Great Deals to Get Educated, Get Fit and Have Fun

We all know Burlington has a lot to offer and it's hard to keep up with all the things to do in town. There are also some great deals for older adults that are hidden treasures in a town full of opportunity. We asked several groups that provide programming to share their best deals to help you experience Burlington for less. And because we know we will miss some things, please share  with us what you know about free, discounted, or inexpensive opportunities to learn, exercise or see a great show.

Sssshhhh...the Fletcher Free Library might be the best deal in town offering a wide range of free lectures and workshops.  You can learn a foreign language, a new computer program, or attend Vermont Humanities Council lectures with nationally known scholars, journalists and authors.  Check out the Book Discussion Group which meets monthly, provides books for free, and offers a 20% discount on four Flynn Center performances linked to book discussion.  

Another way to see Flynn shows for less-and not have to drive at night--is to attend a student matinee. Tickets go for $8.50 - $12.50 each and a full listing of matinees is available on the Flynn website. To find out about availability and reserve a ticket call the matinee coordinator at 652-4571.

As a college town, our thirst for knowledge is nearly universal. In an AARP survey, 80 percent of Burlington residents said that having educational opportunities was very or somewhat important to them. No wonder educational opportunities abound in the Queen City. ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center is branching out into adult programming with Café Scientifique, which is free at 6:30 on Thursday evenings. A cash bar and hors d'oeuvres help get you in the mood for thought-provoking presentations on hot topics like pulsars, sequencing the human genome, and creationism in the classroom.

Fletcher Allen Health Care offers free Community Medical School lectures with top faculty experts each semester. This fall's topics covered everything from heart attacks to obesity prevention. And perhaps the best deal of all is at the University of Vermont where Vermonters age 65 and older can audit courses for free. Find out more by calling Continuing Education at 656-2085.

With winter coming a place to exercise indoors might be needed. The Greater Burlington YMCA offers a free drop-in senior swim, with wheelchair ramp access if needed, on Friday's from 2-4 p.m. Additional free or low-cost exercise programs at the Burlington and Winooski sites include the B-Fit Water Exercise Program, Tai Chi, and a Senior Strength, Flexibility and Balance Class.

Walk indoors for free Monday-Friday from 8-10:30 a.m. at the Miller Center, 130 Gosse Court, in the New North End. Staff is available to help if needed and you can set goals and track your progress. Burlington's Heineberg Senior and Community Center and Champlain Senior Center also both offer a variety of health and fitness programs for little or no cost.

A night at the theater, a hockey game at UVM, a concert at the Flynn or perhaps a day on the slopes.  These activities are available to all, but as an AARP member, you get a special deal!  Discounts from 10 - 40% are available to AARP members in Vermont for two shows at the Flynn, plays by Vermont Stage Company, VSO's Holiday Pops, a day at Bolton Valley or basketball and hockey games at UVM.  Take your pick - or pick 'em all.

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AARP and Burlington residents hit the streets on September 20^th to assess three busy intersections as part of a statewide campaign to raise awareness about the need for Complete Streets that safely accommodate all users-bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, and those who cannot drive. The notoriously difficult-to-maneuver intersection at Pearl and Prospect served as the focal point for surveyors along with the intersections at Colchester Avenue and Mansfield and Pearl and Willard. Preliminary analysis of the data shows deficiencies such as the lack of audible crosswalk signals, degraded curb cuts, cracked and uneven sidewalks, speeding drivers, and cars turning right on red into pedestrians. The amount of time allowed to cross busy Colchester Avenue/ Pearl Street was inadequate, particularly for people who may walk more slowly. When timed, the white "walk" signal was lit for only 6 seconds - just enough time for volunteers to make it about half way across the street. When combined with the red flashing "don't walk" signal, pedestrians had 16 seconds to get across Pearl Street at the Prospect intersection. Drivers also face challenges turning left as they travel north or south along Prospect Street. Volunteers noted that a countdown signal could make pedestrians more comfortable crossing and better signalization could help motorists as well. 

AARP's survey coincided with the city's complete streets demonstration project along Colchester Avenue. As part of a larger project along the corridor, the city temporarily restriped this section of road between Prospect Street and East Avenue, reducing travel lanes from four to three, one being a center turn lane, and adding bike access on either side of the street. The goal is to slow traffic, reduce sideswipe crashes, make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street, and provide a safe place for bicyclists. AARP supports this project as we believe it will ultimately provide safer access for pedestrians, bicyclists and older drivers.

Watch for more on Complete Streets in the coming months as AARP and a host of other organizations push for statewide legislation. "As we age and drive less, or hang up the keys altogether, it is critical that we have safe and accessible ways to get around," said AARP's Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur. "Complete Streets legislation is an important first step to planning for roads that meet the needs of everyone - young and old, drivers and non-drivers." To join the campaign for Complete Streets, email us your contact information at vt@aarp.org.

What Will I Learn by Taking the Course?

You can expect to learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment. You'll learn adjustments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. You will learn the following: