Sharon Powers will retire from her position as administrative secretary in Wilton’s Social Services Department on July 1 after 15 years as a town employee. Sharon started in the town clerk’s office and then moved to the first selectman’s office before joining Social Services in 2008.
When asked why she was retiring now, she said, “It is just time. My husband has been semi-retired for several years. Now it is my turn. We look forward to moving south to Georgia to be closer to family and old friends. The winters are milder, the cost of living is more affordable, and it is a very pretty area. It’s a better choice for retired people in many ways than remaining in Connecticut.”
She plans to volunteer, swim, and enjoy her new surroundings for a while before entertaining the thought of part-time employment. She will be missed by everyone who has gotten to know her over the past 15 years. Her friendly and helpful ways will be missed by the Social Services clients, senior center participants, and staff.
A reception for Sharon will be held on Friday, June 26, from noon until 2 at the senior center. A light lunch will be available at that time. There will be a short program at 1. Reservations are appreciated, call 203-834-6238.
Free lunch
On Thursday, June 25, Wilton Meadows will host a complimentary lunch at 11:30 in its dining room. Any senior citizen from Wilton is welcome to attend. Following the lunch, you are welcome to stay for bingo complete with prizes provided by Wilton Meadows.
Insomnia
Having difficulty falling sleep or staying asleep? Did you know that six to seven hours of sleep, not eight hours, is considered optimal; that some of us are born with a “weaker sleep system” but that we can learn how to strengthen our sleep system; that our thoughts and behaviors are the most common cause of sleep disorders and that we can be taught techniques to change these?
Join Cathy Pierce, director of Social Services, and Lauren Hughes, coordinator of Senior Services, for a four-week educational seminar in understanding insomnia and learning how to develop techniques to help improve your sleep.
The initial meeting of the seminar will be on Tuesday, July 14, from 10 to 11:30 in the senior center lounge. The group will meet at the same time on the next three consecutive Tuesdays — July 21, July 28, and Aug. 4 — and will be limited to eight participants.
The seminar will be based on the work of Gregg D. Jacobs, Ph.D, an insomnia specialist from the Sleep Disorder Center at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Jacobs has developed a cognitive behavioral therapy program for treating insomnia and this four-week seminar will draw on his model.
The first session will be focused on sleep education, separating the facts about sleep from popular myths and misconceptions which can be detrimental to a good night’s rest. In the second week, we will address sleep medications and sleep scheduling techniques. Participants will leave with homework in the form of a sleep chart to help track their personal sleep patterns. The third week’s session will cover stimulus control techniques or how to create the optimal internal and external environment for sleep. In the final session we will cover relaxation and sleep hygiene techniques so you can learn to fall asleep more easily and stay asleep longer.
To enroll please call Sharon Powers at 203-834-6238.
Coming events
For the week of June 19 :
• Friday, June 19 , 10, Feldenkrais with Cathy Paine; 12, Bridge with Eleanor Mihailidis; 1:30, Intermediate Bridge with Dan DeVlieg.
• Monday, June 22, 10:30, Line Dance Fusion with Beatriz Araujo; 1, Bridge; 1, Studio Knitting with Lizabeth Doty.
• Tuesday, June 23 , 11, Yoga with Denise O’Hearn; 12:30 to 2, Blood Pressure Screening by Visiting Nurse and Hospice; 12:30, Mah Jongg; 2, Chair Yoga at Ogden House; 3, Stay at Home in Wilton.
• Wednesday, June 24 , 10, Open Bridge with Dan DeVlieg; 10, Comstock Writers (last meeting until September); 10:30, Tai Chi with Joe Alampi; 12, Volunteer Luncheon at the Ogden House; 1, Mah Jongg.
• Thursday, June 25 , 9, No Enhance Fitness with Leslie Hinshaw today; 10, Yoga with Denise O’Hearn; 11:30, Complimentary lunch and bingo at Wilton Meadows.
In the course of the renovation project, individual rooms in the senior center and social services wing of the building may, from time to time, become unavailable for public use. All senior programs and the room assignments will be posted at or on the entrance doors. We appreciate your understanding and patience.