Lifelong Activities

Lifelong Countywide program provides support and involvement to the far reaches of Tompkins County by coordinating Senior groups. These groups meet regularly for social, educational and community service activities. Each group organizes its own unique activities. Activities include day-trips, volunteer projects and weekly dish-to-pass events with entertainment.

Current group programs serve the following areas and groups:

Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Groton, Lansing, Newfield, Ithaca Northeast, Trumansburg, and Varna.  For specific group information, please contact Lifelong at 273-1511 for more information about how to get involved County-Wide programs.

Social Groups

A Social Group is several individuals who come together on a regular basis to pursue a common interest. Lifelong Membership is required but registration is not (*unless otherwise noted). There is a $2 per person per session fee for social groups during Lifelong’s regular business hours and a $3 per person per session fee required for social groups outside of Lifelong’s regular business hours.

2nd Wednesday Night Book Club:  2nd Wednesday of the Month, 7:00-9:00pm

Members read the selected book together and then discuss. This group is not currently accepting any new members.

Chess Social Group: 1st Thursday of the month, 12:00 – 1:30pm. facilitated by Carol Santucci

Drop in and play a game. All levels welcome!

Drawing Social Group: 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month, 11:00 – 1:00pm

An opportunity to share drawing time with others.

Knitting Circle:  Fridays, 9:30-10:30am, Irene Gleason

Open to all knitters but no knitting lessons will be offered. This is a fun opportunity to share knitting experiences and seek limited assistance with projects.

Mahjong (all levels welcome):  Fridays, 1:30-3:30pm, Nancy Schuler

Men’s Social Group:  Saturdays, 9:30-12:00pm, Carl Taylor

Join other men to play cards, drink coffee, and plan projects.

Monday Afternoon Book Club: 2nd Monday of the month, 11:00 – 1:00pm, facilitated by Julia Bentley Macdonald

This book club is open to new members.  Books are chosen by group consensus and discussed at the next meeting.

Piano Playing and Other Instruments:  3th Thursday of the month, 3:30 – 5:00pm, facilitated by MarieAnne Krieg

Come play, listen, and socialize.  This is for the musician in all of us.  Bring your own instrument, use the piano at Lifelong, or just bring your ears!

The Play’s the Thing:  The last Friday of each month, 1:00-3:00pm, coordinated by Dolina Millar & Virginia Sierra

One-Act plays are a principal form of dramatic stage performances today across the nation. Each week our “producers” will present three one-act plays read by members of the group who volunteer for the roles at the prior session. Prepare your role, put yourself “on stage” and join in a discussion of each day’s dramatic or comedic presentations. Looking for new members!

‘Viva La Vegan!’ Dish-To-Pass Gathering:  1st Thursday of the month, 3:30-6:30pm, facilitated by MarieAnne Krieg

Those who love vegan cuisine (no meat, dairy or eggs) and would like to share their appreciation of this very healthy way of eating with others, are invited to join our Vegan Dish-to-Pass. If you would like more information please contact MarieAnne at 607-273-8328.

Lifelong is now offering an increased number of Activities and Lifelong Learning opportunities outside of the Lifelong building at various locations around the area.

General Information about Off-Site Activities and Classes

• Off-site classes (Lifelong Learning or Activity classes) do not require Lifelong membership, unless you opt to pay $30/month for unlimited activity classes.
• Health and Wellness (fitness, strength training, Tai Chi, Yoga) activities are $30 a month for an unlimited number of classes (membership required) or $5 drop-in, payable to the instructor
• Offsite Lifelong Learning classes require registration either over the phone (607-273-1511) or in person at 119 W Court St.  Pre-registration is strongly recommended because classes fill up or, alternatively, may be cancelled if no interest is shown before the date it is scheduled.  Fees for Lifelong Learning classes range from free to $40.
• For a complete listing of the classes or for more information check out the current catalog.

If you like to golf, are a member of Lifelong, enjoy the company of others, and are open to meeting new people, this is the activity for you!

Starting with registration in April, continuing in May  through the summer with Wednesday morning golf and lunch at over 10 courses, and wrapping up with a dish-to-pass in October, this social group is fun, active, and has over 60 participants each year.

