18-22

When school is not in session, the Program will be
                                                                  #3501 I               Jan. 25-29
open for drop-off and pick-up of participating children
at 46 Barre Street. Each day will be filled with all              #3501 J                Feb. 1-5
kinds of age-appropriate activities (indoor activities,
                                                                 #3501 K                 Feb. 8-12
crafts & outdoor or gym activities)!
                                                                 #3501 L                Feb. 15-19
The Program’s staff will consist of an experienced Di-
rector and Program Staff who are certified in CPR and            #3501 M                Feb. 22-26
First Aid, and will be managed by the City’s Recrea-
tion Department.                                                 #3501 N                 Mar. 1-5

Parents may pre-enroll their children in the program             #3501 O                Mar. 8-12
to ensure a spot. Pre-registration is required for the
                                                                 #3501 P                Mar. 15-19
Afterschool Program. Payment is due the Thursday
prior to the week the child is attending. Again, any             #3501 Q                Mar. 22-26
delay in start-dates will be communicated.

                                      MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 10
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                     CAPITAL KIDS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

                                   Montpelier Resident                      Non-Montpelier Resident

 Session Name*             1:30 - 5:30 pm      7:45 am - 4:45 pm 1:30 - 5:30 pm        7:45am - 4:45 pm

 Regular Afterschool       $80 /week                               $100/week
 Sessions                  ($75/week for ad-                       ($95/week for ad-
                           ditional family                         ditional family
                           members)                                members)
 Activity rates for Full                       $130/week                               $175/week
 Day Weeks                                     ($120/week for                          ($160/week for
 (#3501 E & #3501 M)                           additional family                       additional family
                                               members)                                members)
 Activity rates for Full                       $84/week                                $110/week
 Day Weeks                                     ($76/week for ad-                       ($100/week for
 (#3501 D)                                     ditional family                         additional family
                                               members)                                members)

 Activity rates for Full                       $90/week                                $150/week
 Day Weeks                                     ($83/week for ad-                       ($107/week for
 (#3501 H & #3501 Q)                           ditional family                         additional family
                                               members)                                members)
 Activity rates for Full                       $100/week                               $130/week
 Day Weeks                                     ($91/week for                           ($119/week for
 (#3501 N)                                     additional family                       additional family
                                               members)                                members)

* Sessions with less than 5 days will be prorated at the office when you sign up

                                       MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 11
1/5/2021 version

                                 COMMUNITY OFFERINGS
Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio on                     Walks in Hubbard Park or elsewhere in town;
Zoom—discounts for MSAC members                            Intergenerational interviewing (about careers, his-
Classes with Allison Mann—New Schedule begins             torical events, COVID-19 experiences and more – pos-
Dec. 7                                                    sibly in partnership with Folklife Center's Listening in
No classes Dec. 25 & Jan. 1                               Place project); Virtual games (Kahoot, Ticket to Ride,
Only $5 a class for MSAC members!                         Chess, etc.) or potentially in-person;
Purchase 4 or more classes, and Zoom-in when you           Technology assistance (virtual live sessions, video,
can.                                                      or otherwise).
                                                          Part of the Enrichment Program of Studies at MHS,
Yoga I: Mondays | 12:05 - 1 pm | via Zoom                 this series was still in development at the time of Pro-
Work slowly and deeply to gain flexibility, strength,     gram Guide publishing in late November. Timing is
muscular balance, and alignment. No kneeling or arm-      likely to be Monday/Thursday, 12:30-3:00pm. We
supported postures. Excellent guidance.                   look forward to building more opportunities to bring
                                                          youth and older adults together in 2021! To get up-
Yoga II: Wednesdays | 12:05 - 1 pm | via Zoom             dates in January and sign up, contact msac-
Work slowly and deeply to gain flexibility, strength,     americorps@montpelier-vt.org, call 262-6287, read
muscular balance, and alignment. Includes kneeling        the MSAC e-letter, or check our websites.
and arm-supported postures & simple inversions.
                                                          Zumba for Absolute Beginners with Megan
Dance & Stretch: Mondays | 11-11:55 am | via Zoom
Wednesdays | 11-11:55 am | via Zoom                       Pow—discounts for MSAC members
Easy to follow Jazz & Caribbean moves. Great music.       Tuesdays | 11-11:45 am | via Zoom
Thorough stretch for last 10 minutes. Enjoy a fun         Think you can’t dance? Come to this easy-to-follow
workout in good company.                                  dance workout, and find out the truth: of course you
                                                          can, and it feels good, and life is better when you do.
Conditioning: Fridays | 11am-12pm | via Zoom              Zumba for Absolute Beginners is a cardio dance
Squats and lunges with weights; floor work for fo-        workout that boosts bone density, strengthens the
cused ab/butt/thigh work; deep yoga stretches; a          core, improves the balance… and most importantly,
more intensive workout.                                   it’s a feel good party. It’s a great way to work out gen-
                                                          tly to amazing Latin and international music!
Brought to you live from CD&FS!!
Give them a call: (802)-229-4676 or                       Absolute Beginner moves are even easier to follow
info@cdandfs.comcastbiz.net                               than Megan’s “regular” Zumba class—with no twists
                                                          or jumps. The choreography repeats itself in patterns
                                                          that match the music, so your brain starts to remem-
Intergenerational Connection Activities,
                                                          ber the moves right away.
February-April
MSAC members and other older adults are invited to        This class is for everyone—absolutely zero dance or
join Montpelier High School students and MHS teach-       fitness experience needed. And YES! This class can
ers for twice weekly activities together. Depending on    be done while you’re seated, in case you need (or
the state of the pandemic, these may be socially dis-     prefer) to work out while sitting down.
tanced in-person or virtually hosted online. Activities
will all be optional--sign up for those that appeal to    Megan is known as an encouraging, light-hearted and
you -- but will likely include:                           high-energy instructor who personally invites you to
                                                          try it—especially if you think you can’t. Join the par-
                                      MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 12
1/5/2021 version

