VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB NEWSLETTER

FOR FEBRUARY 2016

Vol 58/Issue 13

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB

Greetings from a very wintery Valley Social Club. I hope every one is
staying warm. Despite the weather the club remains open and very busy.
All of our groups and classes are still going strong. Im sure Jacques has
an enlightened lunch or something up his sleeve for the month. Dont
forget its Valentines day on the 14th so get something nice
for your sweetie. I hope to see lots of members coming down
to keep warm and enjoy themselves at the club. Julianne

FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB

Brrr, Its cold outside. Come in out of the cold and get warm at the Valley
Social Club. Its February and were now getting into the new rhythm for
2016. Get your dues paid and come enjoy what we have planned.
During Valentine's week this year will have a special bingo. We are
asking all participants to pay $2 so we can get Valentine-themed items
that will be up for grabs. If this goes well we will do this for all holidays.
This will be lots of fun and we hope you support the bingo crew!
Our regular groups are also happening as normal and weather permitting
well be doing a out to eat trip to the Valley Diner. We are also
having a club dinner on the 26th. This year is a leap year and
February has 29 days to it. One extra day to come and spend
the day at the V.S.C. All are welcome. Sylvia H.

FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB

I know I sound like a broken record but I just cant say enough about all
the things going on at the club. We play pool everyday. We have art
classes on Mondays and Thursday. Bingo is on Tuesday afternoons. We
have lunch on Mondays and Thursdays also. There are enlightened
lunches and cultural lunches which are always informative. Evening
Socials are on Thursday nights from5-7pm. We play board games, have
group discussions and lite dinner. We make new friends every week and
enjoy our old friends as well. Theres alot going on at the club.

SHOPPING GROUP FOR FEBRUARY

Derby, Seymour, Oxford: Feb. 9th and 23rd.
Ansonia, Shelton: Feb. 10th and 24th.
Pick ups start at 10:30. Call 203-732 7089
for reservations

LAUNDRY GROUP FOR FEBRUARY

Derby, Seymour, Oxford: Feb. 16th.
Ansonia, Shelton: Feb.17th.
Pick ups start at 10:30. Call 203-732-7089
for reservations.

COMMUNITY DINNER FOR FEBRUARY

This months Community Dinner will be Sunday, February
28th from 3-5pm at the Assumption Church Hall, 61 North
Cliff St. Ansonia.
For more info call 203-732-7792 owww.masterstablemeals.org. In
case of bad weather call the number above for updates.

BIRTHDAYS IN THE FEBRUARY

The following people have birthdays in February
Paula B, Dan C, Tom C, Don H, Sue L, Mike L.
Sorry we forgot Cathy B. in January Happy Birthday!

DONT FORGET TO PAY YOUR DUES FOR 2016!

You get your dues back in so many ways we hope you decide to
join as a member of the club in 2016. Our dues have not changed in
forever! Always $10!Payment plans available just ask staff.
Visit the BHcare Website: www.bhcare.org under the Specialty
section.

DONATIONS REALLY GO A LONG WAY!

This past holiday season the community really stepped up for our members and
agencys clients! We like to thanks the following people and organizations for all they
do for us. The Salvation Army Food Bank on Lester Street and Christ Church Food
Bank on North Cliff Street in Ansonia have helped out by sending us non-perishable
goods .Its good to have Brenda T. volunteering there, she looks out for the goodies.
The club benefits a lot when they send us bread, baked goods, salads, and fresh
vegetables. During Christmas time the center has a program called Under the Tree
which helps our members and clients who have no families or significant others by
giving them Christmas gifts. This made many people feel happy knowing that
someone cared about them enough to buy them something for under the tree!
This year food and toys were donated by local police, churches, and businesses!
Nancy Valentine and her mother knitted hats , scarfs and gloves for all our Christmas
Brunch participants . She came back in January to give us bingo items, just amazing!
We have also had two special people help out V.S.C . Kathy Ramia who is our raffle
angel. She always thinks of us and this year she came in a few times with raffle items
that were so good it was unreal! Tony San Angelo always donates pies from Eddies
Bake Shop for our Thanksgiving dinner. Then we have special donors like our old
friend Larry R. who makes sure our members can have a meal, paint a picture, and
enjoy some activities! We have two families that have been touched by having a
family member in recovery. The Bolimowskis send cookies at Christmas, our retired
CEO Marilyn Cormack sent cookies and another family who will remain anonymous
by request, that sponsors the clubs New Years Eve Day party by treating us to a
Chinese Buffet. We would also like to thank Colleen from Umbrella for dropping off
few dozen donuts to the club from time to time. Last but not least John Yeager and
the Rotary for our annual Poinsettias plant, it was huge and beautiful. I am sure there
is one or two individuals I may have left out by accident but please know we really do
appreciate you! This is what keeps us going so thanks to all who donate, you are
truly amazing people and on behalf of my staff and our
members, thank you!
Phyllis Kaplan, Social Club Supervisor.

