When the first of January rolls around each year, it seems to give everyone a clean slate — a new beginning with many plans in the works for professional growth, personal introspection and perhaps starting something new for fun. There are a few offerings in our community that may fit the bill.

Southwest Suburban Center on Aging is sponsoring “Banking and Your Money Investment Strategies,” the first seminar in a series “Seniors and the Economy.” The program will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Southwest Suburban Center on Aging, 111 W. Harris Ave., La Grange. To make a reservation, call (708) 354-1323. The session will be presented by the Community Bank of Western Springs.

According to the Urban Institute, more than 94 million Americans age 50 and older who are approaching retirement or have already retired have seen a drastic change in their retirement accounts. It is estimated that retirement accounts have lost more than 18 percent of their value in the past 12 months. This session will offer ideas for protecting accounts and whether to take cash now or leave it in the account.

If you are thinking it would be cathartic to write about some of the trials, tribulations or triumphs of the last year, a writing group may be just the thing. Resident Marie Anderson sent a letter to the La Grange Public Library last summer indicating that a writer’s workshop would be a great asset to the program assortment at the library and that request has now come to fruition.

The first meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14. Since it is a cold winter’s night, it may be a good time for participants to get out and share some of their written work with others in a casual and friendly atmosphere. This ongoing workshop offers adults a place to bring their poems, manuscripts and other written works for feedback from other writers. Bring 10 copies of your work to share with the group. Registration is requested for this free program. For more information, visit www.lagrangelibrary.org or call the library at (708) 352-0576.

And, finally, in case you missed the after-Christmas sale at the Design Studio of Carol King and Paula Buttel, they are holding a Last Chance Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18. The studio is located at 724 Vandustrial Drive, Westmont, about two blocks west of Cass Avenue and one block north of 63rd Street.

The Last Chance Sale includes Christmas items at 50 percent off and there are also floral items, antiques, collectibles and ribbon. Not only Christmas items are being offered — there is also a wide array of spring and garden accessories.

I went to the sale on that very rainy Saturday after Christmas and scooped up some great bargains. For this Last Chance Sale, the women have also added fabric. When I took a look at the back room with the fabric, it reminded me of being in Katie’s Fabrics in downtown La Grange many years ago. There are bolts of ginghams, prints and lively patterns for the seamstresses among us — offered at a great price. The Last Chance Sale is definitely worth a stop.

The phone number at the studio is (630) 719-9799.

Your ideas and comments are always welcome. Please feel free to e-mail me at lifelgp@comcast.net.