                                 COMMUNITY OFFERINGS
ty! Special treat:: MSAC members pay just $60 for the  month Intro Rates regardless of age. An “Intro Rate”
whole 7-week series—plus Megan is supporting the       of $77 for all access (this includes access to facility
Senior Center by donating a percentage of every Ab-    but no classes) and an “Intro Rate” of $97 (which in-
solute Beginner ticket. Visit https://
                                                       cludes access to the facility as well as 12 classes at no
www.meganpowcoaching.com/classes-and-events to
view Megan's Class and Event website and regis-        additional cost during that first 2 months). After the
ter. Current series continues through December; new    first 2 months, Green Mountain Community Fitness
series starts in January!                              offer Senior Discounts although amount varies on ac-
                                                       tivity. They also have options in the pool! Contact
Movement for Parkinson’s Classes with                  them for more information, and the first visit is free
Sara McMahon and the Flynn                             according to their website: (802) 223-6161 or visit
Monday & Thursday mornings from 10:00-11:15 a.m. https://gmcf.life/get-started/. Please note that cur-
Winter semester begins Jan. 11th.                      rently access to facility and pool are dependent on
Due to the COVID-19 virus, all classes are continuing COVID-19 cases. Check in with GMCF for more infor-
via Zoom. Class participants move in their own envi- mation.
ronments and have an opportunity to gather togeth-
er briefly after class to connect with the larger com-
                                                       North Branch Nature Center Naturalist
munity. There is no cost for participants and care     Journeys Online Presentation Series
partners/givers. Invite a friend or partner to dance   North Branch Nature Center will be hosting a num-
with you. Class funded by Flynn Center for the Per-    ber of online, free, Wednesday evening presenta-
forming Arts. Register through Flynncenter.org or      tions throughout the winter months. For more infor-
                                                       mation, including a complete list of presentations
contact email: movementforparkinsons@gmail.com.
                                                       and descriptions, and Zoom links please visit their
To learn more and download videos, visit the website
                                                       website: https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/
at: http://movementforparkinsons.com/.
                                                       online/.

Free, Online Medicare & You Workshops                     Kellogg Hubbard Library Adult Programs
Medicare & You Workshops are offered regularly to         Your local library continues to host many engaging
help individuals who are new to the Medicare sys-         talks and activities. For more information, including
tem. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased         a complete list of events and descriptions, and reg-
to announce Central Vermont Council on Aging              istration links, please visit their website: https://
(CVCOA) is offering Medicare & You sessions remote-       www.kellogghubbard.org/adult-programs
ly using Zoom. If you want to participate, pre-register
with us by calling 479-0531 or emailing medicare-
workshops@cvcoa.org. When you register, you will
receive information on how to join the Zoom session.

