Traditions keep returning
People enjoy the Thompson Senior Center’s first in-person lunch in over a year on Tuesday. (Deanna Jones Photo)
A good meal and conversation is one of the favorite pastimes at the Thompson Senior Center in Woodstock, Vermont, and that tradition returned Tuesday after more than a year of no dining inside at the community hub.
It was reopening day for the center, and the daily lunch in the dining room started up again, by reservation. Ten guests and four staff members enjoyed the meal together.
"It was just nice to see people again," said Deanna Jones, the center's executive director. "They've been waiting. 'Finally, the day has come', is what I kept hearing."
New tables and chairs graced the room, thanks to recent fundraising, and fresh paint and a new floor completed the dining room's new look. Through the month of June, lunch is Monday-Thursday 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Curbside lunch pick-up is still available this month.
Also through June, people will be asked to wear masks into the senior center, which they can then remove once they sit down to their meal or activity. There's a hand sanitizing station at the door, and health-screening questions will be asked via computer.
Some people, especially if they live far away, may continue to take part in bingo or other events by phone — and that option will be there in a hybrid model.
"We'll still keep these things virtual so that people are engaged," Jones said.
In Woodstock, this reopening was further proof of a state's progress toward normalcy. At nearly 78% of eligible Vermonters vaccinated against COVID-19, the state is that much closer to meeting its goal of 80%, at which time the state will lift all pandemic restrictions. Gov. Phil Scott said Vermont is “days away” from hitting that mark.
Also at Tuesday’s press conference, Scott noted the many positive impacts of the vaccine, including the fact that Vermont is the only state with no COVID-related deaths reported in the past two weeks. Also, the state had three hospitalizations due to the virus as of Tuesday morning — a six-month low for Vermont.
But the governor emphasized “we’re not resting on our laurels,” saying the state continues to make efforts to get the vaccine to as many people as possible. This week, there are over 100 walk-in vaccine clinics statewide, one of them taking place in Woodstock this Thursday, June 3. That clinic, which offers the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is at the Woodstock Inn’s administrative building parking lot, located at 9 Cross Street from 1 to 3 p.m.
On Tuesday, Courtney Lowe, vice president of marketing and business development at the Woodstock Inn & Resort, said the inn hosted a clinic on May 14 and asked for — and received — this chance to hold another one. Walk-in opportunities have been a key part of improving access to the vaccine, officials have said.
“The convenience factor has proven effective in the state, so we are delighted to make it easier for our employees and community to be able to access the vaccine right here in the Village,” Lowe said.
Check out this link for the latest on Vermont’s vaccination progress.
— Gareth Henderson
