New Beginnings In-Person Programming

New and Noteworthy This Month

All activities are in person unless otherwise specified.

December Fitness Features

NEW! Monday, December 19, at 10:30am

Gentle Exercises for Mobility with Midtown Physical Therapy 

The Adult Fitness team from Midtown Physical Therapy is offering another in-person class this month in addition to our regular virtual class. Join Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mohammed Al Temawi “Mo,”  for warm-up, stretching, strength and balance exercises appropriate for contemporary adults of all fitness levels.  Come join us and get moving with a smile!  This class focuses on improving your strength, balance, endurance and flexibility to enhance your daily function and help you remain active.

New! Wednesdays, starting December 7, at 10:00am

Chair Exercises for Older Adults 

Stuart Haden, a Certified Senior Fitness Instructor experienced in working with older adults, is teaching a one-hour cardio and flexibility workout that can be performed seated or with the support of a chair.

Special Events in December

Monday, December 5, 10:30 am    

Learn about the Office of the New York City Comptroller

Presented by Greer Mayhew, Bronx Borough Director, the Office of the New York City Comptroller.   Learn about managing your pension fund and services.  Presentation provided by the Comptroller’s Office.

Tuesday, December 13, at 11:30 am   

December Birthday Party Lunch and Entertainment!

Join us for our December Birthday Lunch at 11:30 am, and at 1:15 pm dance to the music of Reginald. With a crisp and charming baritone voice, Reginald will share Oldies, 40s-70s hits, Jazz standards, Soul, Motown, and Adult Contemporary. Influenced by the great Barry White, Smokey Robinson, and Luther Vandross, Reginald’s intent is to motivate and uplift your spirits through his performance. Tickets for the Birthday Lunch are a suggested contribution of $3.50 in advance/$4.50 the day of the event. Please buy yours in advance to ensure a seat.

Tuesday, December 20, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm 

Mobile Food Pantry

Join us in the back parking lot to pick up food from the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty’s Mobile Food Pantry. There are no income or age restrictions. To register, contact Alexandra at (718) 548- 8200 ext 233 or via email at anyashina@riverdaley.org. Provide your name, phone number, date of birth, zip code, and email (if available) to complete registration. If you are already registered, you can just show up.

Wednesday, December 21, at 11:30 am  

Chanukah Luncheon &  Concert 

Join us for a traditional Chanukah meal prepared by our talented Kitchen Manager, Nekiya Edwards, and her staff.  After lunch the East Side Quartet will present a Chanukah celebration in music, including classic Chanukah favorites, Klezmer, Yiddish songs and popular 20th Century songs. Featuring Deborah Karpel, vocals and guitar; David Hofstra, bass; Yuriko Nabeta, accordion; and Pamela Fleming, trumpet.  The Chanukah Concert is sponsored by Selfhelp Community Services and will take place in our theater. Tickets for the Chanukah Luncheon are a suggested contribution of $5.00 in advance and $7.00 the day of the event. Please buy yours in advance to ensure a seat.

Friday, December 23, at 1:15 pm

Concert: The Bardekova Ensemble 

Join us for a concert by The Bardekova Ensemble, a versatile classical chamber music group consisting of a flute, oboe, clarinet, French Horn and bassoon.  We’ll enjoy the music of Ludwig Van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph  Haydn, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington and Celia Cruz.

Thursday, December 29, at 11:30am

New Year’s Luncheon and Entertainment

Celebrate New Year’s with a wonderful meal prepared by our talented Kitchen Manager, Nekiya Edwards, and her staff!  After lunch JoAnn R will serenade us in English, Spanish & Italian with her vast repertoire of songs: 40s-80s pop hits, International, Jazz Standards, Disco, Latin, Oldies, Motown, Soul & Funk. JoAnn is an engaging and charming entertainer and vocalist who performs all over the world with an international singing trio, as well as being a solo performer and having her own party band.  Tickets for the New Year’s Luncheon are a suggested contribution of $5.00 in advance and $7.00 the day of the event. Please buy yours in advance to ensure a seat.