The cost to register to golf is $30 (Lifelong membership $25 and $5 program registration).   Additionally, on the day of play, there will be a course fee (greens fee, cart, and usually lunch) that ranges between $23 and $27 dollars depending on the course.

For more information call Karen Koyanagi at 273-1511.

The Northside Southside Program began in 1980 with Mrs. Ruth Mann as its first coordinator.  The activities and services of the program were developed especially for Ithaca’s north side and south side retired seniors.

During those early years, the Northside Southside staff started the wonderful tradition of making regular visits and phone calls to homebound residents.

Later, Helen Brown and Arlene Richardson coordinated program events, activities, and services for several years.

Available to all participants:

• Lifelong  Membership
• Half-Fare TCAT Bus Tickets
• Monthly Program Newsletter
• Free Blood Pressure Screening
• On-going Lifelong Classes
• Lifelong Learning Program
•  Walk Program
• Free Health Insurance Counseling
• Free Income Tax Counseling
• Financial Planning Seminars
• and Much More!

Join US ! The best is yet to be!

• Monthly Program & Planning at Lifelong
• Annual Picnic
• Monthly Luncheons
• Shopping Trips
• Health and Wellness Programs
• And much more!

The Northside Southside Program continues and welcomes you!  If you would like more information, please contact Lifelong.

Come walk with your friends, old and new, at Lifelong!

Lifelong’s walk program is a great way to explore the beauty and culture of Tompkins County while increasing your strength, improving your balance and enjoying the company and knowledge of your peers. The walk coordinators are Elke Schofield and Leslie Kinsland and they are looking forward to sharing the walks they have planned for you.

We will walk every other week on Wednesdays and will meet in the Lifelong Lounge at 1:15 PM, promptly starting to walk at 1:30 PM. You must be able to walk independently 1-2 miles.  (Please bring your assistant for the walks, if you need him/her). When carpooling is required, a $1-2 fee for gasoline and parking should be given to the driver. You will be informed either by e-mail or by phone 2-3 days ahead of the scheduled walk.  We will NOT walk if it rains or if the temperature is over 80F (we may decide to switch the walk to 9:30 in the morning).  

REGISTRATION

Lifelong requires that all walkers must be members of Lifelong.  You can register in person at Lifelong, online, or by mail.   A membership is $25 for an individual and $40 for a household of two.  If you want to sign up for the 2020 Lifelong Walks, please send an email to: Elke Schofield at elke.schofield@icloud.com or call her in the afternoon at (607) 272-9476.  Please include your name, email address, home address and home tel. # and cell phone #, and confirm that your Lifelong membership is up to date. Put “Lifelong Walks 2020” in the subject line.

2020 Walk Schedule

April 22                Mural Tour (Caleb Thomas) Southside – Southside Community Center

May 6                   CARLA Bijouterie Gallery of Fine Jewelry (527 W. Seneca Street)

         20                 Marina Walk

June 3                 Ithaca College

         17                 Former IC President’s home, Foundation Place

July 1                  NewPark, 1500 Taughannock Blvd.

         15                Tibetan Monastery, Route 96 B

        29                Boiceville (Bruce Schickel)

Aug 12                William George Agency (George Jr. Republic)

        26                Lansing Center Trail

Sep 9                  Gourdlandia, Eco Village (Graham Ottoson) 207 Rachel Carson Way

       23                Treman Center

Oct 7                   Dryden Lake/Jim Schug Trail (Joyce Walsh)

       21                 Beebe Lake

Travel Program Policies:

Registration: All registration can be made in person at Lifelong (119 W. Court Street), Mon-Fri 9:00AM-3:30PM.  You must complete a registration form, release form, and if applicable, select your bus seating, room assignment, and parking choice.  At the time of registration, the deposit is due to secure your reservation. Reservations can be made over the phone using a credit card, but all required release and registration forms must be filled out, signed, and submitted before the trip begins.

Payments: Payments may be made using a Credit Card (VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover), Cash, Personal Check or Money Order. All checks or money orders should be payable to LIFELONG. Your final payment is due before the trip registration deadline.  Failure to provide a payment in full by the registration deadline will result in your reservation being canceled.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellations must be made before the registration deadline to receive a refund.  Cancellations made after the registration deadline are eligible for a refund ONLY if your seat(s) can be filled by another party.  An administrative fee of $5.00 will be charged for any refund requests due to cancellations by participants.   Seating Assignments: Seat assignments are given on a first-come, first-served basis.  The seats towards the front of the bus are reserved for persons with disabilities.  Lifelong reserves the right to reseat participants if needed.