Green Mountain Community Fitness
Green Mountain Community Fitness offers two 2-

                                      MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 13
1/5/2021 version

               PRIVATE CLASSES LED BY MSAC INSTRUCTORS

Many of the talented instructors who have led classes       Gabe Lajeunesse– Financial Planning
at Montpelier Senior Activity Center in recent years        Janice Walrafen—Art / Drawing
are or will be offering remote classes independently/       John Harrison—Choir/ Voice
privately, and we are pleased to provide a list of offer-   Linda Hogan—Painting / Photography
ings and schedules, etc. that gets updated about once       Lisa Mase—Nutrition Education/Cooking
monthly and can be viewed by visiting our Classes           Maggie Thompson— Writing
website. It will be updated for Winter soon!                Megan Pow— Zumba / Coaching
                                                            Melanie Viets—Writing
Please support them while keeping yourself engaged          Monica Digiovanni—Yoga
and active!                                                 Ragan Sheridan—Yoga
                                                            Rick Winston—Film Appreciation & History
Amy LePage—Yoga/Somatic Movement                            Ron Sweet—Yoga
Barb Alpert—Yoga                                            Sara McMahon—Movement Classes for people with
Carlos Reyes—Spanish                                        Parkinson's
Ellie Hayes—Tai Chi                                         Sarah Parker-Givens—Yoga
Erik Nielsen—Music Appreciation / Composition               Shannon Hepburn—Pilates

                                                                                       Photo by Russell Clar
                                       MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 14
1/5/2021 version

   MSAC WINTER CLASS REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
All class registrants are requested to sign our Release of 22. There may be make-ups the weeks of March 29. No
Liability & COVID-19 Cooperation Statement (see p.3). classes may occur on-site on the two Monday holidays
                                                            of January 18 and February 15 at MSAC, but some
Registration dates: The first phase of registration runs
                                                            online instructors may lead classes on holidays.
12/7-12/21/20, and if any classes have more enroll-
ments than spaces, lotteries will be drawn at end of day, Location: Only four classes are currently (tentatively)
Monday, 12/21, and notifications made 12/22. Anyone planned to be on-site at MSAC (three Art and one Yoga),
whose name is not drawn in a lottery-required class will and none will run simultaneously with other activities,
have the option of a credit or refund.                      or at night, or on weekends. Most Winter classes will be
                                                            online via Zoom video or phone. Further instructions
Registration continues beyond the start of classes and
                                                            will come from MSAC staff or your instructor prior to
beyond, and is open to residents of all towns the en-
                                                            class beginning. It’s possible that on-site classes will be
tire duration.
                                                            cancelled or moved online.
Payment dates and methods: Payment must be made
                                                            Assistance for online classes: Instructions are provided
at time of class registration in order to hold a spot. Cash
                                                            to all registrants, and assistance is available upon re-
and check payments may be dropped off in our lockbox
                                                            quest. For anyone lacking a device or internet, class
in an envelope that includes your name and contact in-
                                                            attendance via phone will also be an option. Trainings
formation. Credit card payments are preferably made
                                                            for Zoom are offered (free) on 1/7 & 1/12. Please con-
online (user-id and password available in office), but as
                                                            tact Andrew to learn more or get one-on-one help!
a last resort, we can process credit card payments on
the phone and do not save card numbers. Payments            Additional materials fees or supplies may be required
after 1/1/21 are subject to late fees of $10 per class.     for some classes. Consult Program Guide or instructor.
MSAC Membership requirements and exceptions:              Class fee increases and MSAC budget: Our fees went
                                                          up in Fall 2020, as announced in January 2020. We are
 FY20 Members (whose membership expired
                                                          not charging different rates for on-site vs. on-line clas-
    6/30/20): your membership is extended for Winter
                                                          ses. Fee revenue covers budgeted expenses that in-
    2021 classes.
                                                          clude many fixed overhead costs including facility ex-
 New Members, age 50+: You must join by filling
                                                          penses, instructor payments and online program ex-
    out a form and paying FY21 annual dues of $25 for
                                                          penses. We remain committed to keeping programs
    Montpelier, $40 for our six supporting towns, or $60
                                                          affordable and safe for all members and the public, to
    for other towns ($10 increase from FY20 as an-
                                                          providing Financial Aid to all members who request it,
    nounced in January 2020).
                                                          and to doing our best to meet city budget requirements.
 City employee non-members: Please notify MSAC
    staff you wish to register for classes (regardless of If you have questions about:
    age) or join as a member. We are pleased to have
                                                          Registration, membership or class payment: contact
    more instructors offer classes to city employees!
                                                          Harry at 223-2518 or msac@montpeliervt.org.
 Other non-members: Inquire to MSAC staff if you
    have questions about your fees or eligibility.        Technology Assistance: contact Andrew at msacameri-
                                                          corps@montpelier-vt.org or call him at 2626287.
Class start dates: Most classes are planned to begin the
week of January 4 unless otherwise noted in the Pro-      Financial Aid, MSAC’s budget or COVID-19 require-
gram Guide, but this is subject to change, there are ex- ments: contact Janna at 262-6283 or email
ceptions, and notifications of changes will be sent to    jclar@montpelier-vt.org.
registrants.
                                                                   Due to the Governor’s latest State of
Class duration & holidays: The number of sessions for                      Emergency Order, all in-person
each class (usually 10 or 12) is in the “Day & Time”                     group opportunities have been
column below. Most 10 week classes end the week of                    cancelled until at least Jan. 15.
March 8. Most 12 week classes end the week of March

                                        MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 15
1/5/2021 version

                   Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Painting at All Levels              Ages 10+                               thoughtful feedback to others, and
Linda Hogan | 10 Mondays, starts Have you always wanted to draw,            engaging in lively discussions about
1/4 | 9:30 - 11:30 am | Onsite at    but not known where to begin? Do       the craft of writing. Classes are tai-
MSAC | $40 mem. / $65 public|        you love to draw, but need to set      lored to the aspirations of the par-
Ages 15+                             time aside to do it? This is a great   ticipants. Support and encourage-
Explore the wonderful world of       beginner and refresher class. Most     ment are abundant! New partici-
painting in acrylics, watercolors,   often working from life, each class    pants are always welcome.
oils, pastels, your choice. Bring    introduces a different skill or lens
your own ideas or work from a set- to draw from including contour,          Great Decisions Online
up in the art room. There will be    value, color, perspective, fore-        (Current Events)
instruction, handouts, and many      shortening, portraits, proportions,    Facilitators: John Turner & Barbara
new ideas offered to help you cre- composition, and more. Great             Thompson | 9 Wednesdays, starts
ate your masterpiece. A great way foundational skill building and en-       1/27| 10:00—11:30 am | via Zoom
to start the week!                   joyable time spent drawing. Please     online | $50 member/$75 public|
                                     bring 9"x12" sketch pad (not news-     Ages 15+
Rug Hooking                         print), #2 HB pencils, eraser (knot    Great Decisions (GD) gives oppor-
Pam Finnigan | 10 Wednesdays,        kneaded). Other supplies needed        tunities to focus on important top-
starts 1/6| 9:30 - 11:30 am | On-    throughout class will be a ruler,      ics in world affairs, learn from oth-
site at MSAC | $40 mem. / $65        Prismacolor white pencil and oil       ers, and reach informed opinions.
public| Ages 40+                     Pastels.                               The largest, longest running civic-
Pam is a certified rug hooking in-                                          education program on U.S. foreign
structor who teaches both tradi-     Creative Writing                      policy and global issues, GD is cre-
tional and non-traditional tech-     Maggie Thompson | Tuesdays,            ated by The Foreign Policy Associa-
niques. Participants will need a rug starts 1/5 | 1—3 pm | via Zoom |       tion, which develops educational
hooking frame or 12 to 14-inch       $40 Montpelier resident/$50 non-       resources about critical global is-
quilter’s hoop, foundation cloth,    resident | Ages 50+ |                  sues facing America today. The
rug hook, small pair of sharp scis-                                         2021 topics are: “Global Supply
sors, a permanent marker and         We all have stories. Whether we        Chains and National Security”,
wool cloth or wool strips. A ma-     journal, write letters, memoir, fic-   “Persian Gulf Security Issues”,
chine to cut wool is available for   tion, creative nonfiction or poetry,   “Brexit and the European Union”,
students to use during class. Sup- writing illuminates the lives we         “Struggles Over the Melting Arc-
plies will need to be purchased by have lived. In addition, writing with    tic”, “China’s Role in Africa”, “The
the student. Beginner and sea-       others at MSAC is fun, infused with    Korean Peninsula”, “Roles of Inter-
soned rug hookers are welcome.       insights and spice! Through the use    national Organizations in a Global
Beginning students will be called    of writing prompts in class and op-    Pandemic” and “The End of Global-
by the teacher prior to the start of tional homework assignments, we        ization?” Registration fee, includes
class. Also, she will gladly answer  will find "side door" ways to enter    books and links to videos. Each
any questions you might have.        life experiences. Introduction of      week participants will read the
                                     craft elements such as character       briefing book topic and watch the
                                     development, setting, plot, image-
Drawing Basics                      ry, and dialogue will help shape our
                                                                            PBS Great Decisions online video
Janice Walrafen | 10 Thursdays,                                             before discussion group meets on
                                     stories and grow our skills as writ-   Wednesday morning. Links to oth-
starts 1/7 | 1:00-2:30pm | Onsite ers. Sessions include sharing our
at MSAC | $40 mem. / $65 public| work aloud (optional), providing           er resources can be found at:
                                                                            www.fpa.org.

Symbol Key:

        = MSAC members only        = open to the public        # = Open to City employees of all ages
                                     MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 16
1/5/2021 version

                                       Active Living & Wellness

                                       days/Fridays, starts 1/5 |10:15—     Shannon Hepburn |12 Mondays,
Creating & Remaking Poems             11:30 am | Open to all | $40 MSAC starts 1/4 | 10:30—11:30 am | via
Online                                 Members/$65 Non-members              Zoom| $35 members/ $60 public |
Samn Stockwell | 10 Wednesdays,                                             Ages 15+
starts 1/13 | 3—5pm | via Zoom |                                            This class is for people who have
                                       Section E:
$40 members / $65 public| Ages                                              previously taken a Beginner Pilates
                                       Joan Barrett/Jean Phillips | 12      class and would like to repeat the
18+ |
                                       weeks, Tuesdays/Thursdays, starts class working at a gentle pace with
This workshop will offer partici-
pants an opportunity to create and     1/5 |9:00—10:00 am | Open to all reminders of the Basic Principles.
share poems with a supportive          who have done at least an intro.     Not limited to previous students of
group. The workshop will use           class with someone prior to attend- Shannon.
writing prompts for the creation of    ing class
new poems and include discussions                                            Pilates Express Online
of how the poems work. We will         As we age, we all gradually lose     Shannon Hepburn |12 Wednes-
talk about how to communicate          muscle mass, bone density, flexibil- days, starts 1/6 | 10:15—11 am |
the unique textures of our lives in    ity, strength, and balance. The fo- via Zoom |$35 members / $60
our poems. Discussions of individu-                                         public| Ages 15+
                                       cus of Bone Builders is to diminish
al poems will begin with the posi-                                            This class is for people who have
tive and include practical sugges-     or avoid these negative conse-       completed the Pilates for Begin-
tions for building a better poem.      quences of aging.                    ners class at MSAC (or individu-
                                                                            als who have prior experience with
#Bone Builders Online                 Instructors lead students through a Pilates). Start your day with a 45-
$40 members/$50 public each sec-       series of warm-ups; leg, core and    minute flowing mat class that fo-
tion | via Zoom| Ages 50+              arm exercises; gentle stretches;     cuses on core engagement,
                                       movements to enhance balance;        strength, and stability. All exercises
Section A:                             and a series of cool downs. We use may be modified to suit individual
Laura Morse | 12 weeks, Mondays/       hand and ankle weights which         needs. Participants should be able
                                       begin at one pound and increase      to move comfortably from a stand-
Fridays, starts 1/4| 3:15—4:30 pm
                                                                            ing position to the floor.
                                       incrementally according to student
Section B:                             readiness. The entire class is done
                                       seated or standing; each student
                                                                            Somatic Movement: Calming
Laura Brown/Theresa Lever| 12                                               the Nervous System While Im-
weeks, Mondays/Thursdays, starts       works at the level that's            proving Mobility and Functionality
1/4 |5:00 - 6:00 pm                    appropriate for them. Limited        Amy LePage | 10 Fridays, starts 1/8
                                       equipment available for borrow-      | 9:45– 10:45 am | via Zoom | $35
Section C:                             ing—contact 223-2518 for more        members/ $60 public | Ages 18+
Tina Muncy | 12 weeks, Tuesdays/       info. Choose a class that suits your We utilize slow, focused, gentle
Fridays, starts 1/5 | 5:00 - 6:00 pm   schedule and find out why the        movements that actively engage
                                       Bone Builders program is so          the nervous system in a new learn-
                                       popular at MSAC!                     ing process called neuromuscular
                                                                            retraining. This class focuses on
Section D:                                                                  stress relief and self-care to calm
Nancy Schulz | 12 weeks, Tues-          Beginners Pilates—Next Level the nervous system while increas-
                                       Online