WINTER . Submitted By Robert S.

Blow, north wind, blow
All the leaves are falling:
Cold, frost and snow
Winter come a-calling. Mother nature sleeps
now. All the earth is bare;
Deep in the ground
She guards her treasures rare.
Author Margaret Morgan

A SUBMISSION FROM CATHY B.

Like a Beacon:
Softly glowing like a beacon through falls gray and naked trees.
Golden poplars gently tremble with each warm and whispering
breeze.
Softly entering Indian summer swiftly moves across the land,
Leaving magic where she touches sprinkling gold on either hand.
Author Lula Neff Merritt

THINGS OF INTEREST
We are sad to inform all of you that we have to cancel the
Smokers Anonymous group due to lack of participants. We
hope that at some point in the future we will be able to
bring it back.
Support Groups still running are:
Over Eaters Anonymous held on Mondays at 3pm at the clinic
meeting room main building.
Emotions Anonymous held every Friday at 4pm at the
Valley Social Club. Call John Dykman at 203-73-2601
for more information on both these groups.

ENLIGHTENED LUNCH FROM JANUARY 2016!

What is the Enlightened Lunch? Its a way we can bring
speakers to the club with all types of subjects and interests for
our members. This month we had the Mayor of Ansonia and
Kim Tzovarras from the HOPWA Program.

MAYOR DAVE VISITED IN JANUARY !

Mayor Dave Cassetti visited the club on January 6, 2016 to start our New
Year off with a bang. He shared all his ideas to jump start the town of
Ansonia in a positive direction. He talked about the new housing that will
be going in at the ATP Building on upper East Main Street. He discussed
the future police station on Olsen Drive which he stated will be state of
the art. He is looking to bring in more business to the downtown area.
He also wants to lower taxes if possible. He really wants to bring the
town back to the busy place it used to be when he was a kid. The
members really enjoyed his visit and plans were made to come back to
update our members again. The members felt that Mayor Dave really
cares for the town and they hope that all his plans come true. Time will
tell! Thanks Mayor Dave for coming to talk to our members and taking
time out of your busy schedule!

KIM TZOVARRAS FROM HOPWA

Kim spoke to members about the history of HIV and how it has come a
long way in what medications people have to take verses in the beginning
of when it all started. Safe sex is very important IN ALL SITUATIONS. Kim
talked about how the blood is tested and that everyone should get an HIV
test if they are sexually active, especially in todays world where people
do not always know if they have a certain illness. She stated she hopes
the stigma around HIV dissipates in the near future. Members asked
questions and discussed things they heard from other people. Paula B I
learned a lot, I never knew before and thought Kim did a real good job I
nforming us about how far things have come!. Its scary to think that
people died in the 80s from this!. Kim was available for any questions
members had and it was a really good group today to hear some really
important information!

YOUNG ADULTS CORNER BY RILEY C.

The thoughts young adults have regarding the Valley Social Club has ranged
from that place isnt for me! to I dont really know what they do there
and almost every thought in between. The social club has been thought to
be geared around the older adults in BH Care, but that is far from the truth!
The welcoming I receive daily in the Social Club is a comforting echo of
hellos and how are your's and that is what squashed my fear I once had
with being the youngest in the club. I first came in, quietly playing pool and
watching how others acted and reacted. With any mistakes I made while
playing pool I heard the soft, encouraging tones of the helpful people in
here. I learned and laughed, knowing that I was slowly making friends that
I could rely on to be those people I looked forward to seeing every day. I
walk in here now and am fortunate enough to hear caring voices and witty
words, everything said with the best intentions. From bingo to painting to
the group talks, the Social Club has a way of welcoming in the familiar faces
and the new ones, all in the same happy way. The genuine care and concern
that comes from each of the staff makes adjusting to the Social Club an easy
thing to do. No matter what activity is going on, the club is opened to us as
a safe place to play, talk, and just be. After any YAS activity I come down
and feel just as at home here as I do up at our YAS drop in. I have found my
place here at the Social Club, whether its playing pool with the skilled
players here or making jokes with any of the staff, my place is a comfort to
me. I believe that the Social Club is an asset that everyone could benefit
from, including all of my fellow young adults

BEADING CLASS IS MORE THAN JUST BEADS BY MIKE L.