Assistance & Accommodation: Lifelong recognizes and seeks to provide program accessibility for people of all abilities.  If you have questions or need specific accommodation during your participation on a trip, please notify a staff person at the time of registering.  We will advocate for you and request specific arrangements as necessary during the trip.   Trip details such as hotel addresses and telephone numbers are available on the trip itinerary which is available at the front desk after registering.  Additional policies and guidelines apply for each trip, ask for details.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lifelong at (607) 273-1511.

Parking:

For trips other than those through Collette Vacations, each trip will offer at least 2-3 options for pick-up/drop-off locations.  You may find specific locations in your trip itinerary.

Lansing Village Place,   Parking Lot located behind the Clarion Hotel

Lifelong, 119 West Court Street, Ithaca, NY

East Hill Plaza, (East end near Cornell Credit Union)

Lifelong offers several options year round for those interested in pursuing creative activities.  Membership is required to participate in these and all other onsite daytime classes and groups.  We are in the process of reinstating the language component. Activity classes differ from Lifelong Learning classes in that they are offered continuously, throughout the year.  Participants pay $5 each time they attend a class or pay $30 a month to attend unlimited Creative & Language Arts Classes.

Clay Class: Mondays, 10 – 12:30, facilitated by Jennifer Brown

An opportunity to work with clay from start to kiln.  This is not a wheel class.

Watercolor Studio: Tuesdays, 10 – 1:30, facilitated by Susan Zehnder

Participants work with guidance, totally independently, or something in between.  Every week there is a new set-up for still life, and the class finishes with a sharing of work and ideas.

Lifelong Senior Theatre Troupe: Thursdays, 2 – 3:00

A chance to explore improvisational theater exercises and express yourself.  No lines to learn, no acting background necessary.  A fun experiences filled with surprises.

Some of these programs are partially supported by Tompkins County and the County Office for the Aging.  Unless otherwise noted, class fees are $5 an individual class or $30 a month (membership required for $30/month rate) for unlimited Health and Wellness Classes.

Lifelong membership is required for all classes onsite at Lifelong. Membership is encouraged but not required for offsite classes unless opting for the $30/month rate.

S.A.I.L.: Classes focus on stretching, flexibility, balance, low-impact aerobics, strength training, and deep breathing exercises.  Personal progress is measured through comparison of level of achievement in three simple exercises over time.

Enhance Your Fitness: Classes focus on stretching, flexibility, balance, low-impact aerobics, strength training, and deep breathing exercises.

Tai Chi: Using precise, fluid movement, dissolve tension, increase your strength, cardiovascular fitness, and overall sense of wholeness.

Chair Yoga: Using breathing techniques, basic yoga postures, relaxation, and focus, you will become more in tune with your body, and improve your breath awareness and control.

 Zumba Gold: Improve your breathing & cardio with fun music!

Strength Training: Resistance exercise strengthens bones, increases muscular endurance and improves coordination and balance.

Square and other Social Dances: Caller-led dances that increase muscular strength, improve coordination and balance, and reduce stress. Join as many dances as you would like and enjoy watching your peers as they dance too! No experience or partner necessary.  Dances will be demonstrated and taught.  Newcomers Welcome!

Special activity rate: $3 drop-in

Dance for the 2nd Half: Technical dance classes that incorporate classical, modern and other dance genre techniques.  A class for people who haven’t taken a formal dance class before.  This class improves stretch, strength, technique, and concludes with a simple dance combination.  Please call ahead to let us know you are coming.

Special activity rate:  Dance for the 2nd Half $10 drop-in

Lifelong gratefully thanks Borg Warner for its generosity in past years for letting Lifelong members swim in their beautiful pool on Warren Rd.  For 2019 the pool will not be opened and so we are looking for another venue for our members.  Please check here or the email blast for further information

THANK YOU, BORG WARNER!!

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to those who earn less than $1400 gross income per month (single household) or less than $1900 gross income per month for a two-person household.  Please see our membership and course registration applications for more information.