Symbol Key:

        = MSAC members only           = open to the public       # = Open to City employees of all ages
                                       MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 17
1/5/2021 version

                                           Active Living & Wellness
ing mobility, improving posture,        Yoga Therapy for Osteopenia            improved mobility, balance and
enhancing coordination, reducing        and Osteoporosis                        respiration, reduction in stiffness
aches, pains and tension patterns                                               and pain, and a greater sense of
while improving your breathing          Ragan Sheridan | 10 Fridays, starts
                                        1/8 | 2:30—4:00 pm | via Zoom |         peace. Note: Live, FREE Demo Ses-
and developing internal awareness,
                                        $65 members /$90 public | Ages          sion: Tuesday, 12/8 | 1:30-2 pm.
quiet and calm. Movements are
done standing, sitting and lying on     50+                                     Live FREE Zoom Training with Ra-
the floor. Modifications possible.      This small group class (10 max) will    gan on Monday, 12/7 at 1:30 pm,
Interested, but an individual ses-      focus on education and awareness        too! More info on page 9. Register
sion may be a good place to start?      of correct body mechanics to re-        for either one-time event at 223-
email Amy as sliding-scale is           duce the risk of fractures as well as   2518 or msac@montpelier-vt.org.
offered to MSAC members and             improving posture and balance,
Amy is seeing clients in-person on                                              # Gentle Yoga Online
Mondays or via zoom.                    strengthening bones and increasing
                                        flexibility. We will also work with     Patty Crawford | 12 Tuesdays,
                                        tools for stress management and         starts 1/15| 10:00—11:15 am| via
Qigong to Enhance your Tai Chi                                                 Zoom| $35 Montpelier resident /
Ellie Hayes |12 Wednesdays, starts      increased well-being. We will use
                                        the wall, chairs, props and yoga        $45 non-resident | Ages 50+
1/6 | 1:00 - 1:45 pm | via Zoom |
$35 members/ $60 public | Ages          postures standing, in table top and     The primary focus is to adapt the
50+                                     lying down. Modifications will be       yoga to serve the individual needs
Given the challenges of keeping Tai     taught for each individual group        of the student. Integrating breath
Chi afficionados engaged during         members’ needs. During week 1 of        and movement to guide and
the age of COVID-19 when live, in-      the class, each student must fill out   support your yoga practice helps to
person classes may not be safe,         an intake form and meet with the        develop awareness of your own
and there’s the added challenge of      instructor for a 20 minute sched-       condition and to feel ease in the
teaching Tai Chi movements in a         uled 1:1 assessment on 1/8              body and a deep sense of well-
“virtual” format, these Qigong ses-     (instead of as a group), to be          being. This class is only open to
sions are offered with an eye to        scheduled after registration.           those who have taken the class be-
supporting Tai Chi practitioners in     Please contact: ra-                     fore.
exploring the subtleties of breath,     gan@rootsofsupport.com or 802-
balance, stance and overall ease –      552-8995 for questions. See above       Gentle Yoga and Meditation
but the movements are as simple         or page 9 for FREE trainings by Ra-   Online
as they are profound, so this class     gan on 12/7 and 12/8.                 Monica DiGiovanni |12 Tuesdays,
would be rewarding for partici-                                               starts 1/5 | 4:00—5:00 pm| via
pants at any level. You can join in a   # Chair Yoga Thursday Online         Zoom| $35 members / $60 public|
community of practice from the          Ragan Sheridan | 12 Thursdays,        Ages 13+
comfort of your home. Ideally you       starts 1/7 | 1:30—2:30 pm | via         This gentle class will take place
have a laptop or other device for       Zoom |$35 Montpelier resident/        mostly on the floor. Clear your
linking up via ZOOM; a room which       $45 non-resident | Ages 50+           space, grab a cup of tea and gather
allows several feet of distance be-       This is a very gentle class done in your props: blocks, strap, pillows,
tween you and the device so you         a chair and standing. There is an     bolsters & blankets. Perfect for
can be seen from head to toe; and       emphasis on taking care of oneself
                                                                              opening the body, caring for your
floor space (preferably uncarpeted)     through gentle movement, body
of no more than 4’ x 4’.                                                      nervous system and returning back
                                        and breath awareness to allow for

