Bennington Senior Community News November-December 2025
BenningtonSenior & Community News
November – December 2025
Please note that BFYMCA will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. 124 Pleasant St, Bennington | 802-442-1052
Adult Program O erings 8-4 Daily
Check program calendars for times & location
To our Senior Community…
It is the mission of the Berkshire Family YMCA and Town of Bennington to engage persons 50+ in the lifelong learning process; promoting their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being by providing social, recreational, creative and cultural programs and enabling active participation in the center and community. Program costs are founded on a not-for-profit basis.
Sponsored by:
WEEKLY PROGRAMS
MONDAYS
Painting Group: This informal group meets on Mondays & Fridays, but painters are welcome to work on their own at any time. The group works from photographs, calendar art, and old masters. Bring your own painting materials; group size limited to 8-10 participants. Come when you can, get ideas from each other, and enjoy some good conversation! 9am – Noon No Fee
Cards & Games: Group decides the game, or multiple groups can play di erent games. Games available here include the following: Board games: Parcheesi, Trivial Pursuit, Backgammon, Mancala, Clue, Payday, Ticket to Ride, Go, Chess, Checkers, Battleship
Word games: Balderdash, Pictionary, Taboo, Scattergories, Scrabble, Smart Mouth, Upwords, Whatchamacallit Card, Dice, and Tile games: Yahtzee, Farkle, Cribbage, Mille Bornes, Dominos, Mahjong, Rummikub, Uno, Bohnanza, all manner of traditional card games… or bring your own game to share. The possibilities are nearly endless! 1:00 pm No Fee
TUESDAYS
Bone Builders: This low impact exercise, run through RSVP, promotes strength through weight training, plus helps with both balance and bone density. Class may include open discussion about nutrition, disease prevention, and alternate exercises. Class leader varies. 8:30AM & 9:45AM No Fee
THURSDAYS
Bone Builders: See class description on Tuesday list.
Craft Corner: Bring whatever craft project you are working on. Quilting, crocheting, knitting, weaving, decoupage, coloring, the options abound! We have sewing machines available to use. You bring the materials (or peruse what has been donated here), we supply the space, co ee, tea, and socialization. 1:00 pm No Fee
FRIDAYS
Painting Group: See group description on Monday list.
BINGO: Come play low stakes, high energy BINGO! 2 cards for $2, additional cards 50 cents each, 6 card maximum. Beverages provided; feel free to bring snacks to share! 1 pm
OUT TO EAT!
Wed, Nov 5 Bob’s Diner Manchester, VT 11:30-2:00 Tue, Dec 16 Water Street Grille Williamstown, MA 11:30-2:30
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NEW FEES FOR BUS TRIPS, PLEASE CALL OR VISIT FOR PRICING.
Discounts up to 100% o with BFYMCA members
GROWING UP TOGETHER
Aging: Everybody's Doing It! Lets talk about it (Together)
Growing Up Together is an uplifting, intergenerational workshop that invites participants of all ages to explore and normalize the aging experience. Through guided, conversations, we’ll openly address all aspects of aging—the good, the difficult, and everything in between. Each discussion will focus on meaningful topics related to healthy aging. This welcoming space encourages reflection, shared wisdom, and practical takeaways for living fully. Join us as we grow up together, embracing aging with honesty, strength, and a sense of community.
For More Information 15 November 9am - noon Bennington Sports Center and practical takeaways for living fully. Join us as we grow up together, embracing aging with honesty, strength, and a sense of community.
*Please arrive 10-15minutes early so we can start on time
8:50 Come in, get coffee, pastries and a seat 9:00am First Conversation: Physical Health and Activity
9:45am Wake-Up & Stretch (movement class with Judi) 10:15 Break
10:30 Second Conversation: Brain Health & Continued Learning
11:15 Zen In Motion (moving meditation class with Jasmine)
GROUP FITNESS
NOVEMBER 2025 SCHEDULE | BENNINGTON
MONDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
9am Silver Sneakers with Sam! Sam 9am Active Walk Tracy 10am Tai Chi - Advanced Tracy 11am Pilates
12pm Muay Thai Foundations
12pm Silver Sneakers
4:15pm Zumba
5:30pm Hatha Yoga
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
TUESDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
WEDNESDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
8:30am
THURSDAY
Chair Yoga
Strength & Balance: Intermediate
11:30am Cardio Drumming
4:15pm Restorative Yoga Jasmine
5:30pm Zumba Jasmine BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
8:10am Aqua Zumba Jasmine 9am Water Joint Health & Mobility Jasmine
NOTE: Online Registration opens the 3 Monday of each month. In-person registration opens at 8am the following day.
Login to your account online to register www.bfymca.org/programs
Waitlist Policy: Our classes have a max capacity for your safety and comfort. Make sure to attend class even if you are on the waitlist. You may be able to take a vacant spot but only in the absence of registered members or at the discretion of the instructor.
FRIDAY
– COMMUNITY RESOURCES –
Bennington Town Clerk/ Town O ces (802) 442-1037
Bennington Recreation Center/YMCA (802) 500-2770
Meals on Wheels of Bennington County (802) 442-8012
VNA & Hospice (Bennington Home Health) (802) 442-5502
Bennington Project Independence (802) 442-8136
Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council (BROC) (802) 447-7515
Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (802) 442-5436
Social Security Administration (Rutland o ce) (866) 690-1944
Green Mountain Community Network (802) 447-0477
Support And Services at Home (SASH) (802) 442-9920
– HOUSING –
Bennington Housing Authority (802) 442-8000
Shires Housing (802) 442-8139
THM (o ce in Manchester) (802) 362-4663
POTLUCKS
at the Bennington Sports Center (230 School St.)