December’s Friday Flicks

Friday, December 2, at 12:45 pm
The Lost City (2022)

(1 hrs, 52 min) In this comedy/adventure, a reclusive romance novelist on tour with her cover model is kidnapped by a billionaire determined to find a lost treasure. Soon both are swept into a wild, funny, and fast-moving jungle adventure reminiscent of her own novels.

Friday, December 9, at 12:45 pm
Jerry & Marge Go Large ( 2022)

(1hrs, 36min) A married couple discover a loophole in a national lottery and, instead of using their winnings to buy a McMansion or travel the world, they reinvest the money in an effort to revive their small Michigan town. Based on a true story.

Friday, December 16, at 12:45 pm

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

(2 hrs, 05 min) The story of Kya, an abandoned girl who raised herself to adulthood in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community.

Friday, December 30, at 12:45 pm 

The Greatest Showman (2017)
(1 hrs, 44 min) Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion.  P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth. Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers and daring acrobatic feats.

December Lectures

Thursday, December 8, at 12:45 pm

Preparing for Medical Emergencies
Presented by Nursing Students from Mercy College.  Learn simple actions you can take when you or someone close to you is experiencing an emergency such as choking, stroke or a heart attack.
 

Friday, December 9, at 10:30 am 

Art Lecture with Leona Frank

Painter and art teacher, Leona Frank, will give a talk about her still life and flower paintings, drawings and digital iPhone drawings.  Her award-winning paintings are in numerous public and private collections, including Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven and Westport CT Schools Permanent Art Collection.  Leona and her husband, photographer Richard Frank, are pleased to be members of New Beginnings.  Leona’s work can be seen on her website, leonafrank.com.

Tuesday, December 13, at 10:30 am 

Part II: The Top Twelve Worst Foods You Can Eat!

New Beginnings Member Arnie Gottfried returns with Part II of his lecture on a healthy lifestyle and the importance of avoiding unhealthy foods. Bring your questions and concerns. Once again, learning, fun and more of Arnie’s puns guaranteed!

December Trips

Thursday, December 8, at 10:00 am
Visit the Bergen Mall

Join us for holiday shopping or a stroll through the mall. The van leaves the Y at 10:00 am and returns at approximately 3:30 pm. $14 includes lunch-to-go and round-trip transportation. Sign up with Mindy by Monday, December 5, 2022.  Please arrive at the center 15 minutes prior to departure.

Thursday, December 15, at 9:00 am   
Tour of Grand Central Station

Join us for an architectural and historical tour of Grand Central Terminal with Streetwise NYC. Tour guide Andrew Silverstein notes that “Many call Grand Central our secular cathedral.”  We will explore this world-famous landmark inside and out.  The van leaves the Y at 9:00 am and returns at approximately 3:30 pm. $24 includes lunch-to-go and round-trip transportation. Sign up with Mindy by Monday, December 9, 2022.   Please arrive at the center 15 minutes prior to departure.

New and Weekly Classes

New Programming Alerts!

New! Mondays starting December 5, at 10:00 am  

Manicures with Frances  

Keep calm and get your nails done! New Beginnings Member Frances Feintuch will have your hands and nails looking holiday-ready.  Frances will provide nail polish removal, filing, painting and lotion.

New! Wednesdays, December 7, 14 and 28, at 10:00 am

Technology Class with Trinity 

Being able to communicate with family and friends, especially those who live far away, is one of the benefits of using the Internet. We’re offering technology classes on three Wednesdays in December. Join Trinity (aka Kim Schmidt) to learn how to use email, youtube, zoom, and more.  (Note: This class will complement, not replace, one-on-one Tech Lab with Jerry on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am.)

December Topics:

Dec 7 and 14  –  Email I and II –  Learn how to use this free and easy technology to stay in touch with family and friends, and communicate with companies.

Dec 28 –  Zoom – A great way to connect using video conferencing, and an alternative to phone calls and texting.

An Old Favorite Returns! Tuesdays at 1:00 pm, starting December 6th
Brain Games and Charades with Marv

Marvelous Marv is back with Brain Games/Charades!  Marv Goodman will once again challenge us with a wide variety of word and picture puzzles, trivia and nostalgic quizzes, plus games to flex your gray cells in gentle workouts. Each session will conclude with a hilarious, unpredictable rendition of unrehearsed Charades.