Symbol Key:

        = MSAC members only            = open to the public        # = Open to City employees of all ages
                                        MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 18
1/5/2021 version

                                           Active Living & Wellness
to the center point. Class will start   connection that will help you to       the breath to help us stay present
with a guided meditation and end        manage stress and develop better       in the moment through physical as
                                        focus and memory retention. This       well as life transitions. We will also
with an affirmation to hold you         class gives men an opportunity to      look at where there is imbalance in
after class ends. Open to ages 13+,     explore the many benefits of yoga      the rest of our being and work with
children under 18 may attend ac-        that are appropriate for their         various tools to support overall
companied by a parent or alone by       unique bodies.                         balance of our body, emotions,
permission of the instructor and                                               mind and spirit. This is a moderate
parent.
                                        Gentle to Moderate Yoga, Onsite class for those experienced with
                                        at MSAC                                yoga and are able to get up and
                                        Barb Alpert | 12 Tuesdays, starts 1/19 down from the floor comfortably
Gentle Flow Yoga Online                | 2:45—3:45 pm | $35 members /         and stand for extended periods of
                                        $60 public | Ages 18+                  time. This class is only open to
Sarah Parker-Givens | 12 Wednes-
                                        This class will offer participants an those who have taken the class be-
days, starts 1/6 | 9:00—10:00 am |      opportunity to explore a gentle to fore.
via Zoom | $35 members /$60 pub-        moderate yoga practice geared to-
lic | Ages 18+                          wards improving balance, strength,
                                                                               # Moderate Yoga Online
   Gentle Flow Yoga is the linking of   and flexibility. Postures are
                                        adapted to meet the individual         Ron Sweet | 12 Mondays, starts
breath with gentle movement, a
                                        needs of students in the class and 1/4 | 11:45 am—1:00 pm | via
moving meditation that helps con-       are coordinated with the breath.       Zoom | $35 Montpelier resident/
nect us with the present moment.        Integrating breath and movement $45 non-resident | Ages 50+
Conscious breathing has a pro-          helps us work with our nervous           Learn to move with greater
found effect on the nervous system      system, strengthen attention, and awareness and proper alignment
                                        cultivate awareness in our body.       while exploring the constant
and our emotions. Join us as we         Participants should be able to
practice mindfulness and active                                                stream of subtle messages that
                                        move from floor to standing. Par-
                                                                               your body offers as it guides you
relaxation. This class will include     ticipants should bring a yoga mat
getting up and down from the            and a blanket to class. If blocks are toward mindful movement, which
                                        preferred, please bring your own       helps lower the risk of injury on
floor. Visit heartcenteredyo-                                                  and off the mat. You’ll learn to co-
                                        blocks as well.
ga.weebly.com for more infor-                                                  ordinate movement with breath to
mation about Sarah and her teach-       #Moderate Yoga for Balance            improve stability and focus, help to
ing.                                    Online                                 reduce stress, all while maintaining
                                        Patty Crawford | 12 Thursdays,         and improving strength, balance,
                                        starts 1/7 | 10 - 11:15 am | via       and flexibility. This class is more
Yoga for Men Online                    Zoom | $35 Montpelier resident/
Ron Sweet| 12 Mondays, starts 1/4                                              active than the gentle classes.
                                        $45 non-resident | Ages 50+ |
|10:00—11:15 am | via Zoom| $35         In this class we will strengthen and
members / $60 public| Ages 40+          increase flexibility of our feet, an-   Yoga for Focus and Fitness:
Yoga can help you increase              kles, hips, our core, and back mus- Strength and Flow Online
flexibility and promote better          cles as well as our overall posture Monica DiGiovanni | 12 Wednes-
balance, improve your posture,          to improve our balance. We will        days, starts 1/6 | 9:00—10:15 am |
agility, and coordination, and          cultivate body awareness along         via Zoom | $35 members / $60
prevent workout injuries.               with focused attention through
Connecting breath and movement                                                 public | Ages 14+
                                        mindful movement and we will use
develops a stronger mind-body                                                  Do you enjoy physical activities

Symbol Key:

