Author Archives: Linda Gorchels

August 2025

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The Traditional View of Retirement is Outdated

August 13, 2025

Stephanie Blankenheim, financial advisor of Edward Jones

Julie Genjac, vice president and managing director of applied insights for Hartford Funds and a Certified Advanced Corporate Coach

 

Join seasoned financial advisors Stephanie Blankenheim and Julie Genjac for a thought-provoking presentation that challenges outdated assumptions about retirement. With longer lifespans and rapid technological changes, the retirement landscape is shifting—and your planning should evolve with it.

What you’ll take away:

  • How to rethink retirement as a dynamic, multi-stage life phase—not a fixed end goal
  • Tips for leveraging technology to enhance your financial security and lifestyle
  • Insights on aligning your personal values with your financial decisions in later life                                                                        

Recommended Resources

July 2025

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Healing the Whole Person Through Acupuncture

July 9, 2025

Joseph Zirneskie, MD

Discover how acupuncture goes beyond symptom relief to support whole-person healing, promoting balance in the body, mind, and spirit. You’ll explore treatment details, acupuncture’s holistic health integration, and its power in managing stress, pain, fatigue, and other issues.

 What you’ll take away:

  • A clear, easy-to-understand explanation of how acupuncture works and what it feels like
  • Insight into how acupuncture can support your body’s natural healing
  • An introduction to the mind-body connection
  • Simple, practical techniques you can try at home—like acupressure points and breathing exercises—to support your own wellness

June 2025

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Proactive Wellness: Detox, Decompress, and De-stress

June 11, 2025

Linda Gorchels

Proactive wellness prioritizes prevention over treatment. I’ll cover lymphatic system detox, posture’s effect on the spine, and stress-relieving wellness activities. You’ll learn:
  • Basic skills to improve postural alignment
  • Simple lymphatic massage techniques
  • Ways to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system

5-Minute Guided Meditation for Mindfulness

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Greendale Chimney Tour – June 26, 2025

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Judy Nackers has volunteered to lead a field trip to Greendale for their Historic & Folk Art Chimney tour. Alongside cobblestone streets and quaint alleyways are many chimneys representing a significant part of the town’s cultural heritage. You’ll learn the stories behind the intricate designs, from early settlers’ folk motifs to the influences of various architectural styles over the centuries. There are over 200 in the village.

  • Date: Thursday, June 26
  • Where: Carpool from the Senior Center at 8:30 a.m.(departure time)
  • Tour: Starts at 10:30 for 1½ hour walking tour
  • Cost: The tour is $10, self-pay at the start of the tour
  • Lunch: Depends on the group’s preferences, and will be self-pay
  • Post-tour option: Shop in their unique boutiques and dine or relax in one of their locally-owned restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, or wine bar. Also, visit the “Our Wisconsin” outlet store. If you don’t want to shop/browse, be sure you have transportation back to Madison via your own vehicle or with others who don’t want to stay for a while after the tour.
  • Contact: Judy Nackers (judynackers@gmail.com)

Monthly Breakfasts

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Women’s Breakfast

The Women’s Breakfast is a monthly gathering of women in and around Fitchburg aimed at providing a space for women to connect, share ideas, and support each other. The group meets on the second Monday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Pancake Cafe, 6220 Nesbitt Road in Fitchburg.

To be added to the Women’s Breakfast contact list, or for more information, contact Sandy Ermis at skermis@hotmail.com.

June 2025 – TO BE RESCHEDULED

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Global Connections through Local Hosts both Domestic and International: The Power of Friendship Force

June 11, 2025

Jan Barbone, Outreach Coordinator

Discover how Friendship Force International transforms travel into a powerful tool for cultural education through its unique model of reciprocally hosted homestays. In this inspiring talk, you’ll learn how the organization connects people from different countries, not as tourists, but as guests in each other’s homes—breaking down stereotypes, building lifelong friendships, and fostering true global understanding. Whether you’re passionate about intercultural exchange or curious about meaningful ways to explore the world, this speech will show how hospitality can be a bridge to peace.

You will:

  • Learn how homestays create authentic cultural immersion beyond traditional tourism.
  • Embrace the concept of reciprocal hosting and its impact on mutual respect and empathy.
  • Discover how you can participate in or host an international exchange.
  • Walk away with a renewed sense of how grassroots connection can shape global citizenship.

Biking 2025

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The Bike Riding Group will ride on Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. (weather permitting and holidays excluded). We will depart from the parking lot at the lower level of the Senior Center. Our first ride will be held on Monday, April 28. Contact Sheree Dandurand (sgdandurand@gmail.com) or Lindy Bass (lindymb@aol.com) to be added to the contact list or for more information.

May 2025

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Realistic Wild Fowl Sculpture by Greg Curless

May 14, 2025

Greg Curless, Sculptor

Are you a bird enthusiast? An artist? Or perhaps an avid learner curious about wildlife and nature? Anyone in these categories will love Greg’s incredibly detailed bird sculptures, which bridge the gap between art and ornithology.

  • Learn about the techniques and tools used to achieve striking realism in sculpture.
  • Discover the inspirations and artistic journey of Greg Curless.
  • Explore the ways that sculpture can enrich your appreciation of wildlife
  • Leave with practical tips for starting or refining your own nature-inspired art.

April 2025

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Andrew Jackson Bovee and the Battle of the Wilderness

April 9, 2025

Rich Fronek, President of the Madison History Roundtable

Could your family tree contain branches linked to the Civil War? Rich Fronek, President of the Madison History Roundtable, traced his Civil War lineage back to his great-grandfather, Andrew Jackson Bovee. His great grandfather’s narrative includes:

  • The state of America at the time of Bovee’s birth
  • His journey from birthplace, to Wisconsin farming, to enlisting in the U.S. Army
  • Bovee’s involvement in the Civil War’s Battle of the Wilderness and links to Madison
  • His great-grandfather’s return to Wisconsin farming and logging, and the connection to Antigo
  • The end of his story in Washington state

March 2025

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Exercise and Balance Training As We Age

March 12, 2025

Mary Wichern, Respiratory Care Practitioner

Are you interested in improving your health? Let’s start with balance training. It directly improves lung function, strengthens your core, and boosts physical activity. Join Respiratory Care Practitioner Mary Wichern as she details:

  • Balance training in everyday life to help you get stronger
  • How physical activity contributes to a long and healthy life.
  • How balance training reduces fall risks and enhances mobility
  • Real-world applications to improve coordination and endurance
  • The importance of breath control in movement and recovery
  • Tips for simple balance activities you can try at home

Handout from the presentation:

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