Mondays and Fridays (In Person and Online) at 9:15 am, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (Online) at 10 am

Stay Well Exercise 

An exercise program that accommodates participants of all fitness levels, Stay Well enhances balance, builds muscle strength and aids in the performance of tasks associated with daily living.

Mondays at 10 am

Chess Clinic 

Join Joel Perlmutter to learn how to play chess or find a partner. All levels welcome and no experience necessary.

Monday, December 5, at 10:45 am

Women’s Group 

Explore gender-specific issues with Lucy Hoffman, our Safe at Home Social Worker.

Tuesdays at 9:30 am

Baking with Galina and Isabel

Have you been wondering where the delicious aroma of baked goods comes from? It is courtesy of Galina and Isabel and the “little kitchen”!   Learn how to bake delicious muffins with fresh seasonal fruits.  We have slots for three members to join Galina and Isabel. Please register with Gladys at 347-913-4444 (grodriguez@riverdaley.org) or Mindy at 347-913-4395 (hsaldana@riverdaley.org).  Coffee and muffins will be on sale afterwards in the Card Room. There is a limited number of muffins. First come, first served!

Tuesdays at 10:00 am

Tai Chi with Steve Shulman

Practice tai chi for health, relaxation, stress relief, meditation and more.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 am

Tech Lab with Jerry 

To make an appointment for one-on-one tech support, contact Gladys at 347-913-4444 (grodriguez@riverdaley.org).

Tuesdays 10:30 am-11:15 am

Art Explorations with Danny Hauben (In Person and Online)

Renowned Bronx Artist Daniel Hauben shares insights on his work and the work of famous artists:

December 6, 2022 –  Wasily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter

December 13, 2022 –   Edward Hopper

December 20, 2022 – Odilon Redon

December 27, 2022 –   Pieter Bruegel The Elder

Tuesdays at 1:00 pm
Knitting with Barbara

Join Knitter Extraordinaire Barbara Goodman to make your first scarf or work out a complicated new sweater pattern. All levels welcome and no experience necessary.

Wednesday, December 21, at 10:30 am

Law and Order

Aytan Adler presides over reenactments of actual cases in which you assume the roles in a courtroom trial setting.

Wednesdays, December 7, 14 and 28, at 1:00 pm 

Karaoke 

Croon or belt out songs solo or with friends in our no judgment zone.

Wednesdays, December 7 and December 21, at 1:15 pm

Bliss Fit with Trinity (In Person and Online)

A fun class that combines dance with stretching and strength training.

Wednesdays at 1:30 pm

Open Swim and Water Aerobics

Advance registration is now required weekly for Open Swim and Water Aerobics. Pool capacity is limited to 25 persons. To register contact Gladys at ext 223 (grodriguez@riverdaley.org) or Mindy at ext 204 (hsaldana@riverdaley.org).

Thursdays at 9:30 am

Conversational Spanish for Advanced Beginners

Learn Spanish with Rhonda.  Open to members with a basic knowledge of Spanish.

Thursdays at 1 pm

Chair Yoga (Hybrid) 

A gentle form of yoga, uniquely suited to older adults, that can be performed while seated or with the support of a chair.

Returning Friday, December 23, 10:30 am-11:15 am

Meditation Group

Meditation is currently on hiatus. This group will return on December 23.

Thursday, December 1 and December 29  at 1:00 pm

Monthly Book Club (Virtual)

We’ll discuss The Foundling, by Ann Leary, on December 1. We meet next to talk about Forest of Vanishing Starts, by Kristin Harmel, on December 29th.  If you want to join the Book Club, email AdeleSchwartz@optonline.net. She will send you a link and discussion questions for the Zoom meeting.

Mah Jongg classes are currently full. Sign up will resume in the Spring.

Announcement: Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7!

If you’re thinking about changing your plan, now is the time! Medicare Open Enrollment ends on December 7, 2022. People eligible for Medicare have until December 7 to compare 2023 coverage options between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage and explore Part D prescription drug plans. If you need assistance, contact our Social Worker, Carmen Lopez, LMSW, at 347-913-4440 to see if she has any remaining available appointments.