        = MSAC members only            = open to the public        # = Open to City employees of all ages
                                        MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 19
1/5/2021 version

                                             Drop-in Activities
such as running, cross-country ski-      mount for participation. B. Dall, an cy: SaddleShoes2@gmail.com
ing, dancing, biking, and hik-           MSAC Advisory Council member,
ing? This class is suitable for those    will serve as facilitator. To register Club de Français Intermédiaire
with an active level of fitness. The     email: msac@montpelier-vt.org.         Online
use of props is strongly suggest-                                               David Kahn & Ellen Sholk | Tues-
ed to safely and comfortably ex-         Reader’s Choice Online                 days, 3:00-3:40 pm | Lecture
plore the edges of your practice.        Nancy Schulz | Thursdays | 7 - 8 (reading). Conversation. Chansons
Class begins and ends with medita-       pm | online or at MSAC in winter françaises traditionnelles. C’est
tion and gentle postures on the          when group gathering permitted gratuit. Venez quand vous pouvez.
floor. The heart of class enjoys a       by State | Free                        Chaque semaine nous vous en-
core focused practice of isomet-         All are invited to Readers’ Choice. verrons l’article qu’on va lire lundi
ric strengthening exercises inter-       Enjoy an hour relaxing, sharing        prochain.
woven with yoga postures of inter-       short pieces of fiction or non-
mediate complexity. At the center        fiction that you have chosen. Or, if Ad Hoc Writer’s Group Online
of it all is a practice of compassion    you prefer, listen to pieces that      Hugo and Cynthia Liepmann| Mon-
and acceptance of one's individual       others bring. There’s no obligation days, 6:00-8:00 pm
experience. Athleticism                                                          The intention of this group is to
                                         to attend regularly; come whenev-
and previous yoga experience are                                                support anyone who wants to
                                         er your schedule permits. If you       write. Each gathering starts with
recommended. Open to ages 14+,           wish to be added to the Reader’s       one participant volunteering to fa-
children under 18 may attend ac-         Choice email group so that you’ll      cilitate, and a time for those who
companied by a parent or alone by        receive the Zoom link, please email want to share a piece of their
permission of the instructor and         Nancy: SaddleShoes2@gmail.com writing. The group then chooses a
parent.                                                                         prompt, and writes for 15 minutes
                                         Long Life Qi Gong Online               or so. Some write prose, some po-
                                         Nancy Schulz | Wednesdays |            etry. Those who want, read aloud
Drop-In Groups                                                                  what they wrote. A writer may say
                                         10:45 –11:05 am |online or at
New Book Discussion Online                                                      what kind of feedback they want.
                                         MSAC when group gathering per- There is time at most gatherings
Group Starting in January!               mitted by State | Free                 for a second round of writing from
Barb Dall | Monthly Meetings,            Invest 20 minutes for a longer life! a prompt, and sharing. The writing
Starts week of January 11                All are invited to participate in a 20 that emerges is often profound,
| Free                                   -minute series of gentle move-         funny, astounding. The group has
Have you always wanted to read           ments from the Chinese Qi Gong         guidelines for respecting one an-
and discuss a particular book? Do        “Long Life” tradition of Master Ru. other. Given the vulnerability and
you see reading and thinking as an       Participants follow the leader who personal nature of writing, confi-
                                                                                dentiality within the group is es-
educational opportunity? Is read-        guides the series with few spoken
                                                                                sential. For more information, con-
ing a way to broaden your perspec-       words. Many movements have im- tact Cynthia at 802.565.0064 or
tive? You might like to join a group     aginative names such as “Dancing Hugo at 802.565.0059.
of readers, on Zoom, once a              with the Moon,” “Watching the
month, for an MSAC sponsored             Clouds Go By,” and “Swimming           Poetry Club Online
book-focused discussion group.           Dragon.” At the end of the 20          Free informal gathering of people
You bring a suggestion, and the          minutes, participants often report who enjoy reading and writing po-
group will choose the book(s) by         feeling both calm and invigorated. ems. Come to listen, or bring a fa-
consensus. Limit 10 people. Zoom         The series will be led by movement vorite to share – written by your-
                                                                                self or someone else. This is a
access needed – assistance availa-       instructor Nancy Schulz. To receive
                                                                                new, informal group not intended
ble for set-up. Listening skills para-   the Zoom link, please email Nan-
                                         MONTPELIER COMMUNITY SERVICES | 20
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