November 19th, 12:30-2:00pm - Thanksgiving Potluck December 10th, 12:30-2:00pm - Holiday Potluck
REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY, SEATING IS LIMITED.
Bring a dish and socialize! We aim to start serving at noon. Please sign up so we know how many places to set!
POTLUCK TIP: If you don’t know what to bring, ask us! There is always something you can bring, even if you don’t cook or are low on funds.
SHOPPING
Shopping trips are 9:30am – 4pm unless noted otherwise. Sign up at the Senior Center for these shopping trips. FEE MUST BE PAID WHEN YOU REGISTER.
Tuesday, November 11th, 9:00-4:00 - Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield, MA. Lunch following. See YMCA TRIPS for more information!
Thursday, December 11th - Colonie Mall in Albany, NY.
TRIPS & PERFORMANCES
YANKEE CANDLE VILLAGE, SOUTH DEERFIELD, MA
November 11th, 9:00-4:00pm
At Yankee Candle Village, you’ll wander through a magical, storybook-style space packed with twinkling lights, seasonal displays, and—of course—rows upon rows of candles. The trip is the perfect mix of cozy and fun: shop for gifts, savor sweet treats like homemade fudge and popcorn, or create your own signature scent at the candle-making bar. We will be stopping for lunch.
$15 per non-member, $10 BFYMCA member
UPCOMING TRIP...
...with an additional stop to see Lights in the Park in Springfield, MA
$115/per Person - Money Due November 12 Checks
IN HOUSE PROGRAMS
Daily 9AM-10AM
COFFEE HOUR
A time to socialize with friends over co ee, pastries, and music. Held at Bennington Senior Center daily.
COFFEE WITH WENDY
Join our Adult Wellness Coordinator Wendy at the Bennington Sports Center every Monday and Thursday for co ee, snacks, good chats, and a lot of fun!
REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS
BENNINGTON BRANCH
GO TO WWW.BFYMCA.ORG
Login or find your account with associated e-mail address of phone number. Note: For password recovery contact your Welcome Center (802)500-2770. FIND YOUR BRANCH START BY LOGGING IN...
In the upper right hand corner, click MY Y ACCOUNT LOGIN/SIGNUP
After selecting your name from your account click Browse for programs
Scroll down to the program registry screen, in the upper left hand corner it says:
You’re looking for offerings at All Locations
Change
Click Change
Select your branch (Bennington Branch) and all group fitness locations (Bennington Rec, Bennington Senior Center, Bennington Sports Center)
Click SET LOCATIONS
Select Group Exercise - Bennington Branch
To see all class options select - See more (Example: See 24 more) SIGN UP!
Select your classes, after clicking REGISTER it will ask which member on the account you’d like to sign up.
The next screen will direct you to a Waiver of Liability to sign that is required for Y class participation. Sign your waiver, then click ACCEPT AND SIGN Don’t check out yet! You can ADD MORE PROGRAMS to your cart!
Continue the process of selecting your classes. CHECK-OUT
Click CHECKOUT only after confirming that all the classes you’d like to attend are in your cart. If you exit the checkout screen before completing this step and receiving a . It will not save your registration!
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
Please pay attention to dates and times when signing up. Often times we have multiple listings for the same class. Example: Strength and Balance often runs on Tuesdays AND Thursdays.
Online registration opens at 12am the 3 Monday of each month, and in-house registration will open the following day at 8am.
Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc.
serves people through:
Kitchen Cupboard - The Kitchen Cupboard provides free food to individuals and families in need and teaches them how to eat better on a budget.
Emergency Needs Fund - The Emergency Needs Fund helps families pay for shelter, utilities and other basic needs to low-income families experiencing a financial crisis due to unexpected events like layo s and injuries.
You First - The You First Bennington program provides eligible individuals in Bennington County personalized support to pay for breast, cervical and heart screenings, diagnostic tests and heart healthy lifestyle programs.
The Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic - Primary medical care, care coordination, and referrals for uninsured or underinsured adults living in the Bennington County area. More information can be obtained by calling (802) 4473700.
WILLIAMS COLLEGE X INSTITUTE FOR FIGURING
BERKSHIRE
SATELLITE REEF
Bennington Sports Center (230 School Street) holds coral reef crochet workshops every Thursday at 1:00pm
LOVE TO CROCHET? LOVE THE SEA? JOIN US!
The Berkshire Satellite Reef—part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef by artists Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute for Figuring—is a communal art project entailing the creation of a life-size coral reef made entirely out of crochet. It will be exhibited at Williams College in the ‘62 Center for Theatre & Dance as an immersive installation in the spring of 2026.
All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate!
Use your phone to scan the code
MONDAY-THURSDAY 8-Noon, FRIDAY 8-3pm
POOL SCHEDULE
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
Typical Nov - Dec Pool Schedule
Please note that the pool schedule is subject to change and should be checked before arriving. Check online schedules for accurate pool schedule, group exercise, and more: www.bfymca.org/schedules
Sign up for classes, learn about special events, and more on our website!
Below are general schedules for each day of the week.
PLEASE LOOK ONLINE FOR ACCURATE SCHEDULE WITH HOLIDAY CLOSURES & EVENTS!