The original Beading Class started two years ago with an idea from Melissa P.
Then Paula B. took over and got everyone excited about doing another class. Since
then, I took the beading to a new level of creativity. I first was lucky enough to
find a necklace of jade and this is where I first got my idea. I started buying old
jewelry and deconstructing them into single units of beads and hardware. Some
members assisted breaking down over 5000 mixed beads into fourteen individual
colors. We then separated them into individual bags. I made personal work boards
out of cardboard and masking tape to help the ladies work easier on their
necklaces. This really made a difference in being able to work with the
designs so the beads would not role all over the place as it did before. They have
since learned new designs and color techniques. Their skills have broadened to
new heights while doing this continuously for the past two months. They have had
great patience and exhibited much more skill and pride in their work. Making what
I have done, far worth the effort I have put into this. I am so proud of each person
who has supported me in making this far more than I could have ever expected. I
think that some pieces were so good they could have sold in a jewelry store.
Maybe next year some pictures of the best pieces can be put in our clubs annual
calendar. Thanks Jacques for documenting our efforts and progress by
photographing them all. We hope some more people will come and enjoy
the beading class its on Wednesdays at 10am in the VSC.

VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB CALENDAR FOR

FEBURARY 2016
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

4 Ladies Only 10-11a

Lunch 12-12:30p
Lets talk 1-2pm
Drawing class 2-3p
Over Eaters A. 4pm
(clinic)

Breakfast 8:30-10am

Breakfast Club
8:30-10am
Beading Class 1012
ME WORK 2-3P **

Sign up w/Phyllis
Lunch 12-12:30p
Drawing class 2-3p
Evening Social
5-7pm
($2 Due for Bingo)

Free Lunch Friday

12-12:30pm
Craft class
2-3pm

10

11

10

Club Closed

Lunch 12-12:30p
Lets talk 1-2pm
Drawing class 2-3p
Over Eaters A. 4pm
(clinic)

Breakfast 8:30-10am
Mikes craft class
10-11a
Special Valentines
Bingo2-3:30pm at the
door $3, pre-pay $2

Breakfast Club
8:30-10am
Beading Class
10-12
ME WORK 2-3P **

Lunch 12-12:30p
Anxiety Grp 1-2
Drawing class 2-3p
Evening Social
5-7pm*

Free Lunch Friday

12-12:30pm
Craft class 2-3pm

14

15

16

17 Breakfast 8:30-10am

18 Ladies Only

19

Club Closed

Lunch 12-12:30p
Lets talk 1-2pm
Drawing class 2-3p
Over Eaters A. 4pm
(clinic)

Breakfast
8:30-10am
Mikes craft class
10-11a
Bingo 2-3pm

Keep the Promise

Meeting in Middletown
Leave at 9am **
CLRP 1:30-2:30P
Beading Class 10-12

10-11a
Sign up w/Phyllis
Lunch 12-12:30p
Drawing class 2-3p
Evening Social 5-

Free Lunch Friday

12-12:30pm
Craft class 2-3pm
Emotion A. 4pm

21

22

23 Breakfast

24

25

26

Club Closed

Lunch 12-12:30p
Lets talk 1-2pm
Drawing class 2-3p
Over Eaters A. 4pm
(clinic)

8:30-10am
Mikes craft class
10-11a
Bingo 2-3pm
Club Dinner
3:15-4:30p*

Breakfast Club
8:30-10am
Beading Class
10-12
ME WORK 2-3P **

Lunch 12-12:30p
Drawing class 2-3p
Evening Social
5-7pm*

Free Lunch Friday

12-12:30pm
Craft class
2-3pm
Emotion A. 4pm

28

29

Phone numbers

CLUB HOURS:

Phyllis 305-7895
Jacques 893-8135
Mike732-7089
BHcare 736-2601
Social Club 735-9106

Mon-Thurs
8:30-5pm
Fri- 8:30-4pm
Fri 4-5pm E.A. only
Closed weekends

Warm Line Hours

Sun-Thurs 6-10p

Sign up key

Lunch 12-12:30p
Lets talk 1-2pm
Drawing class 2-3p
Over Eaters A. 4pm
(clinic)

Club Closed

Mikes craft class

10-11a
Bingo 2-3pm

ME WORK 2-3P **

Fri-Sat 6-11p
203-732-2004

Sat
6
Club Closed

Emotion A. 4pm

13
Club Closed

Emotion A. 4pm

$-Money needed
*-Must sign up
*call if you re unable
to make an activity
you signed up for!

20
Club Closed

27
Club Closed